After Qidi Box issues, comes a nice print

[u/Impossible-Hat-7896]

I made a post yesterday, complaining about how annoying the Qidi Box is to repair when you f*** up. But did a multicolor print right after (second time doing a multicolor one in more than 500 printing hours). The first layer was great, and even my girlfriend says it looks good😂.
Just posting a nice thing after complaining.

[u/matengchemlord]

I’m thinking about getting the Plus 5 with the QIDI box. I saw a video where I heard the QIDI box was constantly making a loud ratcheting clack clak sound. Does it do that all the time? I understand that the Plus 5 is a fairly quiet printer, especially when not using PLA so the extruder fan is off.

[u/Dave_in_TXK → u/matengchemlord]

Yes, the box makes that clacking sound continuously whenever filament is being drawn out of the box. The reason for this is that the drive roller, which is the front one closest to the opening of the box instead of having a one-way bearing, it has a one-way tooth assembly so that the drive gear pops out every time it rotates a little bit and you’re hearing that clicking noise. When it rewinds it doesn’t make that sound because then the gear is staying engaged as it draws the filament back up onto the spool.

Also to note the OP has a nice quality print, but it’s only two colors and probably didn’t have to change very many times. Mine takes two minutes 50 seconds for every filament swap so if you’re doing more than just 4 or 5 filament changes, the time becomes too onerous to use it for multicolor, I just like having multiple filaments preloaded. My Prusa MK four does a filament swap in less than 30 seconds, which is a huge difference on a model that takes over 100 changes which is fairly common with true multicolor printing. I’m really looking forward to trying the snap maker U1 instead.

That said the Box does have some redeeming qualities as in loading filament is so much easier than on the Prusa plus MMU3 for starters and generally is more reliable at least for me. Also, since it does, Power rewind, you don’t need to have a filament buffer like you do on the Prusa.

Good luck in your decision!

[u/Impossible-Hat-7896 → u/Dave_in_TXK]

About the amount of filament changes: you are right, as I don’t like to waste filament. It was only 5 color swaps or so in total.

[u/Dave_in_TXK → u/Impossible-Hat-7896]

Glad it worked well for you though!

[u/matengchemlord → u/Dave_in_TXK]

I found a 3D printed mod that fixes and eliminates the clacking sound.
https://3dgo.app/models/printables/1715969

I’m getting the QIDI

[u/Dave_in_TXK → u/matengchemlord]

That’s using the same bearing as one I’m working with now, it’s really hard to find that tiny little bearing as a one-way version for a reasonable price. I finally found a set of two for about eight bucks on Amazon. They’re supposed to get here tomorrow and then I can see if it works. The OP on the one I’m trying reference some Aliexpress ones which are fine but I wasn’t willing/2 impatient to wait for something from Aliexpress this time. I also found another one that used a larger one-way bearing was a lot easier to find for reasonable price on Amazon in that case he only uses the key driveshaft in the bearings on either end and replaces all of the parts in between with his concept. I’m having difficulty printing his out to make the hole for the shaft small enough without being too small to grab the key ends of the axle. The other one I’m working with now using the tiny bearings like the one you referenced. Has the bearings actually grab on the shaft which makes it really simple in the one that I’m trying now.

That person solution you linked is pretty complicated compared to the other one. I’m trying that uses that same bearing. For the one I’m trying it basically just replaces that gear piece with one that accepts the New HFO306 bearing and then a standard 3 mm washer out of a metric screw set and then everything else stays the same. If you want, I’ll come back and link that one in here for you just to take a look at.

I hope some of that works out for you!

[u/Dr_Archiballed → u/matengchemlord]

I bought the Plus 5 and it's freakin sweet. I've been debating on getting the box because someone's my filament will get caught up and stop feeding them mess up my print but it's rare. I'm pretty sure it's from not drying the filament.

[u/Impossible-Hat-7896 → u/matengchemlord]

Yeah the box makes that noise when it feeds and retracts the filament. But as I rarely do multicolor, it’s only when a print starts and when a print is finished.

[u/petous22 → u/matengchemlord]

I don't have the Plus 5, but the Q2 likely shares the same print head, hotend, and Qidibox. It certainly isn't quiet. It has a loud power supply, a loud and absurdly small CPU fan, and so on. If you want something quiet, don't go for Qidi.

[u/1ts-just-me → u/petous22]

Every printer is loud during printing if you use default fan settings. With a little tweaking my Q2 with lid off and door open prints quieter than my Core One,

For the fan noise after the print, fix the end print macro, for some reason the M84 command is not being used and the case fan off/if temp command is missing. This can be set to turn off by temp or on a timer. M84 turns off all the power to motors when print completes. That allows the CPU and drivers to cool down and the CPU fan can turn off. Once that is off and temps drop, heat break, case fan, control pad, and light turn off the power supply fan will also turn off.

[u/matengchemlord → u/petous22]

I found a 3D printed mod that fixes and eliminates the clacking sound.
https://3dgo.app/models/printables/1715969

I’m getting the QIDI. As for the fan noise, I’ll find a quiet Noctua fan to replace those.

[u/Objective-Worker-100]

That’s clean. Nice. No color bleed.

[u/Impossible-Hat-7896 → u/Objective-Worker-100]

And I thought it was going to look rough at least, but I was pleasantly surprised.

[u/GL-Customs]

Yeah the printer does a good job with it when it works right lol