Qidi Tech 1 - Replicator 1 clone

[Syd_Khaos]

Hello all great QIDI owners, I have just ordered and received my QIDI tech printer and am considering the 0.25” Glass Bed option. I just wondering what filament material (PLA/ABS) were used to produce those shims and corner bracket parts tohold the glass bed? Anyone can shed some light? Thank you. James.

Shim can be made of anything, as that spot does not get real hot. The clamps should be ABS or PeTG. Of the 2 PeTG has the higher melting/molten point, so its actually a bit better for this application.

[Syd_Khaos]

Having issues with the right extruder.




The gaps and shortage of material you can see here has happened on every print I have started with right nozzle since last night. Even took both nozzles off and cleaned them this morning. It seems to not be feeding enough material, but the feeding mechanism is clean and clear. Spool is operating just fine. I'm at a loss for what could be causing this....any ideas?

edit:
Now I am getting bad layer adhesion. Even had first couple layers of my last print peel right off.

[sygyzy]

Hi thanks for posting this. I printed it out and you're right, it actually fits perfectly but I noticed it didn't give much clearance to the cable interface so I just modified it. I also shaved a bit off the top so I could use a 1/8" plate instead of a 1/4".

Attachment 8930
Attachment 8931
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1225804

[sygyzy]

Does anyone have any recommend retraction distance and speed settings to prevent lagging stringiness when moving between print points?

[Syd_Khaos]

Does anyone have any recommend retraction distance and speed settings to prevent lagging stringiness when moving between print points?

I'm just using whatever the default retraction is for a FF Creator Pro in S3D....sorry, not sure how to even look that up.

However, it may not be an issue with retraction value at all, but rather heat. I was getting alot of strings and hairs (esp with PLA) when I was still playing with heats trying to get dialed in.
What I did is make a print that is 5 cylinders, each 20mm around and 40mm high...I typical didn't print the whole thing though. Space these at random spots on your build plate.
Start printing, if you see strings/hairs stop and lower the heat on nozzle by 2deg. Start print again and repeat till you get no strings, but be mindful of layer addhesion, don't wanna go to low.

[sygyzy]

Hey guys, I just bought Simplify3D and printed out a shim for the QIDI that I've been having trouble with. Right off the bat I definitely think the print quality is great but there are a few strange issues I am hoping I can get help with.

1. What machine should I choose for the QIDI? Should it be the Flashforge Creator Pro or Flashforge Creator Dual?

2. With the Makerbot software, the head would start in the front left of the machine while the bed and extruders were preheating. Then it would travel to the front right corner of the build plate and lay down a "primer" strip from right to left. Then move to the center of the build plate and start building the model. However, with Simplify 3D, it starts in the front right while pre-heating. Now this is not a big deal but what happens next is weird. When the bed and extruder is done heating, it pumps out about 3 seconds worth of filament, straight down into the base of the machine (not on the bed). I quickly go try to grab and tear off this string so it doesn't mess up the print. Then it moves to the right front corner of the bed and pumps a little pile more, about 2 mm across right to left. Then it starts printing. I can't tell if it purposely is putting a pile there or due to timing, it's actually just the tail end of it pumping out filament. What is going on here?

3. Lastly, when it was done with the model and went to it's done position (this time right back corner), it carried a long line of filament with it. I know that extruders sometimes cant cut off filament cleanly but this was excessive. Any ideas?

[KludgeGuru]

Hey guys, I just bought Simplify3D and printed out a shim for the QIDI that I've been having trouble with. Right off the bat I definitely think the print quality is great but there are a few strange issues I am hoping I can get help with.

1. What machine should I choose for the QIDI? Should it be the Flashforge Creator Pro or Flashforge Creator Dual?

2. With the Makerbot software, the head would start in the front left of the machine while the bed and extruders were preheating. Then it would travel to the front right corner of the build plate and lay down a "primer" strip from right to left. Then move to the center of the build plate and start building the model. However, with Simplify 3D, it starts in the front right while pre-heating. Now this is not a big deal but what happens next is weird. When the bed and extruder is done heating, it pumps out about 3 seconds worth of filament, straight down into the base of the machine (not on the bed). I quickly go try to grab and tear off this string so it doesn't mess up the print. Then it moves to the right front corner of the bed and pumps a little pile more, about 2 mm across right to left. Then it starts printing. I can't tell if it purposely is putting a pile there or due to timing, it's actually just the tail end of it pumping out filament. What is going on here?

