Qidi Plus 4 Lengthways Chamber Heater Casing

Replacement Chamber Heater Cover Unit for Qidi Plus 4

Model Update:  I've added a revision to the original model that includes a more curved path towards the outlet which slightly improves the overall air-flow.  These models will have the V3 extension on their model name.

Introduction

I designed this unit to address multiple goals:

• To lay the unit along the long side, which moves the fan further back and lower, which muffles the noise of the fan from the perspective of the user
• To move the fan away from being above the heating elements to improve the lifespan of the blower fan for which the rotor magnets are known to fail when they get too hot
• To allow for multiple paths for the air to exit to better cope with the full range of the Z-axis bed movement
• To ensure that airflow into the fan intake is as unrestricted as possible to allow for maximal airflow over the fan's hub to ensure that the motor doesn't overheat.

Recommended Filaments: PA-GF, or PET-GF.  Do not use carbon fiber filaments are they are known to be electrically conductive.  I used Polymaker PA6-GF25 in my model

Recommended Print Settings:

0.2mm layer height.
At least 4 walls.
At least 20% honeycomb infill.
10 bottom layers for better vertical wall strength, and 8 top layers.

Additional Pieces Needed:

• 12 of M3x8mm heat-set inserts (2 of these are optional)
• 3 of M4x10mm heat-set inserts
• 3 of M4x16mm hex machine screws
• 3 of M3x20mm hex machine screws and M3 washers (for mounting heater to frame)
• 5 of M3x12mm hex machine screws (for affixing backing plate to cover)
• 2 of M3x12mm hex machine screws (for affixing bracing guide for wiring)
• (Optional) 2 of M3x12mm hex machine screws (for affixing optional outlet baffle)(Model not yet uploaded)
• 15mm or 5/8" wide Kapton Tape for shielding cover from heater coils, as well as for affixing the thermal probe and its wiring in place (see included photo)

Assembly:

• Insert all heat-set inserts in their appropriate holes.
• Attach heater coils, fan, and thermal probe as pictures.  Use M4 bolts to hold the fan in place
• Affix the backing plate to the unit using M3 bolts
• Attach wiring guide and positional brace to the side of the main heater unit casing

Installation:

Note: The supplied Bracing Guide piece is designed to attach to the side of the heater unit, and be squeezed between the printer side panel and the side of the mainboard covering panel in the back left of the print chamber.  Coupled with the 3 screws attaching the unit from under the printer this effectively locks the unit in place against the inside left panel wall, and prevents it from interfering with the bed movement.  The bracing piece also acts as a wiring guide to shield and protect the wiring.

Steps:

• First move the print bed to 1mm below the nozzle tip
• Power off and unplug the printer.
• Remove the back panel
• Remove any existing heater unit,  Unplug all wiring and screws.
• Remove the left side panel
• If re-using the existing heater unit's electrical components, then install those into the new chamber heater unit now.
• Install heater unit, and affix in place from underneath the print using the  M3x20mm screws and washers.
• Ensure that the wiring is within the guiding path, and pass all wiring through the mainboard hole into the mainboard chamber
• Re-attach the left side panel ensuring that the wiring is not caught between the panel and the wiring guide.
• Re-plug all heater unit wiring
• Re-attach the back panel

After re-attaching everything, power the printer on, and set the chamber temperature to 1C to first check that the unit fan is working properly.  Then set the chamber temperature to 40C to verify that the unit is blowing warm air.

Enjoy!

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