Sovol is back again with its second 3D printer, the aptly named SV02, which among other improvements now boasts dual extrusion.
The company, based in China’s 3D printing heartland, Shenzhen, was previously known more for its filaments and accessories than printer hardware, but it’s trying to change that.
The latest machine retains the features that made the SV01 popular while adding on new ones.
Priced at $449, it’s one of the more affordable dual extrusion printers out there, with a generous 240 x 280 x 300 mm build volume to boot.
To find out more about this promising machine, read on as we review its specs.
Features
It would seem that we’re entering some sort of second renaissance for budget dual extrusion 3D printing. A couple of years ago, the likes of Geeetech and Creality tried to crack dual extrusion, with limited success. Qidi Tech and Flashforge have a niche based on the old MakerBot Replicator design, Prusa crushes it at the upper end of what we think of as “budget” with the premium Multi-Material Upgrade (premium in the sense that you must spend over a grand to get there). Few make a go of it in the sub-$500 range. But now we see a clutch of new releases bring dual extrusion to this lower end of the market – the Sovol SV02 is one such machine.
Dual Extrusion
Good things really do come in twos where 3D printing is concerned. The Sovol SV02 comes with a two-in-one-out hotend, which means you’ll be able to load up two different spools of filament and combine them in the same print. How well it handles the transitions between colors, we have yet to see. You will likely need to print some form of purge block to help prime the nozzle.
There’s no word on color-mixing, but perhaps this will be a feature further down the road.
Built-in silent motherboard
Sovol uses one of Creality’s more recent mainboards for the SV02, a primary benefit of which is the inclusion of TMC2208 silent stepper motor drivers. This should make the printer’s movements relatively quiet when in operation.
4.3″ Color Touchscreen
The SV02 has a fancy upgrade over the SV01: a color touchscreen. Sovol claims it’s the “first 3D printer equipped with the portrait screen in the market,” which is demonstrably untrue (*cough* Raise3D N2 *cough* Longer LK-4 Pro *cough* Lulzbot Taz Pro *cough* several others printers.) It’s certainly nice to have, and as the Longer LK-4 Pro demonstrated to us, it can dramatically elevate the experience of using a printer.
Tempered Glass Build Plate
Much like Anycubic’s Ultrabase, the SV02 comes with a tempered glass build plate that should stick to prints firmly without the need for glue or hairspray. The prints should also easily pull away once the bed has cooled.
Dual Z-axis Design
Dual motor-driven Z-axes increase stability and precision while printing, and, over time, this can result in greater longevity for the printer’s mechanical components.
Power
The Sovol SV02 features a Mean Well power supply and 24 V components, which means the printer should get up to temperature pretty quickly. Not to diminish the printer, but this is a pretty standard feature nowadays. We’re happy to see it here.
Other features:
- Resume printing function
- Room for upgrades like a BL-Touch sensor for automatic bed leveling
Release Date & Availability
The Sovol SV02 launched in the summer of 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Not the most opportune moment to launch hardware, we should imagine, but launch it did. Despite the wide availability of the SV02, we’ve noticed the trend of slick manufacturer-direct stores continues here.
Sovol even goes as far as to offer a loyalty program, meaning you can save up points from purchases you make and exchange them for money off future orders or, peculiarly, Sovol merch. We have to admit, this is pretty inventive, mirroring the times we’re in with influencers and their membership-oriented rewards schemes commonplace. Several live streams with regular presenters plus social media presence hint at the company trying to evoke that sense of close connection, so we’d expect to see some more dots connect between these different threads.
Price
The SV02 retails for $449. To put this into perspective, Creality’s upgraded CR-X model, the CR-X Pro, stacks up at $649 with few notable differences between it and the SV02 being the inclusion of a BLTouch touch probe for automatic-bed leveling, slightly larger build volume, and beefier cooling fans.
We haven’t used either yet, so we couldn’t speak to their print performances, but it’s clear the competition is getting tighter. We’re increasingly getting the benefit of choice, which is great.
Reviews
We have yet to come across any substantial reviews of the SV02, so it’s impossible to form any kind of verdict just yet – such is the printer’s newness.
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