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# The QIDI material standard: NFC/RFID for the QIDI Box

# NFC tags for QIDI Box in SimplyPrint

Got a QIDI printer with a QIDI Box? SimplyPrint lets you **read and write NFC tags** that work with your QIDI Box - whether you're using official QIDI filament or want to make *any* filament brand work with your setup.

This article covers everything about using QIDI-compatible NFC tags with SimplyPrint. For a general introduction to NFC in 3D printing, hardware options, and step-by-step guides, see our [main NFC article](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/19luyni/).

---

# NFC support in SimplyPrint

SimplyPrint has **deep NFC integration** across our entire platform - both the web panel and mobile apps for iOS and Android. We support reading and writing NFC tags in multiple formats, allowing you to work with filament from various brands and make your spools work with different printer ecosystems.

**What you can do with NFC in SimplyPrint:**
* **Read NFC tags** to instantly identify spools and see their details
* **Write NFC tags** in various formats - QIDI, Creality, Anycubic, OpenPrintTag, OpenSpool, OpenTag, and more
* **Link physical spools** to their "digital twin" in your filament inventory
* **Quickly assign spools** to printers by scanning instead of scrolling through lists

**How you can read and write NFC:**
* **Mobile apps** (iOS & Android) - most phones have built-in NFC, making this the easiest method
* **Desktop USB readers** - for those who prefer working from their computer
* **Web NFC** - some browsers support NFC directly (Android Chrome, for example)

Not all methods work with all tag types though - and that's where it gets a bit tricky. QIDI uses a specific tag format (MIFARE Classic) that has some limitations, which we'll cover below.

|| For the full breakdown of hardware options, supported methods, and step-by-step guides, check out our [main NFC article](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/19luyni/).

---

# What can SimplyPrint do with QIDI NFC tags?

With SimplyPrint, you can:

1. **Write QIDI-compatible NFC tags** for any filament - stick them on your spools and your QIDI Box will recognize them, even if they're from Polymaker, eSUN, Prusament, or any other brand
2. **Link existing QIDI tags** to your SimplyPrint inventory - if you buy QIDI filament that already has NFC tags, connect them to your digital spool library
3. **Quickly identify spools** by scanning - no more guessing which spool is which when you have 50 of them

|| For hardware requirements and step-by-step instructions on reading/writing NFC tags, see our [NFC hardware & methods guide](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/19luyni/).

---

# How to put this into your workflow

Knowing how the tags work is one thing; folding it into how you actually run your filament is another. These workflow guides walk through it end to end:

* [Filament system workflows by printer](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/filament-system-workflows-for-the-bambu-ams-creality-cfs-and-anycubic-ace-12dqdbf/) - the practical, by-your-hardware walkthrough, with a section for the QIDI Box: writing the tag through SimplyPrint, scanning to identify, and the MIFARE Classic / no-iPhone caveat.
* [Write your own NFC tags for any filament](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/filament-workflow-for-third-party-and-creality-cfs-spools-write-your-own-nfc-tags-wdtei6/) - the write-and-assign workflow, which is how you make any filament brand work with your QIDI Box.
* [Filament tracking workflows: static materials, tracked spools, labels and NFC](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/filament-tracking-workflows-static-materials-tracked-spools-labels-and-nfc-1u9byda/) - the bigger picture: whether to track individual spools at all, and how labels and NFC compare.

---

# Important: What SimplyPrint can and can't do with QIDI

Before diving deeper, here's what you need to know about the integration:

## What works great

**Your QIDI Box will recognize the tags** - When you write QIDI-format tags via SimplyPrint, your QIDI Box reads them just like official QIDI filament. The printer knows the material type and color, and can apply the right settings.

**Fast spool identification** - Scan any tagged spool with your phone (Android) or desktop reader to instantly see which spool it is in SimplyPrint. Way faster than scrolling through your inventory.

## What doesn't work (yet)

**No multi-material sync from the QIDI Box yet** - Today SimplyPrint supports the QIDI Box as an RFID tag read/write format: you can scan a tag to identify a spool, and write QIDI-compatible tags for any brand. A full multi-material integration - one that reads the QIDI Box's loaded slots into the panel and keeps them in sync - isn't available in SimplyPrint yet, so the QIDI Box doesn't report its loaded spools to SimplyPrint at this time.

||| This isn't a tag or hardware limitation - it's that QIDI Box multi-material sync simply isn't built into SimplyPrint yet. Because there's no sync today, hands-free auto-create and auto-assign don't apply to the QIDI Box either. You can still manage QIDI spools fully by hand in the filament manager, and identify them in seconds by scanning their tag. See [Automatic spool creation when syncing materials](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/automatic-spool-creation-when-syncing-materials-17dr2ez/) for how sync and auto-create work on the systems that support them.

