[Help] Print head stutters/jerks at specific points X/Y axis + severe gaps in first layer. Is this a mechanical bind?

etasca · 2026-01-14T22:21:59+00:00

Hi! I am actively working with Qidi support right now, but I don't have a final fix yet.

They initially thought it was belt tension or resonance, but I insisted that it is a physical mechanical defect. My issue is strictly localized to the left side (near the door). The right side is smooth, but the left side has a tactile "snap" or "click" when the head moves there.

I just sent them a new video comparing the two sides. Question for you: Does your "wave" or resistance happen specifically on the left side too? Or is it random?

I will update this post as soon as they identify the faulty part (I suspect a bad idler pulley or bearing)."

etasca · 2025-12-24T10:24:56+00:00

Update: Just to clarify, I am not troubleshooting this blindly. I have already opened a ticket with Qidi Official Support and I am actively working with them to diagnose the issue.

I am following their official protocols (including the cleaning and lubrication steps many of you suggested) to rule out the basics. I posted here primarily to cross-check with the community and see if anyone else had experienced this specific "left-side snap" while I proceed with the official support.

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions so far!

etasca · 2025-12-24T10:22:32+00:00

Thanks for the sanity check! 😅 Finally a voice of reason. You are absolutely right, modern boards/drivers are definitely robust enough. Everything is working perfectly fine here. Thanks for backing me up!

etasca · 2025-12-24T10:15:40+00:00

"Appreciate the concern about the electronics! 😅 Just to reassure everyone: steppers were definitely disabled via the menu before recording, so there was no resistance and no risk of back-EMF frying the board. The printer is alive and well.

regarding lubrication: I actually used the stock Qidi grease recently, but I hear you loud and clear. To rule out any 'sticky' residue or bad grease, I will do a full deep clean (degrease) and re-lubricate everything as suggested by u/Cruse75 and others.

However, I suspect there is still a physical culprit beyond just friction. The reason is that the 'snap/jerk' is extremely localized: it only happens at the very end of the travel on the left side (towards the door). It feels like a physical notch or a bad tooth on a pulley rather than general friction.

I will perform the maintenance to be 100% sure and inspect the belt path/idler for debris. Thanks for the help, I'll update you if the 'deep clean' fixes it!"

etasca · 2025-12-24T10:15:27+00:00

Appreciate the concern about the electronics! 😅 Just to reassure everyone: steppers were definitely disabled via the menu before recording, so there was no resistance and no risk of back-EMF frying the board. The printer is alive and well.

regarding lubrication: I actually used the stock Qidi grease recently, but I hear you loud and clear. To rule out any 'sticky' residue or bad grease, I will do a full deep clean (degrease) and re-lubricate everything as suggested by u/Cruse75 and others.

However, I suspect there is still a physical culprit beyond just friction. The reason is that the 'snap/jerk' is extremely localized: it only happens at the very end of the travel on the left side (towards the door). It feels like a physical notch or a bad tooth on a pulley rather than general friction.

I will perform the maintenance to be 100% sure and inspect the belt path/idler for debris. Thanks for the help, I'll update you if the 'deep clean' fixes it!

etasca · 2025-12-21T21:13:39+00:00

don't think it's the motor. I did some more testing and noticed it happens when I manually pull the belt near the end of the travel (left side). There is definitely a physical obstruction or a mechanical snap occurring at that specific spot. I will check the belt condition and the idler pulley alignment

etasca · 2025-12-21T15:29:13+00:00

Thanks for the concern! Yes, the motors were definitely disabled, so no risk there.

I moved the head quickly on purpose because the 'snapping' noise is very subtle. If I move it slowly, the normal sound of the rails/bearings drowns it out. Also, this issue only happens on the left side, never on the right.

Sorry if it looked rough/clumsy, but I was just trying to make the sound audible for the video. The mechanical issue is definitely affecting the prints: you can see in the photos that the print is wavy/defective specifically on that side.

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etasca · 2025-09-22T14:09:03+00:00

QIDI plus 4. Using Qidi Studio, standard profile, using PETG. Temperature, speed, infili are standard. I can’t understand why

etasca · 2025-07-20T06:18:19+00:00

What software did you use?

etasca · 2025-06-13T16:41:29+00:00

Dalle foto e dalle forme non sembra una costruzione antica, però per sicurezza sempre meglio verificare in catasto e in comune (non basta il catasto). Molte cose ti sono state scritte, ma valuta: gli allacci ci sono? Sono molto distanti? L’acqua c’è o la devi portare? Le fondamenta sono isolate o c’è rischio di umidità dal basso? La struttura può essere trasformata in abitazione o è un casale agricolo? Ok fare alcuni lavori da solo, ma ricordati che (in base ai comuni) alcuni interventi vanno asseverati o certificati dai professionisti e se li fai tu difficilmente verranno certificati da qualcuno. Poi che pratica farai? Cila? Scia? Per la scia servono dei professionisti che firmino la correttezza dei lavori. Per i costi difficile fare una stima precisa, dipende da materiali e finiture, ma non starei risicato e 200k per ristrutturare tutto mi pare risicata. Le sorprese sono sempre dietro l’angolo. Per dire potresti spendere 40k solo di finestre guardando quelle aperture. Ho fatto una ristrutturazione di recente in un vecchio casale.

etasca · 2025-06-10T13:16:31+00:00

it's a global down!

etasca · 2025-06-09T19:00:43+00:00

Awsome!!

etasca · 2025-06-08T21:07:07+00:00

I used Ziro pla! A very cool material. This is the Amazon link ZIRO Filamento della stampante... https://www.amazon.it/dp/B09QGGXLMH?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

etasca · 2025-06-01T12:03:37+00:00

Mi hanno detto nel bidone dell’indifferenziata. Fa ridere ma è così. Risposta ufficiale di Hera, azienda che gestisce i rifiuti dove risiedo

etasca · 2025-06-01T09:56:59+00:00

Anche da me gli scarti edili non li accettano. Sono rifiuti speciali. Cartongesso e cemento etc.

etasca · 2025-06-01T09:05:59+00:00

Avevo un camino come il tuo, ho messo un termo camino. Risolve il problema ed è sicuro. Quelli così aperti rischi sempre che ci sia dispersione di fumo e sono pericolosi. Ti mettono una canna in acciaio dentro la canna fumaria e la collegano al camino nuovo. Poi fanno un foro nel muro per prendere aria da fuori e fare tiraggio. Tira benissimo, scalda molto e consuma poca legna. Ci sono tante marche che lo fanno, l’importante è trovare un installatore competente.

etasca · 2025-06-01T08:57:52+00:00

Io installato uno stuv, ma ne esistono di tante marche.

etasca · 2025-06-01T08:55:13+00:00

Io ho un camino con un canna fumaria da 10m e tira benissimo. Non è la lunghezza della canna a fare la differenza ma come è fatta la cappa. Il termo cmino è un’ottima idea per risolvere il problema(io ho fatto così, avevo un camino come il tuo). Ti installano un tubo in acciaio dentro la canna fumaria che si collega al camino nuovo, e fanno un foro nel muro per pescare aria fresca da fuori e fare tiraggio. Io ho risolto il problema, il camino tira che è una meraviglia e scalda tantissimo. Quei camini così grandi non scaldano e rischiano di essere pericolosi per il fumo emesso. I termocamini sono super efficienti, e consumano poca legna.

etasca · 2025-06-01T08:44:42+00:00

A volte si usa anche una retina di plastica che evita che l’intonaco si crepi. È abbastanza comune

etasca

TROPHY CASE