QIDI MAX4, Review: Large-volume CoreXY 3D printer

Today we present the new QIDI MAX4 3D printer with its accessories in our analysis or review. A high-performance, large-volume printing system.

This large CoreXY QIDI MAX4 printer offers a print volume of 390 x 390 x 340 mm, ideal for those who want to make large pieces. In addition, it comes with its Polar Cooleer accessory to keep temperatures in check when working with PLA, preventing clogs. Thanks to its chamber temperature control, we can use a wide range of materials. This machine is compatible with the QIDI BOX system, an AMS (Automatic Material System) for using up to 4 different filaments.

In the following review, we will explain its features and how to use it without complications. If you want to know more about this type of machine, you can read our Guide to Filament 3D Printers.

• The QIDI MAX4 3D printer is available from QIDI starting at $1,049 as a launch offer.

Technical specifications

QIDI MAX4

• Build size: 390 x 390 x 340 mm / Core XY format
• Supported filament: PLA/ABS/ASA/PETG/TPU/PA/PC/CF/GF/PPS-CF
• Features: Resume printing / Filament sensor / AI webcam detection / Anti-return Z nuts
• Print speed: 800 mm/s max / 30 m/s² acceleration
• Transmission: 2x Servo Z / 1x Servo XY / X Linear guide / YZ 12mm bar guides / 1.5GT 10mm belts
• Nozzle diameter: 0.4 mm (0.2, 0.6, and 0.8 mm optional) / 1.75 mm filament
• Nozzle: Temperature 370 °C / Bi Metal / Metal gears
• Heating: Bed 120 °C / Chamber 65 °C / 3x PWM fans / 3-in-1 filter
• Leveling: Load sensors / Resonance
• Screen: 5″ capacitive screen / 800×480
• Printing platform: Double-sided magnetic steel sheet / Load sensor
• Connectivity: USB-A / Ethernet / Wi-Fi 2.4G/5G
• Camera and light: 1080p webcam / Front LED strip
• Heating: 150 W 500 W chamber / 700 W platform / Polar Cooler
• Dimensions: 558 x 578 x 612 mm / 40 kg / 47 kg Combo
• Software: QIDI Studio / QIDI Link / Optional Orca, Prusa Slicer…

Assembly, adjustment, and connection

Thanks to its design, setting up the new QIDI MAX4 is very easy. The Core XY structure offers a very robust metal and plastic frame. It has a front, side, and top sliding glass panel for ventilation in PLA or similar materials.

Unboxing and assembly

The large QIDI MAX4 comes perfectly protected with corks inside the transport box. If we order it with QIDI BOX, it comes housed inside the printer, and the Polar Cooler comes separately in the same general box. We need two people to handle the 50 kg weight of the assembly. We follow the detailed instructions included to disassemble and adjust everything necessary.

Basic QIDI MAX4 start-up

1. Remove the accessories box.
2. Remove the QIDI BOX fixing screws and take it out.
3. Cut the locking straps and remove the plastic parts.
4. Remove the screws securing the base plate.
5. Fit the side roll holder arm with the extra connection tube.
6. Turn on and follow the steps on the screen.

Start-up of QIDI BOX Polar Cooler

The QIDI MAX4 printer has QIDI BOX as an official accessory for the multifilament printing system and Polar Cooler to cool the head in materials such as PLA.

• See the QIDI BOX assembly in our review of the QIDI Q2

To assemble the Polar Cooler, simply follow the steps in the manual. It is very easy to set up.

1. Connect the control cable to the printer and pull it tight.
2. Pass the cooling tube inside the printer.
3. Clamp the cooling tube
4. Open the head and connect the tube, then close the head.
5. Connect the Polar Cooler to the power supply.
6. Activate cooling in the printer settings menu.

Thanks to this extra ventilation from the Polar Cooler directly on the head, we can keep the camera at the ideal temperature for materials such as PLA. With this system, we avoid blockages, and the filament maintains the ideal temperature in the gears until it enters the head and has to melt.

Axes and leveling of the 3D printer

Using the self-leveling and vibration systemincluded in the QIDI MAX4, we can have the operating system up and running in minutes. We just have to follow the steps shown to us. The first phase of leveling and vibration takes quite a long time. The normal leveling phase takes less time and does not always need to be performed.

Components, control, and 3D software

QIDI MAX4 structure

The QIDI MAX4 printer has a sleek and refined design. It features a hinged front door and a top cover with two positions for materials that require ventilation, if you do not have a Polar Cooler.

On the left side, we can mount the single roll holder, and on the right, the power connector. In this area, we have control connectors for BOX and Polar Cooler, an Ethernet connector, air outlets, belt tensioners, and a waste ejector. There are two openings for conveniently tensioning the belts without dismantling anything.

On the front, there is a 5″ rotating touch screen. In the upper area, there is a USB 2.0 port, which can be used to perform firmware updates and import 3D models.