3. Lastly, when it was done with the model and went to it's done position (this time right back corner), it carried a long line of filament with it. I know that extruders sometimes cant cut off filament cleanly but this was excessive. Any ideas?

1. I use the Flashforge Creator Pro as a starting template and then once I have some settings I like I do a Save As... and name it "Qidi - Some Description".
I suggest watching their video tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...O7wODJpQBVf-Ss

2. Add the following code to the startup script tab. This will do the line on the front of the build plate.

Left Extruder:

; **** Replicator 2X start.gcode ****
M73 P0 ; Enable build progress
G162 X Y F3000 ; Home XY maximum
G161 Z F1200 ; Home Z minimum
G92 Z-5 ; Set Z to -5
G1 Z0 ; Move Z to 0
G161 Z F100 ; Home Z slowly
M132 X Y Z A B ; Recall home offsets
M135 T0 ; Load right extruder offsets
G1 X-110 Y-75 Z30 F9000 ; Move to wait position off table
G130 X20 Y20 Z20 A20 B20 ; Lower stepper Vrefs while heating
M126 S[fan_speed_pwm] ; Set fan speed
M140 S[bed0_temperature] T0 ; Heat buildplate
M134 T0 ; Stabilize bed temperature
M104 S[extruder1_temperature] T1 ; Heat left extruder
M133 T1 ; Stabilize left extruder temperature
G130 X127 Y127 Z40 A127 B127 ; Default stepper Vrefs
G92 A0 B0 ; Zero extruders
M135 T1 ; Load left extruder offsets
G1 X-100 Y-65 F9000 ; Move to front left corner of bed
G1 Z0.3 F6000 ; Move down to purge
G1 X90 Y-65 E24 F2000 ; Extrude a line of filament across the front edge of the bed
G1 X100 Y-65 F180 ; Wait for ooze
G1 X110 Y-65 F5000 ; Fast wipe
G1 Z1 F100 ; Lift
G92 A0 B0 ; zero extruders
M73 P1 ;@body (notify GPX body has started)
; **** end of start.gcode ****

Right Extruder:

; **** Replicator 2X start.gcode ****
M73 P0 ; Enable build progress
G162 X Y F3000 ; Home XY maximum
G161 Z F1200 ; Home Z minimum
G92 Z-5 ; Set Z to -5
G1 Z0 ; Move Z to 0
G161 Z F100 ; Home Z slowly
M132 X Y Z A B ; Recall home offsets
M135 T0 ; Load right extruder offsets
G1 X-110 Y-75 Z30 F9000 ; Move to wait position off table
G130 X20 Y20 Z20 A20 B20 ; Lower stepper Vrefs while heating
M126 S[fan_speed_pwm] ; Set fan speed
M140 S[bed0_temperature] T0 ; Heat buildplate
M134 T0 ; Stabilize bed temperature
M104 S[extruder0_temperature] T0 ; Heat right extruder
M133 T0 ; Stabilize extruder temperature
G130 X127 Y127 Z40 A127 B127 ; Default stepper Vref
G92 A0 B0 ; Zero extruders
G1 X100 Y-70 F9000 ; Move to front right corner of bed
G1 Z0.3 F6000 ; Move down to purge
G1 X-90 Y-70 E24 F2000 ; Extrude a line of filament across the front edge of the bed
G1 X-100 Y-70 F180 ; Wait for ooze
G1 X-110 Y-70 F5000 ; Fast wipe
G1 Z0.5 F100 ; Lift
G92 A0 B0 ; Zero extruders
M73 P1 ;@body (notify GPX body has started)
; **** end of start.gcode ****

