QIDI Tech has been specializing in printers for technical materials for years, and their machines are usually one of our top recommendations when looking for a versatile machine where the use of these types of materials is a requirement.
If you follow us regularly, you already saw that the QIDI Q1 Pro marked a turning point in the lineup, and now the Q2 arrives as its successor with changes that are not simply releasing a new model with small tweaks… There are interesting design decisions, some surprises in the specs and a filament management accessory that deserves its own analysis.
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QIDI Q2
The QIDI Q2, as we have already mentioned, is the direct successor to the Q1 Pro and occupies the high end of QIDI Tech’s catalog. A CoreXY machine, active heated chamber, high-temperature hotend… the Q-line DNA remains, but with some changes worth reviewing before buying, especially if you already own the Q1 Pro and are considering the upgrade.
Physically, the Q2 surprised us with how compact it is for the build volume it offers. Its 402 × 438 × 494 mm total dimensions and 18.1 kg weight provide a build area of 270 × 270 × 256 mm, which slightly exceeds that of the Q1 Pro.
The extruded aluminum chassis has good rigidity, something we always like to highlight in QIDI machines because its performance in this regard is very important when printing — overall build quality and assembly are good… not exceptional, but QIDI improves with each new generation. The glass door improved in our view compared to the Q1, with a more comfortable knob and solving some of the opening issues we saw in the previous model.
The Z-axis uses four lead screws driven by a single stepper motor via a synchronization belt, which guarantees synchronized movement without the need for additional manual calibration. Although it is a reliable system, we would have liked them to incorporate two independent motors to automatically adjust axis deviations precisely.
The heated chamber is active, with a 280 W PTC heater that maintains the interior at 65°C in a stable manner. This is the most relevant difference compared to the Q2C, which does not include a heated chamber. The hotend cooling uses a 5015 radial fan with dual ducts below the nozzle, plus an auxiliary side fan for materials like PLA — though in our view, dual-sided cooling would be ideal for more uniform part cooling. For steep overhangs, the slicer automatically manages the auxiliary fan.
We also have an air filtration system that filters up to 99.5% of dust particles and VOCs. The Q2C does not include an integrated filter; it offers it as an optional accessory. This is especially important on machines working with certain technical materials that tend to emit potentially harmful particles.
Additionally, it is worth noting that the assumption that certain filaments are safe in this regard is not entirely accurate — having this type of filtration is more than necessary for these types of printers/technologies.
Moving on to the QIDI Q2’s extrusion system: it uses a “direct drive” system with dual hardened steel gears and a transmission ratio of 8.9:1. A competent gear ratio with excellent filament grip and precise retraction with most materials.
TPU up to Shore 95A feeds without issues.
The QIDI Q2 features a bimetallic hotend that reaches up to 370°C with a hardened steel nozzle. A machine fully prepared for abrasive materials from day one.
The build platform features a 6mm aluminum base with a magnetic textured PEI sheet. The maximum temperature it can reach is 120°C, sufficient for any material the hotend supports. Our experience during our tests with adhesion and part removal has been excellent: flex the plate and parts release without forcing — though if temperatures and zoffsets are not well tuned for certain materials, removal can be tricky, but that is a matter of calibration and testing.
The QIDI Q2 continues to use the nozzle as a sensor via an integrated load cell. By not relying on an external probe, extra adjustments like zoffset are avoided, as the system measures directly and allows manual correction to the user’s preference. The result for the first layer is very consistent and also adapts to different print surfaces.
The use of KAMP (Klipper Adaptive Meshing and Purging) can be enabled on the Q2; this function adjusts the leveling mesh to the actual print area instead of running a full bed mesh on every job. The official wiki includes instructions on how to enable it. We consider this a good feature — not only because it can reduce startup time, but also because it often improves leveling compensation.
As we mentioned, the QIDI Q2 is a CoreXY machine that features linear guides on the X-axis. The belts use 1.5GT pitch (1.5mm versus the standard 2mm of GT2), which reduces vertical surface artifacts (VFAs) that can appear on smooth flat surfaces. In practice this is noticeable compared to other CoreXY machines at the same price: flat surfaces with ABS or ASA come out noticeably cleaner.
Maximum speed: 600 mm/s with 20,000 mm/s² acceleration. In real quality printing with technical materials we stayed at somewhat under half that. With PLA or PETG you can push it higher, but maximum speed is the machine’s ceiling for free movement, not the typical working speed.
