Entry-level FDM printers are great for people who just want to get into the hobby or interested in 3D manufacturing because they are easy to pick up and also upgradeable if you want to improve the machine’s ability later. Some of the best options available are Sovol SV01 Vs Ender 3 that we are sure many are familiar with already. If you are attracted to the price point or how these affordable machines print good quality results, let’s see what else they can offer below.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What to Look for in an FDM Printer
- What are Sovol SV01 and Ender 3
- How are the Machine of Sovol SV01 and Ender 3
- How are the Capacity of Sovol SV01 and Ender 3
- How are the Building Bed in Sovol SV01 and Ender 3
- How are the Extruder in Sovol SV01 and Ender 3
- What else Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 can offer
- Sovol SV01 Vs Ender 3
FDM 3D Printers
Unlike smartphone and computer, 3D printers may not as versatile and as useful for most people but, for those who know how they work and what to make with the machine, this technology can help elevate your productivity but also fun to play with if you love building something such as miniature of the game characters you play, useful items around the house, or even costume if you like cosplaying. There are more to the ability including the more serious such as in medical and healthcare application.
All 3D printers are useful but among them, the FDM is not only the most affordable but also the most convenient for beginner or experienced users. However, if this is your first machine, there are some factors to consider before deciding the option.
- We always recommend choosing the machine that is capable of making the object as big as you need it. It doesn’t mean the bigger the machine is better but with bigger machines we can print larger models as well. Do consider what to print with the machine and match the capacity but in some cases there are machines that can be extended while in most of the time they are fixed. Usually the smaller machine is the more accurate and the easier to troubleshoot.
- Next is the type of material that you are going to use. Not all machines are capable of using the same type of materials and the crucial part is probably their extruder and heating bed. Varying material may need different ideal temperatures to heat and deposit the filament while the bed maintains its adhesive to make sure the model will stick on the surface until you are done printing. In some types of material there is probably a need for an enclosure for a successful printing result.
- In addition, do consider the convenience of the machine. By spending a little, what we will have to sacrifice is mostly the added features. Entry-level machines often come with only the basics and in some cases they are also difficult to troubleshoot or adjust to improve the print result. On the bright side, we can use it as a learning tool to know more about the machine before investing in a more capable machine in the future.
| Artillery Hornet | Ender 3 | |
|---|---|---|
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| Product Dimensions | 22 x 19 x 8.4 inches | 8.7 x 8.7 x 9.8 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 29.5 pounds | 17.64 Pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About Sovol SV01 and Ender 3
Now when you are ready to choose the 3D printer, it is time to see what the market has to offer because there are plenty of them and not all machines will be the same which is why it is necessary to at least know a little bit about the printer before you decide to spend on one. Getting an entry-level machine is great because we can learn from it especially for beginners and try a lot of troubleshooting when meeting with some issues which will most likely happen.
If you already have a favorite brand we can stick with their collection but if you are fine with any manufacturers, we can just shop based on the popular options or what most similar users have been using lately. Talking about 3D printers, especially FDM, our mind instantly recalls Creality and Sovol. Creality itself is one of the most prominent names in the industry, very well-known with their entry-level machines while Sovol is actually a filament and accessory brand before the release of their printer.
Browsing around the affordable range of FDM printers, the Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 are two promising options to consider. Both of them are very much similar to each other but the decision of Sovol to jump into the market that they know is already saturated with tons of similar machines, the SV01 surely stands out from the rest. It is actually more expensive in comparison to the Ender 3 so the two are not exactly on the same level too.
What’s promised by SV01 is providing beginners and enthusiasts with a convenient machine. The way that it boasts to be 95% assembled makes sure that even the less experienced can start the machine with less fuss because putting them together can be quite time consuming, especially if this is your first machine. Overall the Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 are not identical and if you are interested in a “different” entry-level machine, the SV01 can be a great choice to consider.
They are not like night and day but we do think the SV01 is firm on being stands out from the rest and one thing that you can instantly get from the machine is the build volume so if your main focus is print large objects, we will say this machine is the choice among the two. Read also: Artillery Hornet Vs Ender 3.
Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 Design
Just like most FDM printers out there, you will receive the Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 in parts which need some level of manual work before we can do the test print. The initial Ender 3 took quite the time to work with but the newer machines are better and true to the claim, SV01 is also very simple to assemble. The build quality is good and we don’t have any complaints besides the power unit that is still put outside the main housing.
On the other hand Sovol decided to tuck the power box below the heating bed and this makes the machine look more seamless as well. Since the SV01 is also carrying a bigger volume, the machine is also bigger in comparison. But, one thing stays the same and this is their control panel which is still the small blue screen everyone is familiar with. It is very simple to use with the rotating knob but we also hope it is bigger for better visibility.
Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 Build Capacity
Now for the most important part, let’s see what Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 can offer starting from the capacity because this is a crucial part to consider on any printer as we are most likely to be stuck with the maximum capacity until buying a new machine. As it has been mentioned above, the SV01 is quite a large machine because you can print at maximum 280 mm x 240 mm x 300 mm while the Ender 3 is more moderate at 220 mm x 220 mm x 250 mm or upgradeable if you buy the extender kit.
Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 Building Bed
Next let’s talk about the building bed which is also different. Usually on cheaper machines you will get a removable bed such as the one found in Ender 3 and this is a good option as it works really well too but, the SV01 is offering a tempered glass bed that we usually have to upgrade on many affordable machines; it comes with one already. Performance wise it is also impressive and we don’t find the need to add glue for this surface while removal is also not an issue.
Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 Extruder
Besides the building bed, Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 are also different on the extruder setup. Usually you will find similar machines using the Bowden style extruder which uses a tube to route the filament to the hot end while the SV01 is using direct drive style. This type of setup is said to be capable of handling various types of materials. In a glance it seems to be similar to those Titan extruders so if your application will need the machine to print with varying material, we do think this is a great option.
Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 Features
Lastly, we want to talk about the additional features that you can get from Sovol SV01 and Ender 3 yet, the latter is a very simple machine so what you will get is the basic as well but it is also open source for upgradeability. On the other hand the SV01 comes with a filament runout sensor to detect when the filament is broken or runout. The thing is somehow it is placed in an awkward position. It also has thermal runaway protection and in both machines we already have a resume print function too.
Sovol SV01 vs Ender 3
Both machines are amazing for the printing result even though they are not perfect but should be enough for typical home use. In fact they can print really well for the price point but, SV01 is a machine at least one step above the Ender 3 from having the noticeable larger build volume, glass bed, direct drive extruder, and also some useful features to improve the user experience. The price may be higher but it is worthy of the upgrade they put on the machine.
Conclusion
You can go amazing with any of these machines based on which seems to fit in your application the most but, if your goal is to find a machine with larger build volume or have some upgraded parts out of the box, we highly recommend the SV01.