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Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

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Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#171

Post by Kirby64 »

kwiens wrote: post #27
jsheard wrote: post #6

Unfortunate that they didn't make it compatible with genuine Hakko or JBC tips like many of the no-name knock-off soldering stations are, but I suppose being based in the US they might be wary of violating the design patents of those companies. Anyway it's good to have an option that's cheaper than the big names but presumably built to a higher standard than an AliExpress special, and has an actual warranty and safet…

We'll have a range of tips. Hitting the high performance we wanted, with 100 Watt output in a small iron, required really optimizing the entire system. The heating element and temperature sensor are in the tip itself. We really see JBC as our competition here. Performance and responsiveness should be comparable or better, at a fraction of the price.

The heating element and temperature sensor are also in the tips themselves in both Pinecil and the Miniware TS80/TS100 designs. Every modern 'commercial' soldering iron (Hakko T12 line, JBC, many others) has moved this way too.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#172

Post by lelandfe »

dpedu wrote: post #167
kwiens wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree. It's kind of like a chef's knife: a better tool makes you a better chef. A sharp knife is also quite a bit safer than a dull knife. By heating to operating temperature in 5 seconds and rapidly pouring heat into the material, you don't have to hold the hot iron as long. As soon as you're done, pop on the safety cap and instantly shield the hot metal. Soldering isn't remotely mainstream, and part of that is the…

I am completely confused by your example. Buying a better knife doesn't make you a better chef. Buying a faster car doesn't make you a better driver. Buying a more powerful laptop doesn't make you a better developer.

My dull chef's knife got caught when I chopping an onion and nearly lopped my fingertip off. I was not a very good chef that night.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#173

Post by jpalawaga »

dpedu wrote: post #167
kwiens wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree. It's kind of like a chef's knife: a better tool makes you a better chef. A sharp knife is also quite a bit safer than a dull knife. By heating to operating temperature in 5 seconds and rapidly pouring heat into the material, you don't have to hold the hot iron as long. As soon as you're done, pop on the safety cap and instantly shield the hot metal. Soldering isn't remotely mainstream, and part of that is the…

I am completely confused by your example. Buying a better knife doesn't make you a better chef. Buying a faster car doesn't make you a better driver. Buying a more powerful laptop doesn't make you a better developer.

no, but with a shitty laptop it can be hard to be a good developer. having dull knives will make cooking experience, slow, dangerous, and unpleasant. having a boat-car will make it difficult to practice any sort of skilled driving.

it's not that you can't overcome adversity and do the thing anyhow, but you're certainly not making it easy. In all cases, using the proper tool allows you to remove the extra difficulty factor and focus on that task at hand.

But also, cutting a tomato with a sharp knife is way, way easier than with a dull knife. Same with soldering. Ignores the rest of the parts of being a chef, but you get the comparison.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#174

Post by belthesar »

dpedu wrote: post #167
kwiens wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree. It's kind of like a chef's knife: a better tool makes you a better chef. A sharp knife is also quite a bit safer than a dull knife. By heating to operating temperature in 5 seconds and rapidly pouring heat into the material, you don't have to hold the hot iron as long. As soon as you're done, pop on the safety cap and instantly shield the hot metal. Soldering isn't remotely mainstream, and part of that is the…

I am completely confused by your example. Buying a better knife doesn't make you a better chef. Buying a faster car doesn't make you a better driver. Buying a more powerful laptop doesn't make you a better developer.

"Better" is definitely the wrong word, but the jist is sound with the right framing. A better tool often allows you to do work safer, and that is what was attempted to be conveyed. Applying the approach to one of your examples, a faster car doesn't make you a better driver, but a car with more safety features makes your driving experience safer than one with less.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#175

Post by dpedu »

lelandfe wrote: post #172
dpedu wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am completely confused by your example. Buying a better knife doesn't make you a better chef. Buying a faster car doesn't make you a better driver. Buying a more powerful laptop doesn't make you a better developer.