Both Extruders:

; **** Replicator 2X start.gcode ****
M73 P0 ; Enable build progress
G162 X Y F3000 ; Home XY maximum
G161 Z F1200 ; Home Z minimum
G92 Z-5 ; Set Z to -5
G1 Z0 ; Move Z to 0
G161 Z F100 ; Home Z slowly
M132 X Y Z A B ; Recall home offsets
M135 T0 ; Load right extruder offsets
G1 X-110 Y-75 Z30 F9000 ; Move to wait position off table
G130 X20 Y20 Z20 A20 B20 ; Lower stepper Vrefs while heating
M126 S[fan_speed_pwm] ; Set fan speed
M140 S[bed0_temperature] T0 ; Heat buildplate 
M134 T0 ; Stabilize bed temperature
M104 S[extruder0_temperature] T0 ; Heat right extruder
M104 S[extruder1_temperature] T1 ; Heat left extruder
M133 T0 ; Stabilize right extruder temperature
M133 T1 ; Stabilize left extruder temperature
G130 X127 Y127 Z40 A127 B127 ; Default stepper Vrefs
G92 A0 B0 ; Zero extruders
G1 X100 Y-70 F9000 ; Move to front right corner of bed
G1 Z0.3 F6000 ; Move down to purge
G1 X-90 Y-70 E24 F2000 ; Extrude a line of filament across the front edge of the bed
G1 X-100 Y-70 F180 ; Wait for ooze
G1 X-110 Y-70 F5000 ; Fast wipe
G1 Z0.5 F100 ; Lift
G92 A0 B0 ; Zero extruders
M135 T1 ; Load left extruder offsets
G1 X-100 Y-65 F9000 ; Move to front left corner of bed
G1 Z0.3 F6000 ; Move down to purge
G1 X90 Y-65 E24 F2000 ; Extrude a line of filament across the front edge of the bed
G1 X100 Y-65 F180 ; Wait for ooze
G1 X110 Y-65 F5000 ; Fast wipe
G1 Z1 F100 ; Lift
G92 A0 B0 ; Zero extruders
M73 P1 ;@body (notify GPX body has started)
; **** end of start.gcode ****

3. I don't know. I've seen mine do something like that, but I haven't worried about it.

[sygyzy]

KludgeGuru - thanks for the tips about the start g-code. I am at work so I can't check but just wondering: does this code just update the start wiping procedure while keeping most of the original "good" code from Simplify3D?

I am completely 100% new to G-Code but I think your left extruder g-code has a small error.

M135 T0 ; Load right extruder offsets

should be

M135 T1 ; Load left extruder offsets

Also, can anyone confirm that our build platform for the QIDI is 230 x 150 x 150? I believe the default S3D Flashforge Creator Pro profile lists it at something like 230 x 145 (or 148) x 150 .. so a shorter Y axis. I've also seen people post screenshots of their settings where the Y and Z numbers were even different from that.

Also, what is the 0,0 position of the machine? is it dead center? Or is it in one of the corners?

Lastly, if you install a glass plate and put a shim in, do you need to adjust your build platform settings? I mean it's really not 150 cm in the Z-Axis anymore right? It's more like 143 or something for a 1/4" thick plate.

[KludgeGuru]

KludgeGuru - thanks for the tips about the start g-code. I am at work so I can't check but just wondering: does this code just update the start wiping procedure while keeping most of the original "good" code from Simplify3D?

I am completely 100% new to G-Code but I think your left extruder g-code has a small error.

Yeah this just replaces the startup procedure, which gives you a good wipe instead of a blob, it does not effect the Simplify3D good stuff. I did not write the code, I believe it was copied from one of the other profiles. Anything after the semi-colon is just a comment and does not effect what the machine does... but good catch though.

[sygyzy]

Yeah I know about the comment, I think the key part is the T0 (right extruder) vs T1 (left extruder). Again, super appreciative of your help, and not at all trying to be a g-code Nazi here. Just something I saw that might have an actual effect on someone who is just cutting and pasting the code for real use.