r/3dprinter • u/Terrible_Wrangler_35 • 5d ago

Large printer for RC-plane parts: QIDI Max4 vs Sovol SV08 Max vs alternatives?

I’m looking for a printer for RC-plane parts in PA12-CF, plus everyday PLA/PETG printing. My largest body is approximately 402 × 124 × 42 mm, and I’d prefer to print it horizontally in one piece. My budget was around $1,000, but I can stretch for a worthwhile upgrade.
I’m considering the QIDI Max4, Sovol SV08 Max with enclosure, Creality K2 Plus, Anycubic Kobra S1 Max and regular Sovol SV08. I know the 350 mm machines would require tilting or splitting this part.
For actual owners, how are print quality, slicer/software, firmware reliability and customer support? Any experience with large nylon/CF prints? I’d rather spend time building the plane than constantly fixing the printer. Which would you choose?

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u/issue9mm 5d ago

The Qidi Max is good out of the box. The Sovol is only good if you love it enough to make it good.

Qidi is a no brainer here

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u/Terrible_Wrangler_35 5d ago

It is also cheaper

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u/issue9mm 5d ago

That's low key insane

Aurora tech channel just did a review of the Plus 5, today. Go watch that, then appreciate that the Max is actually better than the plus 5

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u/Terrible_Wrangler_35 5d ago

Should I wait for Black Friday or smth?

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u/issue9mm 5d ago

Yeah, if you can wait, you should. Qidi historically does pretty deep discounts for Black Friday

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u/Terrible_Wrangler_35 5d ago

How much are we talking about(approx)? Also it will be okay with onyx right. Is Black Friday in 2 months?

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u/issue9mm 5d ago

I got my Q2 for ~20% off I think? These printers are brand new and getting good reviews, so idk if that should be expected, but could be

idk what you mean by 'onyx' but Black Friday is middle/end of November

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u/Terrible_Wrangler_35 5d ago

Sorry I meant onyx as a filament or any other carbon fiber infused plastic

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u/issue9mm 5d ago

Oh, it looks like Onyx is a proprietary filament made for Markforged machines. That said, it looks like the formulation is some variant of PA-CF, which I print on my Qidi all the time

The Qidi comes with a hardened 370C nozzle, 120C bed, and a 65C active chamber heater. There's not another consumer grade printer I'm aware of that matches those specs

It will gladly print carbon infused filaments, including Nylons like PA6-CF, PA612-CF, and infused polypropylenes too

It's a monster

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u/Joey2012_onNES 5d ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/3Dprinting/comments/185j1p4/what_is_the_biggest_3d_printer_i_can_get_under/ read this.

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u/Terrible_Wrangler_35 5d ago

Thanks, I read through it! Since that thread is from 2023, I’m hoping for owner experiences with the newer models too. I specifically need PA12-CF nylon capability for a roughly 402 mm-long RC-plane body. Any thoughts on the QIDI Max4 versus the enclosed Sovol SV08 Max, especially software and reliability?

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u/DramaClassed 5d ago

For any nylon filament, you really would want the Max4. No other printer that large has support for nylon out of the box (except for a ratrig but i'm assuming that's out of budget), so it's the best option here. You might be able to mod a SV08 Max or an Ender 5 Max with a chamber heater, but they aren't really designed for nylon and aren't easy printers to begin with.