On the machine management side, we have a 4.3-inch touchscreen (480 × 272 px, capacitive) that is fluid and menus are well organized for daily use, although the touch interface has room for improvement in some advanced options.
We also have an integrated 1080P “AI” camera on the front panel, useful for timelapses and automatic failure detection.
WiFi/Ethernet and USB are the methods available for file management. The QIDI Link mobile app works via QR codes that refresh every 2 minutes; you need to select AWS servers (outside China) to avoid latency, though the app is very basic and not very intuitive.
We also have access to the Fluidd interface accessible from your computer’s web browser when the printer is on your network; this is the option we recommend for printer control, as it gives us access to all options.
QIDI Box
The QIDI Box is another addition that arrived alongside the QIDI Q2; this new official QIDI accessory allows management of up to 4 spools simultaneously, with automatic material change and active drying up to 65°C while printing. Up to 4 units can be chained for up to 16 different colors or filaments in our prints.
Just as we mentioned about the QIDI Q2’s extrusion system, the QIDI BOX uses a similar solution in its extruder along with a powerful drive motor… which generates some distinctive noises that we will discuss further ahead.
As we already mentioned, the QIDI BOX has a powerful heater for filament drying that can maintain up to 65°C, which is perfect for working with technical materials.
An interesting detail is the inclusion of a small rear opening for moisture evacuation when using it in drying mode, allowing more efficient moisture removal.
Another interesting feature of the QIDI BOX is the option to automatically resume a print if the filament runs out, as long as the filament is configured with the same characteristics… we can finally stop losing prints because a spool ran out, which is very welcome.
Also, as is becoming common in these devices, we have an NFC reader to automatically detect the filament type on compatible filaments, so the system uses the correct values for that material automatically.
From our perspective, although many associate these devices with multicolor printing, we consider the QIDI BOX an ideal complement for the QIDI Q2. They allow automatic filament loading management and keeping our materials in optimal conditions, especially when working with technical filaments. Additionally, they facilitate the use of support filaments for perfect overhangs, allow automatic print resumption if filament runs out and enable printing parts in multiple colors/materials; all while keeping in mind the material waste and time that these types of systems can involve.
Specifications table: QIDI Q2 Series
| Especificación | QIDI Q2 | QIDI Q2C | QIDI Q1 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology | FDM CoreXY | FDM CoreXY | FDM CoreXY |
| Build volume | 270×270×256 mm | 270×270×256 mm | 245×245×245 mm |
| Extruder | Direct Drive 8,9:1 | Direct Drive 8,9:1 | Direct Drive |
| Max. hotend temp. | 370 °C | 370 °C | 350 °C |
| Max. bed temp. | 120 °C | 120 °C | 120 °C |
| Heated chamber | Active 65°C (PTC 280W) | No | Active ~60°C |
| Max. speed | 600 mm/s | 600 mm/s | 350 mm/s |
| Max. acceleration | 20.000 mm/s² | 20.000 mm/s² | 10.000 mm/s² |
| Belts | 1.5GT (anti-VFA) | 1.5GT (anti-VFA) | Standard GT2 |
| Leveling | Celda de carga (nozzle-as-sensor) | Celda de carga (nozzle-as-sensor) | Traditional probe |
| Firmware | Klipper (QIDI) + Fluidd | Klipper (QIDI) + Fluidd | Klipper (QIDI) |
| Processor | Cortex-A35 1,1 GHz / 512 MB RAM | Cortex-A35 1,1 GHz / 512 MB RAM | Cortex-A53 1,5 GHz / 1 GB RAM |
| Display | 4.3″ capacitive touch | 4.3″ touch | |
| Tangle sensor | Only with QIDI Box | Only with QIDI Box | Built-in as standard |
| Filter | 3-in-1 (G3+HEPA H12+carbon) | Optional (not integrated) | Activated carbon |
| AI camera | Sí (1080P) | No | No |
| Dimensions | 402×438×494 mm / 18,1 kg | 402×438×494 mm / 16,9 kg | 425×425×490 mm / 19,5 kg |
Before finishing the specifications section, and given that these QIDI Q2 Series machines are designed for technical filaments requiring high temperatures — here is a summary: we have an extrusion system that can reach up to 370°C, the print bed/platform reaches a maximum of 120°C and the active heating system for the print chamber reaches 65°C… a machine very well prepared for almost any need.
Additionally, the machine features construction with flame-retardant materials for greater safety and holds MET certification. This safety certification is currently valid for the US and Canada.
QIDI Q2: Unboxing
In our case we reviewed the standard QIDI Q2, not the Q2C which — as we mentioned in the specs section — is slightly different in some aspects… although we have to say we love the Q2C’s color.
