Sovol SV06 3D printer: Big features, Small price
On Feb 20, 2023, Chinese 3D printer maker Sovol opened pre-orders on their latest 3D printer, the SV06 Plus. The release was accompanied by the usual early-bird specials, up to US$100 off the MSRP of US$399 (the 300 units at that price sold out in about an hour). They’re now selling for US$349. Here’s what I know so far about this budget beast.
- A large 300x300x340mm (12"x12"x13.4") build volume;
- A custom hot-end with a longer hot zone, allowing for…
- … higher material temperature (up to 300C);
- Higher speed printing (up to 150mm/sec)
- Auto-levelling (25-point matrix for very accurate adjustments)
- Custom “planetary direct drive” gear feed extruder
- 4" Touch screen control panel
- Custom 32-bit main board with “silent” TMC2209 drivers.
- Filament-out sensor and restart after filament change or power loss.
- Dual Z-axis motors and drives
- Easy-access belt tensioner
- PEI build plate for easy model removal.
- Ships mostly-assembled in a few main assemblies that need to be put together.
The reviews of the prior model “SV06” found it a wonderful mid-budget machine except for a few issues. Most of these are known to be fixed in the SV06 Plus. The one that needs vetting is the use of flexible TPU filament, which another reviewer said “had issues” on the SV06. Time will tell how it fares on the 06 Plus.
All3DP.com review called the previous SV06 a bigger MK3S+ competitor for half the price. And later called the SV06 Plus the “top pick” among mid-range FDM printers for 2023. Again, time will tell how it stacks up against the reigning champion.
Sovol started out buying parts from Creality, btw, and seems to still do so — the 4.3" touch screen on the SV06 seems identical to Creality’s as used, for example, on their CR-M4. And the CR-M4 has 25-point bed levelling, just like the SV06+. Coincidence?
Anyway, I’ll update this page when/if I have a chance to review the thing for real. BTW, here’s my list of desired additions/improvements/etc based on readings (and a few contributions from other readers):
- Nozzles: hardened steel, and 0.6mm size, since the longer nozzles used on the SV06Plus is a non-standard size
- “Official” Profiles for Cura and for PrusaSlicer
- Solution for the heater cable binding on the back of the table (in progress, according to May Young).
- Orderable parts, spare PEI build plates, etc. (Sovol says these will appear in due time, that’s expected).
- Multi-color option (like on the SV02 dual-feed head?)
Also: It would be great if there were third-party designs, aka ideas for those with imagination & time: - rigid enclosure (SV06+ is a BIG printer; AFAIK it’s too big for the traditional Lack table!)
- Mount for rpi camera
- Tool drawer?
The following points were on my desiderata list above but have been fulfilled!
- The User Manual should be downloadable online (the manual must exist, since paid influencers and a few really-early orderers have been given their machines).
P.S. Check it out at https://sovol3d.com/products/sovol-sv06-plus.
