Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer review

The Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer is the first from the company that we've reviewed, so we're evaluating it with fresh eyes. We can only compare it against the best 3D printers we tested, not any previous releases from the company. Initial online impressions of the design, featuring a full enclosure and touch screen, are positive, and the specifications suggest a very promising machine.

When the box arrives and the machine is unwrapped, it looks quite nice and true to the marketing images. Unfortunately, the quality of the casing materials is not as high as the design initially suggests. A closer inspection reveals that the quality of the components and the construction of the actual mechanics are sound, and it's important to remember that this is a sub-$500 printer.

Considering the price and what you see, this is a COREXY machine with a heated inner chamber, Klipper firmware, and enough internal support to hold things together during high-speed printing. Initial impressions are, therefore, mixed: it's a great-looking machine with a not-so-great exterior material choice and amazing specifications, but can it pull all this together to produce a decent print?

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Design

From the outset, the design is appealing, even if the outer casing's materials feel a bit on the cheap side. The case allows for printing with more technical materials, or if you prefer to stick to standard PLA, you can simply remove the top and open the door.

On the front of the machine is a large LCD screen where you can select prints, adjust settings, calibrate, and connect to a local area network. The interface is straightforward, and the large screen is exceptionally well-designed and easy to use. Loading the first reel of filament is straightforward, and uploading prints is done through the QIDISlicer, which is based on the excellent PRUSASlicer and offers plenty of options.

The machine features some interesting design choices, such as the independent dual Z motors, which create a solid build platform necessary to handle the machine’s speed when running at full capacity. The chamber can be heated to 60ºC, accommodating various materials, and the design is fully enclosed when needed.

Inside, there’s a small box at the back of the machine that, when the machine starts working, reveals itself as the filament bin. This is where the excess filament is deposited to keep prints clean—a small feature that can make a significant difference.

The design is attractive but let down by the material choice, which feels somewhat flexible. However, as a functional product, the touch screen, large plexi door, removable lid, filament bin, and dual independent Z motors all feel extremely solid and built to last.

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Features

The Qidi Tech Q1 Pro is equipped with several features that, until the release of the Bambu printers, were typically found in mid to high-end models. QIDI states that it only takes ten minutes from the box to the first print, and with features such as full-auto calibration, this proved to be absolutely accurate, making it one of the most straightforward printers to get started with.

Through the plexi front door is the impressive inner chamber with a build volume of 245 x 245 x 240mm. Notably, the hotend above features a nozzle with a maximum temperature of 350°C, ideal for high-temperature filaments like PAHT-CF and PET-CF.

When printing these materials, a heated inner chamber creates an ideal printing environment, capable of reaching up to 60°C depending on the material settings. This feature reduces warping and improves layer bonding, which is particularly beneficial for warp-prone filaments such as ABS, PA, and PC.

The Q1 Pro’s design includes independent dual Z motors, providing higher precision and stability. Combined with its CoreXY structure, this should ensure high-speed, accurate, and stable printing, especially when paired with the Klipper firmware.

The printer also features a tri-metal hot end, enabling it to handle a variety of filaments, including those with better mechanical properties. The printer is designed with speed and accuracy in mind. Like the initial setup, calibration is an ongoing feature with dual sensor auto bed levelling and an essential filament detection system, including filament runout and tangle detection, crucial for 1.75mm filament nearing the end of its usable life.

Inside the outer casing, the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro is built with a full metal frame structure, which is necessary due to the high speeds this machine can reach. Powering the processing is a powerful 64-bit processor and 32G-EMMC large memory, supporting high-speed Wi-Fi 6, allowing you to send your print files directly from QIDISlicer.

Additional handy features include a 1080P camera, which enables remote monitoring of prints and timelapses. Considering the price, this is a feature-packed printer that rivals many more expensive machines.

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Performance

Few machines can compete with the QIDI Q1 Pro in terms of absolute print quality. During testing, a variety of filaments were run through the system to evaluate the heated inner chamber, along with many standard prints using PLA. The results demonstrated the machine’s exceptional accuracy and speed.

Throughout weeks of testing, there were no failed prints, which is nearly unheard of, and upon inspecting the prints, the extrusion quality could have been better. As a CORE XY machine, it excels in speed, but it is unusual for a machine at this price point to be both accurate and capable of producing such clean results. The only other machine that compares in cleanliness is the AnkerMake M5C 3D printer, which uses refined yet older technology and has an open design, making it unsuitable for many uses.

Examining the models reveals that the quality shines through: detail is well-defined, support structures, with some tweaking, are easy to remove, and surface quality is excellent. The test prints all looked great, as evidenced in the images. Similarly, running the usual benchmarking tests produced outstanding results, confirming that the QIDI Q1 Pro is a top contender in its class, delivering both speed and precision in its prints.

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Print quality

Dimensional accuracy - score of 5 

Target 25 = X: 24.98mm / 0.02mm Error | Y: 24.96mm / 0.04mm Error 
Target 20 = X: 19.98mm / 0.02mm Error | Y: 19.94mm / 0.06mm Error 
Target 15 = X: 14.87mm / 0.13mm Error | Y: 14.94mm / 0.06mm Error 
Target 10 = X: 9.95mm / 0.05mm Error | Y: 9.94mm / 0.06mm Error 
Target 5 = X: 4.88mm / 0.12mm Error | Y: 4.90mm / 0.10mm Error 
X Error Average = 0.068
Y Error Average = 0.064
X&Y Error Average = 0.066

Fine Flow Control - score of 5 

Fine Negative Features - score of 5 

Overhangs - score of 4 

Bridging - score of 4

XY resonance - score of 2.5

Z-axis alignment - score of 2.5

Adding up the totals gives a final score of 28 out of 30.

Qidi Tech Q1 Pro 3D Printer: Final verdict

The Qidi Tech Q1 Pro is a 3D printer that stands out, especially considering its price. It offers features typically found in higher-end models, such as high-speed printing, precision, and robust features like active chamber heating and dual Z motors, making it a superb choice for small businesses and educational purposes.

While the external casing materials may feel less premium, the printer's overall build quality and functionality are impressive. The print quality is exceptional, with accurate and detailed outputs that are consistently great for small product runs and prototyping. For those seeking a reliable, feature-rich 3D printer without breaking the bank, the Q1 Pro is an excellent choice, effectively balancing performance and value.

Should You Buy the Qidi Tech Q1 Pro?

We also compared the best 3D modeling software