The machine arrives very well packaged and practically ready to use. Assembly is reduced to installing the hotend, connecting the labeled cables and removing the Z-axis transport protectors. About 15 minutes from opening the box to having the machine ready for the setup wizard.
The box contents include basic tools (Allen keys, spatula, tweezers), sample filament and some spare parts.
The initial setup wizard guides the user through the entire configuration process — language selection, leveling, cloud connection, etc. — a straightforward process that is very welcome.
Once the machine is up and running, the ideal is to launch one of the included projects or open the slicer, QIDI Studio (an OrcaSlicer fork) which includes preconfigured profiles that work well as a starting point. Experienced users can also use OrcaSlicer. Our recommendation: QIDI Studio for the first few weeks, then migrate to OrcaSlicer once you know the machine and if you need functionality not available in QIDI Studio or if you use the QIDI Box.
In our case we printed the classic benchy test, which came out with very good quality in approximately 18 minutes.
We also recommend, as always, running the calibration tests on the default profiles that can be generated from the slicer itself to fine-tune temperature, flow, retractions, etc. — although the default profiles work well, it is always ideal to run these tests to tune them to the maximum.
In addition to the basic tests, we ran a stress test that helped us identify possible areas for improvement… these changes helped us fine-tune printing profiles, but remember that the ideal is to create profiles per filament type and even color if you want to tune to the maximum.
Below is a QIDI video showing the process:
Analysis and user experience of the QIDI Q2
After several weeks of intensive use, we have to say that we are, in general, very happy with the performance of this QIDI Q2 — the aspect that gave us the most occasional issues was use with the QIDI BOX.
Using filaments like PLA the machine performs very well, but you need to open the top cover so the temperature doesn’t rise excessively. Without that airflow, jams can occur. To avoid artifacts on large flat surfaces, it is highly advisable to run the calibration tests available in the slicer itself — temperature, flow, retractions, volumetric speed and VFA. Although the default profiles work quite well, running fine-tuning tests for better finishes is essential… on any machine!!!
With PETG, QIDIs have always had excellent performance and this Q2 proves it. Good adhesion, controlled retraction, clean surfaces. It is one of the materials where the Q2 works most predictably, although some minimum testing is also advisable to fine-tune the settings.
If we get excellent results with PETG, ASA/ABS is where it truly shines. Here the Q2 shows its greatest strength. Large parts without warping, impeccable layer adhesion, surface finish far above what a passive chamber can achieve. If you use these types of filaments, QIDIs with their active heated chamber make the difference.
Nylon-CF and PC are normally difficult technical filaments. With them is where the QIDI Q2 has no direct competitor in its price range. The 370°C hotend and 65°C chamber combined deliver results that on other machines in the same range only come with much more calibration work and external accessories to heat the enclosure. Nylon-CF parts come out with good layer adhesion and no warping, same with PC. In any case, for these filaments it is essential to run all calibration tests first to get a well-tuned profile.
With TPU we recommend a minimum hardness of 95A. Below that, jams and printing problems can occur, especially when using the QIDI BOX where the minimum advisable is 64D. An important detail: the filament cutter can fail with TPU. An important note that the wiki suggests manually pressing the cutter before retracting the filament and disabling auto-cut in the gcode_macro.cfg file before the leveling process to avoid interruptions. With that controlled, the direct drive handles these flexible filaments well.
Here is a quick reference table as a summary
| Material | Temp. hotend | Temp. cama | Cámara | Resultado |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 210-220 °C | 60 °C | Open sunroof | ★★★★☆ — Good, open the top cover |
| PETG | 235-245 °C | 80 °C | Optional | ★★★★★ — Excellent |
| ABS | 240-260 °C | 100 °C | 65 °C | ★★★★★ — No warping, very reliable |
| ASA | 245-260 °C | 100 °C | 65 °C | ★★★★★ — Excellent |
| Nylon-CF | 270-290 °C | 80 °C | 65 °C | ★★★★★ — Excellent, requires tuning |
| PC | 280-300 °C | 110 °C | 65 °C | ★★★★☆ — Very good, requires tuning |
| TPU (95A) | 220-240 °C | 40 °C | Open sunroof | ★★★★☆ — Good with cutter adjustment |
Regarding the QIDI BOX, it had a somewhat troubled launch… version 1 arrived with significant design issues: overly tight angles in the PTFE tubes and an excessively tight filament hub. QIDI made improvements with an update kit in the second version: lower access panel, new entry guides, improved buffer and a printer support structure to improve the tube angle toward the extruder.