**You'll assign spools to a printer yourself** - Until QIDI Box sync arrives, you tell SimplyPrint which spool is on which printer. The good news? With NFC tags, this takes seconds: scan the tag, tap assign, done.

---

# About the QIDI standard

Now let's get into the details of how QIDI NFC tags work.

The QIDI material standard is a **proprietary format** developed by QIDI Technology for their QIDI Box. It's one of the simpler NFC formats out there - it stores just the basics - but it gets the job done.

## Who made it?

**QIDI Technology** - the Chinese 3D printer manufacturer known for their enclosed printers like the X-Max, X-Plus, and Q1 series.

## Official documentation

QIDI has published their RFID specification on their wiki:
* **Official wiki:** https://wiki.qidi3d.com/en/QIDIBOX/RFID

There's also a community reverse-engineered implementation:
* **GitHub (community):** https://github.com/alexk42/qidi-filament-nfc-flipper

## What printers use this?

Any QIDI printer that supports the **QIDI Box** multi-material system.

---

# What data does a QIDI tag store?

The QIDI format is simple - it only stores three pieces of information:

| What's stored | Description |
| ---- |
| Material type | Which material it is (PLA, PETG, ABS, etc.) |
| Color | The filament color |
| Manufacturer | Whether it's QIDI-branded or third-party filament |

That's it! No weight tracking, no additional notes. It's basic, but it's enough for the QIDI Box to know what filament you're using.

## Do I need to worry about material and color matching?

**Nope!** SimplyPrint handles all of this for you. When you write a QIDI tag, we automatically find the best matching material type and color from QIDI's supported options.

There *are* some limitations though - QIDI only supports around 35 material types and 24 specific colors. If you're using something exotic, we'll pick the closest match. For most common filaments (PLA, PETG, ABS, TPU, etc.) it works great.

| Curious what materials and colors QIDI actually supports? Check out the [Advanced: Supported materials and colors](#advanced-supported-materials-and-colors) section at the bottom of this article.

---

# What NFC tags does it use?

The QIDI standard **only works with MIFARE Classic 1K tags**. This is important - you can't just buy any NFC tag and expect it to work!

There are many different types of NFC tags out there, and QIDI picked one specific type for their system. If you buy the wrong kind, your QIDI Box simply won't recognize it.

## Where to buy compatible tags

Look for "MIFARE Classic 1K" tags:

* [MIFARE Classic 1K tags on Amazon](https://amzn.to/4p52lYW)

*Affiliate link - we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.*

| Make sure the listing says "MIFARE Classic 1K" specifically. Tags labeled "NTAG215", "NTAG216", or "MIFARE Ultralight" will **not** work with QIDI.

---

# Compatible hardware

Because QIDI uses **MIFARE Classic** tags, not all devices can read and write them:

| Method | Read | Write | Notes |
| ---- |
| SimplyPrint app (Android) | ✅ | ✅ | Full support |
| SimplyPrint app (iOS) | ❌ | ❌ | iOS can't handle MIFARE Classic |
| Desktop USB reader | ✅ | ✅ | Requires ACS reader + NFC Agent |
| Web NFC (browser) | ❌ | ❌ | Web NFC doesn't support MIFARE Classic |

|| For detailed hardware options, setup instructions, and where to buy readers, see our [NFC hardware & methods guide](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/19luyni/).

---

# Why write QIDI tags via SimplyPrint?

So why bother writing QIDI tags through SimplyPrint instead of some other tool?

## 1. Use any filament brand with QIDI Box

The main benefit: you can make **any filament** work with your QIDI Box. Got a great deal on some eSUN PETG? Write a QIDI tag for it. Want to use that fancy Prusament Silk? Write a QIDI tag for it. Your QIDI Box doesn't care where the filament came from - it just reads the tag.

## 2. Keep your inventory in sync

When you write tags via SimplyPrint, the spool is already in your inventory. The tag gets linked automatically, so there's no disconnect between your physical spools and your digital inventory.

## 3. Smart material matching

SimplyPrint automatically maps your spool's material type and color to the closest QIDI equivalents. We handle all the translation between "eSUN PETG Solid Orange" and "QIDI material code 39, color code 23" behind the scenes.

## 4. Consistent workflow

Whether you're writing tags for QIDI, Creality CFS, Anycubic ACE, or any other standard, the process in SimplyPrint is the same. Learn it once, use it everywhere.

