Gripen - QIDI X-Max X-Plus I-Mate (S) Fan Duct

Update April 5, 2021

Gripen version 1.4 released. It's just a minor fix as some have reported it hitting the motor, 1.4 is a bit thinner so it should clear.

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Description:

Gripen is a high flow fan duct for the QIDI Tech X-Max, X-Plus and I-Mate. In order for you to use it, you need the new extruder carriage. If you don't have it installed in your printer already, you can contact QIDI support and they will send one to you and you can switch it yourself. The new carriage has a fan duct attached by two screws. Once you have installed the new extruder carriage, dismount the fan duct that comes with it and mount the Gripen fan duct, it's a drop-in replacement.

The Gripen fan duct is easy to print and improves part cooling in most situations compared to stock. The stock duct blasts air from just one direction while this is a dual side fan duct which cools from the front, sides and rear.

While the duct is designed to blow air just below the nozzle, some air will still hit the nozzle and heat block so it's a good idea to use a silicone sock to keep the temperatures stable. When the nozzle is close to the bed and it's going from 0% to 100% fan speed the you will see a temp drop on the nozzle for a few seconds before it adjusts.

I have previously released the Draken fan duct. It was designed, redesigned and tested extensively before it was released with the main focus on high flow directional cooling. For maximum cooling with tough overhangs and bridges (ie. PLA prints) I recommend the Draken but the Gripen is also very capable doing this, the latest versions of both do an excellent job. 

You'll find the Draken here.

The Gripen fan duct is a new design that takes a different approach to the air flow. The air ducts move around the mounting screws and to two channels on each side for optimal flow. The airflow is higher than stock and the Draken due to its duct design but it has more channels.

The main point of developing the Gripen next to the Draken is for printing models that need less but more controlled cooling, meaning it cools from all directions but with less pressure from each outlet.

My Overhang Test in Four Directions - 65 to 75 degrees was used to test cooling.

Print Settings

Printer: QIDI Tech X-Max

Rafts: Doesn't Matter

Supports: Yes

Resolution: 0.2 mm

Infill: 20%

Filament: Fillamentum ABS Sky Blue

Notes:

Important! Disable printing of thin walls. High temperature resistant filament is required. I'm using ABS and it's fine for bed temperatures up to around 100 degrees. If you don't print with high bed temperatures (mainly PLA) you can print it in PETG. Print with supports inside the large duct only. You can also place some supports on the sides if you need to.

Place some supports below and inside the large duct.

Post-Printing

If you wish to use the optional Magnetic Mount, insert two round neodymium magnets into the mounting holes of the Gripen. The magnets should have a diameter of 6 mm and a thickness of 3 mm, they're quite common and inexpensive. In fact, they're identical to the magnets found in the X-Plus and X-Max top lid.

Print two distances. If you have 10 mm M3 screws, print the distance named "distance-for-10mm-screw.stl". You can also use 15 mm or 20 mm screws, print whatever distances matching your screws.

Next, remove the stock fan duct completely and also the extruder cover. Insert the M3 screws in the distances and screw them into the mounting holes for the fan duct from above, they should stick out slightly if you look from below.

Mount the extruder cover and insert the Gripen fan duct from below, it will attach using magnetic force and is easy to remove if you print something not needing a fan duct.