With the updated version, the system works much better. Color changes are still slow, between 2 and 3 minutes per change. RFID/NFC recognition works well with QIDI brand filaments for automatic parameter adjustment. For TPU with the QIDI Box, as we mentioned, the minimum hardness is 64D (more rigid than the 95A Shore A we can use if loading filament directly into the printer’s hotend).
The active drying function is where the QIDI Box is simply brilliant. Keeping Nylon or PC at a controlled temperature while printing visibly improves consistency. If that is your primary use case, the accessory justifies its price. As a pure multicolor system, the slow changes and less refined experience compared to other systems on the market are factors to consider.
In day-to-day use, the screen is comfortable for quick operations. Filament loading works without issues. Removing parts from the bed is easy. Accessing the hotend to clear jams takes about 2 minutes. The team at QIDI continues to apply community suggestions to improve their printers, which is appreciated.
As for reliability, incidents have been few. The occasional jam, mainly when using the QIDI BOX. The hotend power cable should be checked periodically as it tends to come loose in some cases. The AI failure detection is worth calibrating carefully or disabling at first to avoid unnecessary stoppages.
One aspect of the QIDI BOX we did not like much was the filament inlet, which left some dangerously tight angles.
As always, to solve it we used our Revopoint 3D scanner to create a mod that allows much better filament entry and avoids those problems. We will try to share this mod in case you are interested.
As for noise… 50 to 60 dB during normal printing. It is not a quiet machine. The main noise sources are the fans and the feed mechanism when the QIDI Box is connected. In a workshop or separate work area it is not bothersome; near the normal work area it can be an issue.
QIDI Studio works well as a starting point and the factory profiles are reasonably well tuned, plus it offers synchronization with the machine, QIDI BOX and QIDI Cloud for remote management. Although it has not always worked well for us, with some synchronization issues with the QIDI BOX or drops with the QIDI Cloud.
The QIDI Link mobile app was the most disappointing aspect: frequent connection failures, not very intuitive and missing some options. In the end we only used it for occasional monitoring when away from the workshop, preferring Fluidd management from the browser.
QIDI Q2… DIY improvements
The Q2 runs Klipper with QIDI’s own interface on its screen and Fluidd for browser-based management. For advanced users already familiar with Klipper, having full access to the configuration, customizable macros and the ability to tune the machine beyond what the slicer allows is a very positive feature.
We recommend keeping these two sources/repositories handy: bluedrool/Qidi-Q2-tuning-tweaks-and-mods, focused on motor calibration and general adjustments that improve QIDI’s implementation, and the community wiki qidi-community/q2-wiki, with solutions to known issues, software installation guides and advanced configurations. We highlight some of them that may be interesting to get the most out of your machine:
- TMC Autotune: ajuste automático de los controladores TMC para optimizar el par motor y reducir ruido y temperatura de los motores paso a paso. La diferencia en ruido es perceptible aunque en nuestras pruebas tampoco acaba de convencernos por encontrar ciertos problemas al activarlo.
- Thermal monitoring in Fluidd: add the host CPU and hotend board temperature sensors to the interface. With 512 MB of RAM and complex macros during long high-temperature prints, having this data visible is useful for better machine monitoring.
- Bed-lower macro at end of print: automatically lowers the bed to the bottom when a print finishes, making it easier to remove large parts without having to reach in from the top.
- Configuration backup before firmware update: official QIDI updates can desync the Z-axis in some cases. The repository includes the backup procedure for
.cfgfiles before updating. - Bed tramming with Nylok nuts: the factory leveling nuts tend to loosen with use due to temperature. A popular mod is replacing them with Nylok nuts and adding
[screws_tilt_adjust]toprinter.cfg(with the four bed point coordinates documented in the wiki), which allows improving leveling by runningSCREWS_TILT_CALCULATE. - Z-homing point randomization: since the QIDI Q2 uses the nozzle as leveling and homing sensor, repeated probing at the same point can leave marks or even damage the PEI sheet over time. The community wiki documents a
[homing_override]macro that randomly varies the probing point ±10 mm from the bed center each cycle. - KlipperScreen as display alternative: for those who prefer the Klipper interface directly on the printer’s touchscreen, the repository wiki documents the complete installation process on the Q2, including GoodixTouch touchscreen configuration and the systemd service. Installation takes about 30 minutes and a revert procedure is also documented in case you want to go back to the original software.
