The QIDI Tech X-Smart 3: High-Speed 3D Printing in a Compact Footprint
Space is always the first constraint in a home workshop. The QIDI Tech X-Smart 3 is a compact, fully enclosed CoreXY machine that punches well above its size. Build volume is 175 x 175 x 175 mm inside a ~380 x 380 x 400 mm chassis. That’s enough room for functional prototypes, small-batch parts, and cosplay details without taking over your desk.
Design and Build: Maximizing Space and Stability
The frame is rigid. CoreXY means the print head moves in X and Y while the bed only moves in Z, which reduces oscillating mass and lets the machine accelerate hard without shaking itself apart. The enclosure isn’t just for looks.
Beginner Note: An enclosure traps heat around your print. ABS, ASA, and Nylon crack and warp when they cool too fast. A stable internal temperature removes that variable, and the parts come out stronger with fewer layer-separation failures.
The direct drive extruder is mounted efficiently on the toolhead. That matters for flexibles and for keeping retraction distances short. Assembly out of the box is minimal, and the machine doesn’t ask for much ongoing maintenance.
High-Speed Performance Powered by Klipper
The X-Smart 3 runs Klipper, an open-source firmware that offloads motion planning to an external processor rather than the printer’s main board. Two features make the difference at speed: Input Shaping cancels out frame resonance so you don’t get ghosting on fast perimeters, and Pressure Advance compensates for nozzle pressure lag so corners stay sharp instead of blobbing.
In testing, PLA ran reliably at 250-300 mm/s with accelerations around 10,000-12,000 mm/s². PETG+ needed backing off to 150-200 mm/s and ~8,000 mm/s² to hold layer adhesion and surface quality. Compared to a standard Marlin Cartesian printer, that translates to 50% or better reduction in print time for most functional geometries.
Maker Tip: If you want to squeeze more out of the machine, pull up the `printer.cfg` file and run Klipper’s resonance compensation routine with an ADXL345 accelerometer. It measures your specific printer’s vibration signature and dials in Input Shaping values precisely. The defaults are good; the measured values are better.
Material Versatility and Print Quality Assessment
The hotend tops out at 300°C, and the enclosed chamber handles the full roster: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA (UV-resistant ABS), and Nylon. The direct drive handles flexibles cleanly at reduced speed.
Testing focused on Elegoo Rapid PETG+ (245°C extruder, 80°C bed) and Inland PLA+ (215°C extruder, 60°C bed) through a standard 0.4mm hardened steel nozzle. Layer heights of 0.2-0.28mm hit the sweet spot between speed and structural performance. Small functional parts, including printed gears from Printables.com, came out crisp with good dimensional accuracy. Overhangs and bridging were solid, consistent with what you’d expect from good cooling and tight motion control.
Example Slicer Settings for PETG+ (QIDI Slicer, based on PrusaSlicer)
* Layer Height: 0.24mm (for speed and strength)
* Perimeters: 3 (for structural integrity)
* Infill: 20% Gyroid (good strength-to-weight ratio)
* Print Speed (Perimeters): 120 mm/s
* Print Speed (Infill): 180 mm/s
* Extrusion Multiplier: 0.98 (fine-tuning for specific filament flow)
* Retraction: 0.8mm at 40 mm/s (direct drive friendly)
* Cooling Fan: 30% for first layer, 50-70% for subsequent layers
User Experience and Ecosystem Integration
The touchscreen handles file selection, basic monitoring, and tuning. Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and USB are all present for file transfer and remote access. QIDI ships its own slicer, QIDI Slicer, built on PrusaSlicer/SuperSlicer with pre-configured profiles for this machine. Beginners can print immediately without hunting down settings. Advanced users get full control through the same interface.
Because it runs Klipper underneath, the X-Smart 3 connects cleanly to OctoPrint (web-based printer management, typically on a Raspberry Pi) or a KlipperScreen setup on a dedicated display. Remote print management, plugin access, and community integrations all work without modification.
G-code Snippet Example (Start G-code for Klipper):
“`gcode
G90 ; Use absolute coordinates
M83 ; Extruder relative mode
M140 S{bed_temperature} ; Set bed temp
M104 S{hotend_temperature} ; Set hotend temp
M190 S{bed_temperature} ; Wait for bed temp
M109 S{hotend_temperature} ; Wait for hotend temp
G28 ; Home all axes
BED_MESH_CALIBRATE ; Run bed mesh leveling
G1 Z50 F1200 ; Lift nozzle
PRIME_LINE ; Custom macro for priming nozzle
“`
(Note: `PRIME_LINE` would be a user-defined Klipper macro.)
Real-World Applications and Value Proposition
For engineers iterating on functional prototypes, the X-Smart 3 turns around parts fast. Small electronics enclosures, jigs, fixtures, brackets: these are exactly what this machine is built for. ABS and ASA capability means prototypes aren’t just visual, they’re testable under real conditions.
Cosplay fabricators will get the most use out of it for detail work: LED mounts, prop embellishments, jewelry pieces, small armor inserts. The build volume rules out full helmets in one shot, but it covers every fiddly part that makes a build look finished.
For a small print farm or a tight desk setup, the X-Smart 3’s footprint lets you stack multiples vertically without eating your whole workspace. Consistent print quality means minimal babysitting per job.
Print Time and Filament Cost Breakdown (Hypothetical for a 50x50x50mm functional bracket in PETG+):
* Filament Used: ~35g (at 1.75mm diameter, 1.2g/cm³ density)
* Estimated Cost: ~$0.80 (based on $25/kg filament)
* Print Time (0.24mm layer height, 180mm/s infill): ~1 hour 15 minutes (compared to 2.5-3 hours on a non-Klipperized Cartesian printer)
The QIDI Tech X-Smart 3 is a capable machine for the space it occupies. Klipper out of the box, solid material range, real high-speed performance that holds quality, and a footprint that works on an actual desk. It sits in a useful spot between budget beginner machines and full industrial setups. If compact and fast is what you need, it delivers.