3D Printer Help File (hope it helps!)

Step 1) Choose a model from Pinshape or Thingiverse that you would like to print out.

Step 2) Download the file. It appears that the downloads from Pinshape are usually in a .zip file folder but the files downloaded from Thingiverse are already in .stl format. As such, each needs to be treated differently.

Step 3) If the file is already in the .stl format, stop here and go to Step 5. If the file is in the .zip format, then you’ll need to take the extra step of “unzipping” or extracting the zipped file. (both terms have the same meaning.)

If the file is in the ‘Zipped’ format, it will have an icon that resembles a standard file folder icon but has a little zipper running vertically through it

Step 4) Open Windows File Explorer by clicking on the folder icon in the taskbar at the bottom of your screen.

Click on the Downloads item on the left side window pane of File Explorer to show the contents of the ‘Downloads’ folder.

Now, right click on the title of the zipped folder file which will reveal a context menu with several options.

Depending on your computer and operating system the terminology for extracting or unzipping the file may vary, but usually it is ‘Extract All’.

Regardless of which method of extracting or unzipping the file is used, a new File Explorer window should open and show the .stl file (or files) in their

native format (.stl).

Step 5) Close all Windows File Explorer folder windows as they will no longer be needed.

Launch the ‘Qidi Print’ program by double clicking the ‘Qidi Print ‘ icon on your desktop.

After the Qidi Print slicer program finishes loading, load the .stl model in to the slicer program by clicking the folder icon at the upper left side of the program window.

A new Open File Dialog window will open. Navigate to the ‘Downloads folder as described above and locate the file model filename that you want to print, then click the ‘Open’ button at the lower right hand side area of the Open File Dialog. When the model file has finished loading in the Qidi Print slicer program, an image of the model should appear on the virtual printing bed of the program. Occasionally, the model may appear outside of the virtual machine in which case you will need to click on the model image with the left mouse button and drag the model over to the bed of the virtual machine.

Now you can make any adjustments to the model such as scaling the size, adding supports, altering printing temperature, etc.

Once you are satisfied with any alterations and modifications, click the ‘Prepare’ button on the lower right side of the program dialog window.

Insert a USB stick in to your computer if one is not already there.

After the USB stick is recognized by the Qidi slicer program, the text of the ‘Prepare’ button will change to ‘Save to Removable Drive’.

Click on that button. When it is finished ‘slicing’, a small window should appear in the middle of the screen  tilted ‘File Saved’ with a blue button titled ‘Eject’. Click on the ‘Eject’ button, remove the USB stick from the computer and insert it into the 3D Printer and proceed.

Happy Printing!