- LED control macros: the official wiki documents the use of
SET_PIN PIN=caselight VALUE=1andVALUE=0to automate turning lights on and off at the start and end of each print. A small detail but one that makes visual monitoring more convenient.
The QIDI Q2 runs a proprietary Klipper fork maintained by QIDI. This creates a direct dependency on the manufacturer: if QIDI stops updating its fork, users are left with an installation that receives no Klipper improvements, making it progressively harder to maintain and potentially incompatible with third-party plugins or tools. This is not a problem exclusive to QIDI. It is the usual pattern for any brand that distributes a modified version of open-source software without committing to keep pace with the original community.
The MisterSheikh/Qidi_Q2_Mainline_Klipper repository is a project that addresses this. The author had to solve many key issues to make it possible: USB usage of the GD32F425 MCU (an STM32F407 clone with incompatibilities in Klipper’s USB driver) and the CS1237 chip driver that manages the hotend load cell. Thanks to their work, the QIDI Q2 can run official Klipper, Moonraker and your frontend of choice, with access to all future updates without depending on QIDI. However, we remind you that this process may require certain tools and a minimum level of knowledge… before embarking on it we advise you to prepare well, as these changes can void the manufacturer’s warranty and even damage your machine.
Final verdict on the QIDI Q2
The QIDI Q2 delivers where it matters, given this machine’s focus. The 65°C active heated chamber and 370°C hotend are key advantages for working with technical materials. If that is what you are looking for, the Q2 is among the most capable options in this price range. ABS, ASA, Nylon-CF and PC with results that on other machines in this range require much more work — or simply cannot be achieved.
As a note for QIDI Q1 users, one of the most striking — and least expected — changes is in the processor. The Q1 Pro used a Cortex-A53 at 1.5GHz with 1GB RAM. The Q2 steps down to a Cortex-A35 at 1.1GHz with 512MB RAM. Keeping in mind that Klipper is the firmware, this reduction could in some cases affect complex macros and interface performance when multiple processes are running simultaneously. Fortunately, the community already has ways to optimize the Linux environment to compensate and keep the system performing optimally.
In return, the QIDI Q2 gains in build volume and improves its kinematics. Heated chamber thermal management is more stable at 65°C than on the Q1. The leveling system evolved to an integrated load cell in the hotend (nozzle as sensor), eliminating the dependency on an external probe and improving precision. The Q1 Pro included a filament tangle sensor as standard. On the Q2 this function is only available when the QIDI Box accessory is connected.
Although QIDI machines have historically not been for beginners, the Q2 continues to improve in that respect, while its technical focus remains aimed at demanding users with some experience. Using Klipper, opening the top cover to print certain filaments without jams, initial calibration and profile tuning: all of this requires the user to put in some effort. For the maker with a technical background who wants engineering-level capabilities without an industrial price, the QIDI Q2 is a hard option to beat. If the budget is tighter, the Q2C is an alternative from the same family with identical kinematics and hotend, but without a heated chamber or integrated filter.
Where to buy the QIDI Q2?
QIDI has their own online store where you can buy the Q2/Q2C directly as well as accessories and spare parts.
In any case, here are some links to other reference stores:
QIDI Q2 maintenance
Something that is often overlooked but we consider very important — especially for users for whom this is their first printer — is maintenance of this type of machine. Below are some of our recommendations:
- Las guías lineales del eje X necesitan lubricación con grasa de litio cada 200-300 horas de impresión.
- The air filter should be checked every few months depending on use with particle-generating materials: the official wiki covers the activated carbon filter replacement procedure.
- The belts should be inspected every 500 hours; the wiki includes the tension adjustment procedure.
- The hardened steel nozzle holds up well with abrasive filaments, but should be inspected regularly if you do a lot of work with CF or fiberglass.
- Before any firmware update, always back up your
.cfgfiles.
Although we have mentioned it several times throughout the review, QIDI maintains an official wiki with detailed technical documentation for the Q2: maintenance procedures, Klipper configuration guides, specific error resolution and firmware updates.
It is the first place to look for any technical issue.
Some highlighted wiki content we also recommend reviewing:
- enabling KAMP (Klipper Adaptive Meshing)
- Specific guide for TPU
- LED control macros
- timelapse configuration
- procedure for using the full build volume
- list of error codes with their solutions.
We also have a community-maintained wiki on GitHub with solutions to common problems not covered in the official documentation; guides for installing KlipperScreen or Spoolman, KIAUH bug fixes, and the eMMC firmware flashing procedure when the operating system becomes unusable.