---

# Limitations of the QIDI format

The QIDI format is functional but limited compared to some other standards:

| Limitation | What it means |
| ---- |
| **Limited colors** | Only 24 colors to choose from - your exact shade might not be available |
| **Limited materials** | ~35 material types - exotic materials might not have a match |
| **No weight tracking** | The tag can't store how much filament is left |
| **No custom notes** | Can't add batch numbers or other metadata |
| **Specific tag type** | Only works with MIFARE Classic 1K tags |
| **No iOS support** | iPhones and iPads can't read or write these tags |
| **No multi-material sync yet** | The QIDI Box isn't an integrated multi-material system in SimplyPrint yet, so it doesn't sync its loaded slots; auto-create / auto-assign don't apply |

| If you need more flexibility - like exact color matching, weight tracking, or iOS support - consider using a community standard like OpenSpool or OpenTag for your non-QIDI filament. Your QIDI Box won't read those, but your SimplyPrint inventory will work great with them.

---

# Advanced: Supported materials and colors

This section is for the curious - you don't need to know any of this to use QIDI tags with SimplyPrint. We handle the matching automatically. But if you want to see exactly what QIDI supports, here's the full list.

## All supported material types

QIDI supports around 35 material types. Each has a numeric code that gets written to the tag:

**PLA variants:**
* PLA, PLA Matte, PLA Metal, PLA Silk, PLA-CF, PLA-Wood, PLA Basic, PLA Matte Basic

**ABS variants:**
* ABS, ABS-GF, ABS-Metal, ABS-Odorless

**ASA variants:**
* ASA, ASA-AERO

**Nylon/PA variants:**
* UltraPA, PA-CF, UltraPA-CF25, PA12-CF, PAHT-CF, PAHT-GF

**PETG/PET variants:**
* PETG Basic, PETG Tough, PETG Rapido, PETG-CF, PETG-GF, PETG Translucent, PET-CF, PET-GF

**Other:**
* PC/ABS-FR, PPS-CF, PVA, TPU, TPU-Aero

## All supported colors

QIDI has a fixed palette of 24 colors. When writing tags, SimplyPrint automatically picks the closest match based on your spool's color.

| Code | Color | Hex |
| ---- |
| 1 | White | #FAFAFA |
| 2 | Black | #060606 |
| 3 | Silver | #D9E3ED |
| 4 | Neon Green | #5CF30F |
| 5 | Mint | #63E492 |
| 6 | Blue | #2850FF |
| 7 | Pink | #FE98FE |
| 8 | Yellow | #DFD628 |
| 9 | Green | #228332 |
| 10 | Light Blue | #99DEFF |
| 11 | Deep Blue | #1714B0 |
| 12 | Lavender | #CEC0FE |
| 13 | Lime | #CADE4B |
| 14 | Royal Blue | #1353AB |
| 15 | Sky Blue | #5EA9FD |
| 16 | Purple | #A878FF |
| 17 | Coral | #FE717A |
| 18 | Red | #FF362D |
| 19 | Beige | #E2DFCD |
| 20 | Medium Gray | #898F9B |
| 21 | Brown | #6E3812 |
| 22 | Khaki | #CAC59F |
| 23 | Orange | #F28636 |
| 24 | Dark Orange | #B87F2B |

---

# Quick reference

| **Standard name** | QIDI (QIDI Box RFID) |
| **Created by** | QIDI Technology |
| **License** | Vendor-specific / proprietary |
| **Official docs** | https://wiki.qidi3d.com/en/QIDIBOX/RFID |
| **Compatible printers** | QIDI printers with QIDI Box |
| **Required NFC tag** | MIFARE Classic 1K |
| **Android app** | ✅ Full read/write support |
| **iOS app** | ❌ Not supported (hardware limitation) |
| **Desktop reader** | ✅ With NFC Agent |
| **Web NFC** | ❌ Not supported |
| **Multi-material sync** | ❌ Not supported in SimplyPrint yet |
| **Auto-create / auto-assign spools** | ❌ Not applicable (no sync yet) |
| **Weight tracking** | ❌ Not supported by format |

---

# Related articles

* [NFC / RFID support in SimplyPrint](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/19luyni/) - Hardware, methods, and step-by-step guides
* [Automatic spool creation when syncing materials](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/automatic-spool-creation-when-syncing-materials-17dr2ez/)
* [The Filament Manager feature: track, organize and manage your filament inventory](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/the-filament-manager-feature-track-organize-and-manage-your-filament-inventory-bpy529/)
* [The Creality material standard: NFC/RFID for the Creality CFS](https://help.simplyprint.io/en/article/the-creality-material-standard-nfcrfid-for-the-creality-cfs-1crrofa/)