QIDI 3D printer house fire: Difference between revisions
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In early 2025, a consumer reported a catastrophic house fire allegedly caused by a Qidi Tech Plus 4 3D printer. The incident gained widespread attention after the user claimed their report was censored on the company's official subreddit.<ref name="RedditPost">{{Cite web | | In early 2025, a consumer reported a catastrophic house fire allegedly caused by a Qidi Tech Plus 4 3D printer. The incident gained widespread attention after the user claimed their report was censored on the company's official subreddit.<ref name="RedditPost">{{Cite web |author=r/3Dprinting |date=10 January 2025 |title=R/QidiTech3d Permanently banned me for warning people after my family lost everything from a fire! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/1jnuju1/rqiditech3d_permanently_banned_me_for_warning/ |access-date=5 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> The subsequent public outcry led to a community-driven technical investigation that identified potential systemic design flaws, including an under-specified Solid-State Relay (SSR) and the absence of a thermal fuse, which could lead to thermal runaway.<ref name="MakerForums">{{Cite web |date=1 Apr 2025 |title=Qidi permanently banned a customer for reporting that a Qidi Plus4 caught fire and destroyed their entire house |url=https://forum.makerforums.info/t/qidi-permanently-banned-a-customer-for-reporting-that-a-qidi-plus4-caught-fire-and-destroyed-their-entire-house/92980 |access-date=5 Aug 2025 |website=Maker Forums}}</ref> In response, Qidi Tech initiated a program to provide replacement parts and released firmware updates, though the adequacy of these solutions was debated within the 3D printing community.<ref name="PFF164">{{Cite web |author=@3DMusketeers |date=1 Nov 2024 |title=Fire Hazards & Fight Club Fails! - PrintFixFriday 164 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvhohMVPl1Q |access-date=5 Aug 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
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===Solid-state relay (SSR) failure=== | ===Solid-state relay (SSR) failure=== | ||
The primary component identified as a point of failure was the Solid-State Relay (SSR), an electronic switch that controls power to the mains-powered chamber heater. The investigation concluded that the SSR was under-specified for the electrical load, particularly in regions with a 110V power grid. The higher current draw at 110V caused the SSR to operate near its maximum rating, leading to overheating and a high likelihood of failure.<ref name="RedditSSR_PSA">{{Cite web | | The primary component identified as a point of failure was the Solid-State Relay (SSR), an electronic switch that controls power to the mains-powered chamber heater. The investigation concluded that the SSR was under-specified for the electrical load, particularly in regions with a 110V power grid. The higher current draw at 110V caused the SSR to operate near its maximum rating, leading to overheating and a high likelihood of failure.<ref name="RedditSSR_PSA">{{Cite web |author=r/QIDI |date=2024 |title=PSA: SSR Safety Issues With Qidi Tech PLUS 4 Printer: 'The way it's been handled so far can only be described as negligent... As of right now I cannot recommend this printer.' |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/QIDI/comments/1ghh06b/psa_ssr_safety_issues_with_qidi_tech_plus_4/ |access-date=5 Aug 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> | ||
Crucially, a common failure mode for an SSR is to fail "closed," meaning it becomes permanently stuck in the "on" position. This allows unregulated power to flow to the heating element, causing a thermal runaway where the temperature rises uncontrollably until a component ignites.<ref name="MakerForums" /> | Crucially, a common failure mode for an SSR is to fail "closed," meaning it becomes permanently stuck in the "on" position. This allows unregulated power to flow to the heating element, causing a thermal runaway where the temperature rises uncontrollably until a component ignites.<ref name="MakerForums" /> | ||
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===Media coverage=== | ===Media coverage=== | ||
Leading 3D printing news publications, including Fabbaloo and All3DP, covered the story in detail, criticizing the initial censorship and calling for greater transparency.<ref name="Fabbaloo" /><ref name="All3DP" /> Influential YouTube channels, such as 3D Musketeers and Ricky Impey, produced in-depth videos explaining the technical issues, which were instrumental in pressuring Qidi Tech to publicly address the problem.<ref name="PFF186">{{Cite web | | Leading 3D printing news publications, including Fabbaloo and All3DP, covered the story in detail, criticizing the initial censorship and calling for greater transparency.<ref name="Fabbaloo" /><ref name="All3DP" /> Influential YouTube channels, such as 3D Musketeers and Ricky Impey, produced in-depth videos explaining the technical issues, which were instrumental in pressuring Qidi Tech to publicly address the problem.<ref name="PFF186">{{Cite web |author=@3DMusketeers |date=4 Apr 2025 |title=Qidi Plus 4: 3D Printer or Firestarter? - PrintFixFriday 186 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=6sktfZMhur4 |access-date=5 Aug 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | ||
===Community-developed solutions=== | ===Community-developed solutions=== | ||
In response to the perceived inadequacy of the official fix, technically skilled users designed and shared their own safety modifications. These community-driven guides detailed how to replace the under-specified stock SSR with a higher-rated component and, most importantly, how to add the missing thermal fuse to the heater circuit. This proactive response created a decentralized, open-source repair program that provided a more robust safety solution than the one offered by the manufacturer.<ref name="PrintablesFix">{{Cite web |title=Fail-safe Chamber Heater SSR for Qidi Plus 4 |url=https://www.printables.com/model/1053814-fail-safe-chamber-heater-ssr-for-qidi-plus-4 |access-date=5 Aug 2025 |website=Printables}}</ref><ref name="YouTubeFix">{{Cite web | | In response to the perceived inadequacy of the official fix, technically skilled users designed and shared their own safety modifications. These community-driven guides detailed how to replace the under-specified stock SSR with a higher-rated component and, most importantly, how to add the missing thermal fuse to the heater circuit. This proactive response created a decentralized, open-source repair program that provided a more robust safety solution than the one offered by the manufacturer.<ref name="PrintablesFix">{{Cite web |title=Fail-safe Chamber Heater SSR for Qidi Plus 4 |url=https://www.printables.com/model/1053814-fail-safe-chamber-heater-ssr-for-qidi-plus-4 |access-date=5 Aug 2025 |website=Printables}}</ref><ref name="YouTubeFix">{{Cite web |author=@3DPrintSOS |date=20 Nov 2024 |title=FIXING the Qidi Plus 4 - DIY SSR Upgrade |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYKGGycYN2w |access-date=5 Aug 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> | ||
==Current status== | ==Current status== | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Incidents]] | [[Category:Incidents]] | ||
[[Category:Qidi Tech]] | [[Category:Qidi Tech]] | ||
[[Category:Qidi Tech Plus 4]] | [[Category:Qidi Tech Plus 4]] | ||