QIDI TECH Shadow 5.5 S 3D Printer, UV LCD Resin Printer with Dual Z axis Liner Rail, 3.5 Inch Touch Screen,Build Size 4.52"(L) X 2.55"(W) X 5.9"(H)

I ordered this printer on Thursday and received it on Saturday. Order to delivery was outstanding.During the unboxing, the first thing I noticed was that it was packaged extremely well - closed-cell foam boxes between the box walls and all surfaces of the printer; this is the good polypropylene (I think) foam; not Styrofoam - so no little balls from broken Styrofoam to chase around. The printer and all the components were TIGHTLY packed within - not so tight that they were overly difficult to remove, but tight enough that you are assured that any event short of a meteor strike would leave the contents undamaged - a sure sign of a quality operation that cares about its customers!There are purpose-built recesses - with covers - in the packaging that contains all the goodies QIDI is in the habit of shipping with their printers. It comes with all the tools you'll need for printing models and maintaining the printer - plastic and metal scrapers, Allen wrenches, screwdriver, hex driver. It also includes a face mask, some filter cones, and a few pairs of nitrile gloves. My kit also contained two sheets of leveling paper and a spare film for the bottom of the resin vat. A flash drive with software, samples to print, and help videos were also in the box. As one would expect, a small bottle of resin is included as well. And, of course, a user manual - both a printed one and a pdf file on the USB drive.Set up was straightforward: install the build platform, "square" and level the build platform; set the Z-axis zero and test the DLP screen. The controls are familiar - very similar to the look and feel of the X-Max sitting next to it in my workshop. The loudest thing on this puppy was the cooling fan - the Z-Axis moves cleanly and silently. QIDI had the forethought to lay a good bead of lubricant along the screw that drives the build platform in Z.Overall, the build quality looks great! Everything above the electronics enclosure is metal (except the cover, of course!). It runs from an external power supply, and there is an on/off rocker on the back of the machine next to the socket for the power supply. A small fan, also on the back, draws air through the machine. Two cages on top of the electronics box hold filter packs over the air vents behind the resin vat. There is a USB port on the right-hand side, and the touch screen is on the front face. A red-tinted clear plastic cover sits atop the whole thing. The corners of the base look decorative, but the thickness provides additional protection for the unit against the knocks and bumps it's bound to experience over its life.The software is ChiTuBox and was easy to get the hang of. A configuration file for the printer is included on the flash drive and was imported into the software without issue - no mucking about with the settings was required and the test print came off without a hitch.Unlike the X-Max and other QIDI FDM printers, this is a USB drive-fed device only. There is no network connectivity and no other means to feed it models than via a USB flash drive - its size makes it convenient to have on the desk for quick "plug and chug" production of models, so this doesn't rank as a detractor. Its build volume is typical of similar desktop DLP printers.I have no concerns with this printer going forward. It works fine, but I know from experience that should I have a problem with it QIDI is right there behind me. I have never experienced customer service like I've received from QIDI on my X-Max FDM printer (even stupid noob questions answered with calm patience and insightful suggestions).Are you looking for a DLP printer? I think you might have just found it!

Well I joined the resin printer club just this Dec 2019. I have used a Lulzbot FDM printer for a couple years, but wanted more detail.After doing some research and comparison I decided on the Qidi Tech Shadow 5.5sThe printer came very well packed! First rate out of the box.Setup was quick and easy just follow along the directions and videos. Leveling is really easy (it sounds more complex than it is). The printer itself is solid and robust.A test print worked fine out of the gate. Then next few prints worked out for the most part once I relearned the process of supports for resin printing (different thinking than FDM)Super pleased with the printer!!!! First rate quality all around and excellent customer service... I should know.So just this past month of February 2020 (2 months owned) I had a print fail. Not fall off, not under cured. Simply printed half way thru object.. i did not know until later when printer head was above the vat.I thought how odd I've printed this before, so I gave it go again. I quickly realized that the printer was not printing. I started a new print twice with the machine doing everything but curing the resin.I discovered that it appeared to be a UV lamp issue. Running the test setting for the uv lamp revealed no uv light.Crap. ... I sent off an email to Amy (listed right on the printer as after sales contact) and got a response within a day! So kudos for a quick and responsive time to acknowledge.From there we communicated back and forth with Amy and tech support and videos having me test certain connections and parts of the equipment. Another fine point, their videos of what to do were great, Clear and precise left no guesswork about what they meant.Working together (even with the time delay response due to me in Canada and support in China) was painless and we quickly narrowed down the issue to 1 main guess. The UV lamp itself appeared to have failed!Amy sent off a replacement with tracking.. it was here within a week. NO complaints on shipping or quality of replacement parts. It was well packed , arrived safe and sound. I followed their test and install procedure and I was back in business in less than a week.My thoughts on this: The uv lamp in the printer I think was just a fluke its so rare for a lamp to go. LCD screens yes as they are consumables but not usually the UV lamp.So the short of a long story..Excellent printer with amazing quality out of the gate. Excellent customer service and a genuinely caring support staff!A job well done both in printer development and production and service.As a bonus to answer a question I see a lot. Yes there is a slight odor smell from the resin even with the filters, but unless your in a closed room it should not be overwhelming (and you should not be using a resin or really any 3d printer) in that type of space.If your on the fence I say buy it and enjoy the amazing detail and quality it can produce , its a excellent value for the money. If you are new to 3d printing ... there is a learning curve. Period. No matter what printer or method you will have to do some learning about what works in prints and doesn't.A very happy and satisfied Qidi Tech customer!

I've printed a ton on this printer now after having it a few months, and I've only got one complaint which I'll cover in a minute. Otherwise, the build quality is great. The touchscreen is responsive, it holds level well, the filtering really does keep the resin from taking to the air much (just opening a bottle stinks up a room far worse than running the printer with the cover on), and it's super stable. Even pushing the limits of the build area, I get none of the typical issues; I see _no_ layer shifting or uneven curing etc.My one complaint, and I knew was the case this when I decided to buy it, is that it is slow. I knew it would print slower than a mars etc, but I didn't realize just how much slower. With the Siraya "fast" (lol) ABS like in white, the layer time is like 18s, which is ~3x what most people recommend for the mars with the same resin. I tend to print a lot of minis where the speed would be more useful than the stability at max volume, but I've got a few big prints through and a few more to do soon, so I think I'd still make the same choice. Honestly, I may look into swapping in a mars or mars pro backlight, as otherwise it's a great printer for the money.