TESTING METHODOLOGY

   As many of you are already aware i wanted to use Cura as the preferred slicer for all my 3D printer tests (to be as fair as possible). However, since QIDI insisted that Cura was not compatible with the X-Plus 3 i decided to use their very own QIDIslicer instead for when testing their own models. Now i was reluctant at first since again i want to be 100% certain for my results but since in the end i was able to manually input the same settings with their software as well (quality of 0.16mm, 20% infill density and cubic infill pattern) i decided to move forward with it instead (again, different slicing software so results might not be 100% on the spot, do keep that in mind). Nothing else changes of course so again I’ll be using 2 different sized models (downloaded from Cults3D / member Eastman) to record completion time at 100% speed. Second thing to test are noise levels and so once again I’ll be using my ExTech HD600 decibel meter placed roughly 30cm away to record the maximum noise coming from the 3D printer while printing. As for the 3rd test with the help of an UPS and two power meters I decided to also record not only the lowest and highest but also the average instant power consumption of the 3D printer in my hands.

   I do like doing side by side comparisons and well the QIDI produced what is probably the smoothest model of the 3 with the Sidewinder X2 by Artillery 3D producing the most detailed one (Creality with their Ender-5 S1 comes last with this filament but with others it's actually almost identical to the Sidewinder X2 model).