Transmission, heating, and cleaning

Inside the box, there is an auxiliary fan for internal temperature control and another heating fan that can bring the camera up to temperature. There is also a 3-in-1 filter (G3, H12 HEPA, coconut/carbon). The base of the printer chamber is smooth and very easy to clean. The print head cleaning system uses friction and ejects debris directly into the rear of the printer.

In the lower area, we can see the two direct servo motors for the Z axis. The 12 mm guides have anti-return nuts on the worm screws to prevent geometry errors. In this same area, we have the power supply protected within the structure. For the X axis, we have a high-quality linear guide, and to move the Y axis, we have high-precision 1.5GT belts.

Camera and lighting

On one side, we have a FullHD video camera with a panoramic view. Next to it, on the upper frame, we have a small integrated LED light strip that provides good lighting.

Platform and creation board

At the bottom, there is a double-sided magnetic plate that can be heated evenly up to 120°C. The maximum print volume is 390 x 390 x 340. Thanks to the design of the base support, it can be fitted very easily. At the bottom of the base, there is an RGB LED strip that provides information on the percentage of work completed and other notifications.

Print head

The default print head on the QIDI MAX4 is made of high-strength metal components and can operate at up to 370°C. It has a powerful cooling fan, to which the Polar Coolercan be added if you have this extra.

The head is easy to remove by detaching the front plastic casing from its magnets. Both the heating head and the extruder can be replaced. We have a very convenient automatic and manual filament cutter. The filament loading tube comes with an LED loading indicator and fits naturally. When we connect the Polar Cooler, the whole unit is fully functional.

QIDI MAX4 controls

The QIDI MAX4 printer has a 5″ touchscreen that allows you to control all the basic aspects of this hardware. You can access the menus for leveling, temperature control, job loading, extruder, network connection, filaments, QIDI BOX, Polar Cooler, AI camera detection, and updates.

To activate Polar Cooler, we need to have Extruder cooler enabled in the print options menu. In the Filaments menu, go to the QIDI BOX loading settings. If we are always going to use the same rolls, we can disable detection at startup to reduce loading times.

Part design and laminator

The QIDI Studio software designed for this printer is a customized version of Bambu Studio, but we can use other software such as Orca or Pulsa Slicer. The program will guide us through the system configuration with our printer. We can connect it via Wi-Fi by looking at the printer’s IP address in its settings.

• To laminate the models , we will use the QIDI Studio program .
• 3D objectlibraries on the Thingiverse / Grab3D / Cults3D / MakeWorld websites
• If we want to design our own 3D pieces , we can use Tinkercad software .

Real-time management and camera

Within the QIDI Studio program, to have real-time control and view the integrated 1080p webcam, we need to go to the Device window. There we have a very simple environment (it should be Fluidd) where it is easy to manage all the settings and activate different functions live.

• NOTE: We can connect from any device with a browser using the machine’s IP address.

Test bench

Print quality

We tested the QIDI MAX4 printer with several 3D models and different materials. In our tests, we will use the most common material, PLA (polylactic acid), as well as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene). In addition, we printed an AMS model with three different colors to check the results.

As we can see in our classic PLA Benchy reference model, even a more complicated flowerpot with Polar Cooler activated prints perfectly. We observed that we have good final quality and verified that it is fast. The layers are well defined and no errors are apparent.

• PLA Benchy print: 18 min.

We perform a technical print in PETG with carbon fiber of a practical clamp model (PIP). The articulated print made in a single print gives us good results; this technical material is not a problem for the printer and works perfectly with it. We print a cat model in PLA-wood. A much slower material with some complications that, as we can see, gives us good results. We print using

We made another print of the AMS model of Optimus Prime with an articulated keychain design. This system takes much longer than with monofilament, but we avoid having to paint the element to color it. As we can see, the result is good and the articulated system works without any problems.

• 1 filament print: 2 hours.
• 3-filament print: 14 hours.

Thermal and noise

We looked at the thermal performance of the QIDI MAX4 printer. The system heats up normally and we did not notice any abnormal hot spots on its components. In terms of noise, the printer reaches a level of 56 dB during normal use. Using Polar Cooler, we reached 62 dB, and with BOX we reached 65 dB.

Review conclusions and purchase link

Opinion

This new QIDI MAX4 3D printer is a versatile solution, and thanks to its specifications, we can work with technical materials and also with large volumes. This allows us to produce all kinds of high-quality parts with different technical or thermal characteristics thanks to its heated chamber and various components. As we have seen in our tests, the finish of the parts is very good in all scenarios.

An interesting addition is Poolar Cooler, which avoids many problems when working continuously with PLA. We also have the extra feature of the QIDI BOX, which allows us to work with four different filaments optimally. The overall assembly is very simple, and we only need to follow the steps indicated in the manual. As we can see, production times are long if we work with four filaments, but it can be worth it.

Overall, this new QIDI MAX4 3D printer offers good results with technical materials and large volumes. It is a recommended system if we are interested in this size and specifications.

Where to buy at the best price

• The QIDI MAX4 3D printer is available from QIDI starting at $1,049 as a launch offer.

Rating