My dull chef's knife got caught when I chopping an onion and nearly lopped my fingertip off. I was not a very good chef that night.

I'm not sure what that has to do with better vs worse tools. Expensive knives get dull too. Good chefs, on the other hand, keep their equipment in working order regardless of its value.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#176

Post by kwiens »

omgtehlion wrote: post #46
kwiens wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We'll have a range of tips. Hitting the high performance we wanted, with 100 Watt output in a small iron, required really optimizing the entire system. The heating element and temperature sensor are in the tip itself. We really see JBC as our competition here. Performance and responsiveness should be comparable or better, at a fraction of the price.

Where can I buy these cartridges? For JBC we have official catalogue, local retailers, aliexpress, and secondary market full of any tip I might need. What kind of tips do you plan producing for the fixhub? P.S.: all JBC stands (genuine and most of knock-offs) have really comfortable holder with detents to change cartridges on-handed on the fly. Do you plan any such features? I do not see any steps or hooks on a tip.

Good questions!

Tips we'll have at launch: Cone, Bevel 1.5, Wedge 1.5, Point, Bevel 2.6, Knife 2.5, Knife 1.4.

They'll be on sale in our store on October 15. https://www.ifixit.com/Tools/Soldering_and_Wiring

We will also be selling a complete line of replacement parts.

I'm working right now on our distribution partners, but we'll have a variety of local and online distributors who you can also buy the system through.

Rather than designing it to change tips on the fly, we set up the Power Station to handle two irons, with two USB ports and a mounting socket on both sides.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#177

Post by jdboyd »

mysteria wrote: post #91
scottbez1 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It will almost certainly be a class up, if only because it uses integrated tips that combine heating element, temperature sensor, and tip itself into a single element, rather than having thermally bulky and inefficient interfaces like the FX888d's replaceable separate tips. So you get faster heating and more accurate temperature control. But there's the rub: there are a TON of USB-C irons that use integrated tips, an…

On the flip side wouldn't that make replacement tips much more expensive? On my old Hakko station I've replaced the tips several times but the element and sensor seems to be going strong.

Yes, it makes tips more expensive. However, for the about of improvement in performance, I think it is worth it. I use Hakko T15 tips and they are about $20 each. Cheaper Chinese compatible toys are available and probably are good enough, but I don't replace yours frequently enough to care to find out.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#178

Post by scottbez1 »

KingOfCoders wrote: post #155
kwiens wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The LED on the iron turns orange once it reaches your target temperature. It glows purple while it's heating, and blue when it's safe to touch.

How cultures are different across the globe, I would have used RED for hot, orange for heating and green for safe (instead of orange, purple and blue - love purple though!)

If I had to guess, it's for accessibility, for red/green colorblindness.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#179

Post by CamperBob2 »

samatman wrote: post #150
urda wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No Firefox support? Seriously?

This is a Firefox problem, not an iFixit problem.

What feature is Firefox lacking? It would be nice if the error message was more specific, rather than referring you straight to Google or Microsoft for their latest spyware.

Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system

#180

Post by SAI_Peregrinus »

mysteria wrote: post #91
scottbez1 wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It will almost certainly be a class up, if only because it uses integrated tips that combine heating element, temperature sensor, and tip itself into a single element, rather than having thermally bulky and inefficient interfaces like the FX888d's replaceable separate tips. So you get faster heating and more accurate temperature control. But there's the rub: there are a TON of USB-C irons that use integrated tips, an…

On the flip side wouldn't that make replacement tips much more expensive? On my old Hakko station I've replaced the tips several times but the element and sensor seems to be going strong.

They're more expensive, but they tend to last longer (at least for JBC & this new iFixit iron since they lower temperature when not in use), allow much nicer more precise temperature control, and often can have significantly more power output and/or thermal mass (depending on the particular tip). JBC tips in particular can be changed while still hot, one-handed, thanks to their iron holders having a tip puller & holder built-in.
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