Artillery Sidewinder X3 Plus vs Qidi Tech i-Fast
Technical comparison · Fused filament fabrication (FFF/FDM)
Sidewinder X3 Plus and i-Fast are not direct competitors: very different prices (~6.7×). Sidewinder X3 Plus costs less (~€320) and is the entry-level choice; i-Fast offers more capability at a higher price (~€2150). Judge them by budget, not head-to-head.
| Parameter |
Sidewinder X3 Plus
Artillery
F2 · Intermediate
|
i-Fast
Qidi Tech
F3 · Advanced
|
|---|---|---|
| Identity | ||
| Launch year | 2023 | 2021 |
| Use tier | F2 — Intermediate | F3 — Advanced |
| Price | ||
| Price (€) | ~280–360 € | ~1800–2500 € |
| Universal specs | ||
| Dimensions (W×D×H) (cm) | 49.2 × 50.7 × 61 cm | 71 × 51 × 67 cm |
| Weight (kg) | 16.6 kg | 33 kg |
| Work area (mm) | 300 × 300 mm | 330 × 250 mm |
| Z-axis height (mm) | 400 mm | 320 mm |
| Maximum speed | 300 mm/s | 150 mm/s |
| Category specs | ||
| Footprint X×Y (short side) (mm) | 300.0 mm | 250 mm |
| Build height Z (mm) | 400.0 mm | 320 mm |
| Kinematics | Cartesian | CoreXY |
| Max nozzle temperature (°C) | 300.0 °C | 300 °C |
| Max bed temperature (°C) | 100.0 °C | 100 °C |
| Max print speed (mm/s) | 300.0 mm/s | 150 mm/s |
| Enclosed chamber | — | True |
| Filament sensor | — | True |
| Auto bed leveling | Mesh | — |
| Standard nozzle diameter (mm) | 0.4 mm | 0.4 mm |
| Multi-extruder | — | True |
| Native Klipper | — | False |
| Input shaper | — | False |
| Multicolor printing | — | True |
| Multicolor requires accessory | — | False |
| Max colors | — | 2 |
| Ecosystem | ||
| Cloud dependency | No | No |
| Software notes | The STM32 board runs Marlin and communicates via USB Type-C or TF card; it works with any standard slicer (Cura, PrusaSlicer, Simplify3D) without proprietary restrictions. Lack of Wi-Fi requires physical transfer of G-code files, but ensures full offline control. | The machine comes with the proprietary Qidi Print software, a slicer based on proven open-source architectures, specifically optimized for the profiles of the technical materials supported by the printer. Users can still generate G-code using other widely adopted third-party slicers on the market, such as Ultimaker Cura, PrusaSlicer, or Simplify3D, after manual configuration of machine and extruder parameters. Although it lacks native cloud features or advanced remote connectivity for corporate fleet management, it supports direct file transfer via local Wi-Fi or USB drives, ensuring a secure offline workflow for intellectual property protection. |
The differences that matter
- Price: Sidewinder X3 Plus 320 € vs i-Fast 2150 € — Sidewinder X3 Plus wins (+572%)
- Max print speed: Sidewinder X3 Plus 300 mm/s vs i-Fast 150 mm/s — Sidewinder X3 Plus wins (+100%)
- Build height Z: Sidewinder X3 Plus 400 mm vs i-Fast 320 mm — Sidewinder X3 Plus wins (+25%)
- Work area: Sidewinder X3 Plus 300×300 mm vs i-Fast 330×250 mm — Sidewinder X3 Plus wins (+9%)
Which one to choose
Choose Sidewinder X3 Plus if…
you value price, max print speed and build height z.
MakerSpecs is an independent atlas. We don't sell products: this comparison links to both sheets, where you'll find complete data and official links.