I just purchased an SV04 and I am able to print fine from the SD card.
I installed the latest version of Cura software from the support page on my windows PC, added the 5 printers for the SV04 (dual, mirror, copy, single 01, and single 02).
However, Cura is not seeing the printer.
My laptop is recognizing the device, as it is beeping when I plug it in and the SV04 screen is powered up even with the unit unplugged.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Do I need a driver for my Windows PC? I see USB-SERIAL CH340 (COM4) in my device manager.
I tried the FT232 driver from a similar post and when I updated it said I already had the latest.
I have tried 2 different USB data cables and 2 different Laptops - both times I connected directly to the laptop.
I tried the 1.3.0 Cura that came with the unit, as well as 1.5.7 from the support site.
Install Pronterface / Printrun on your laptop(s).
If you’re able to send gcode commands to your SV04 via Pronterface than you narrowed the problem down to Cura.
I just tried flashing the latest firmware from the SOVOL site, I followed the instructions exactly, and it won’t flash. I confirmed that the card I used was readable by copying the SD card that came with the unit onto it first and the printer saw the files there fine. I’m beginning to think I just have a defective unit.
Flashing problems caused by the SD-card is a common problem. Try to remove all files & folders, including the hidden ones from the SD-card besides “firmware.bin”. If it still does not flash, you’ll need to format the SD-card (FAT32, 4096 Bytes format) & try again.
Hi Bjoern - thanks for all of the assistance. I actually formatted the card first, then copied the firmware file over and inserted it into the printer, turned it on and it wouldn’t update - it just booted as if it didn’t see the firmware file. I then copied over the files from the original SD card that came with the printer, and the printer saw all the sample files, confirming that the SD card is fine.
I have been in contact with Sovol support. They are have not been, in my view, very supportive.
I report very specific issues and ask very specific questions but get very generic answers.
Half of the things I tell or ask them go unnoticed. They focus on answering what they wish but not what I am asking. I have gotten ONE good print out of my SV04 and that at incredibly slow speeds.
I have to wait until tomorrow to get back to them since they it’s the weekend.
I actually have my SV02 woking better than a brand new SV04.
I’ll keep trying, but it is very frustrating dealing with Sovol.
Hi wc4h,
hot agree - this sounds quite annoying… I suspect that your request is processed in a standardized procedure in first-level support before an expert will send you the download links.
Good luck
Björn
mattowen is 100% corrrect Bjoern. My SV04 also came with firmware version 1.1.4. They do not, however, include a copy of the bin file. So, if we change the firmware to the “latest”, we DOWNGRADE it to v1.1.0. That is one of the questions/ssues they chose not to address for me.
BTW, if we do install v 1.1.0, we may ipso facto void the warranty. Therein lies just ONE of the problems.
Regarding the connection from the PC to the Printer, there is a plugin called “USB Printing NG” in Ultimaker Cura. It is supposed to work if you create 3 environmental variables.
CURA_BAUDRATE which I set at 115200
CURA_COMPORT set to the comport you PC assigned to your printer
CURA_AUTODECT set to zero
Don’t use CURA_COMPORTS (plural) because only one com port is supported curently.
Mine was picking up the wrong port number, but it may be because of the CURA_COMPORTS instead of CURA_COMPORT. I have to check that.
There is also an OctoPrint Plugin in SOVL 3DCura, it works but OctoPrint returns an error when it connects toi the SV04.
I’m not 100% sure you do, but if you read their return policy, they are really not wanting to accept returns. There’s no phone number or address shown on their web site, only email contact. When you state any problem you are having and ask for instructions about returning, they say they have to refer to their engineers. You will then get an email with some suggestions on how to fix the problem but they do not refer to the return process.
If they say that you did something wrong to the machine, you are not covered. It is all very skewed to not accept returns.
So if they interpred downgrading the firmware as a no, no, then there goes the warranty. Also, if we install Klipper, the there’s no way to go back to v1.1.4 for a return since it is not published. I suspect v1.1.0 and v 1.1.4 are p
I havev an SV02 which I purchased used. It has dual extruders but single nozzle. I have managed to get it to do some reasonable printing and just added the BL Touch. That has become another project. But I’m starting to look at the SV04 as a “project” and may just keep it and see what I can do with it. The dual extruder & dual nozzle is to enticing to ignore.
I’ll try to delve into it a litlle more but there is not much source data.
When I buy a Sovol or anyelse printer, I’ll do it through Amazon.
If there is even a major crash I can send it back almost without explanation.
I did it for a TENLOG TLD3 and a SOVOL SV04.
Absolutely! This was a birthday give from my son who got it from Sovol website. I also buy Bambu Lab products from Gigaparts. They are pretty reputable so I have no fear with them either.
Hello again,
this is quite strange - in the German 3D printer forum there was a post from an S04 user, to whom Sovol support provided a download link to the firmware v1.1.4 binary file at his request.
Anyhow, the underlying Marlin firmware is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3. As I understand it, Sovol is therefore obliged to publish any changes to the source code. This applies to all versions of the firmware based on Marlin. Therefore, it is hard to understand why Sovol has not yet updated its GitHub repository with the SV04 source code.
/R
Björn
Well, it’s 11 November and I finally was able to get the firmware from Sovol.
They did explain that using V1.10 on their site does not void the warranty. They stated that “V1.1.4 is an optimization upgrade for chip replacement and department issues.”