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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

#31

Post by kwiens »

scottbez1 wrote: post #23
alnwlsn wrote: post #15

Well done! I'm mostly a TS100 user, so I'm looking at it from that angle. Why no boost button (unless I missed it)? That's the one on-iron UI feature I'd be missing - very useful for GND planes. I'm guessing its not a matter of rated power, but just the thermal resistance from the physical size of the tip which restricts heat entering into a heavily-heatsinked joint. Helpful to increase the iron temperature momentari…

Yeah, boost button was a huge step up when I got my TS100 and now I can't imagine ever buying a new iron without it. Plus, not having the ability to quickly tune temperature settings on the iron itself seems like a step back as well. I'd be happy to be proven wrong on these, as iFixit's screwdriver sets were one of those things I needed to use to understand the hype (and then promptly bought my own set), so maybe thi…

We spent a lot of time tuning it. We've found that temperature settings really aren't needed for most use cases as long as the heating algorithm is responsive enough.

But that may not be for everyone: With the Power Station, changing the temperature is fast and easy with the dial, so you can pick a workflow that works best for you. (You can also change the temperature with the web interface.)

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

#32

Post by jsheard »

dlevine wrote: post #28

I paid ~$100 for my Hakko FX888D, and have had had that for almost 10 years. Looking on the Internet, the price hasn't gone up much. Not sure whether this (for $250 including the power supply) is a class above that. The repairability is a definite plus (assuming parts continue to be available for many years), and all the nerdy features are also cool, but not sure how useful they will be in the real world.

The FX888 is an older style iron where the tip and heating element are separate components, the newer generation (such as this iFixit one) have the tip, heater and temperature sensor integrated as a single component which allows them to regulate the tip temperature much faster and more accurately. Hakko does make irons of that type now but they're very expensive, up in the $500 range.

Another benefit of the newer style irons is the tip can usually be hot-swapped (literally while it's still hot) without having to unscrew anything, you just need something insulating to pull the tip out with.

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

#33

Post by anamexis »

dlevine wrote: post #28

I paid ~$100 for my Hakko FX888D, and have had had that for almost 10 years. Looking on the Internet, the price hasn't gone up much. Not sure whether this (for $250 including the power supply) is a class above that. The repairability is a definite plus (assuming parts continue to be available for many years), and all the nerdy features are also cool, but not sure how useful they will be in the real world.

Only $80 for the iron itself though, compatible with any USB-C PD power supply.

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

#34

Post by sandreas »

jareklupinski wrote: post #16

i literally just bought a pinecil and usb-c battery pack (with carry case) to make basically a DIY version of this three weeks ago, but would have gotten this one instead if it existed back then after a few days trying to turn that into a daily driver however, i've had to go back to my weller desktop station, for one weird reason: i dont have anywhere to put the hot iron in between uses! i dont know if it's just me,…

Try buying a third Party holder and flash ironOS[1] to allow cool extra features.

1: https://github.com/Ralim/IronOS

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

#35

Post by kwiens »

bkanuka wrote: post #17

Can you comment on the compatibility with other 3.5mm tips like the TS80/TS80P? Will there be other tip shapes available? Is the tip design patented (and enforced) or will you allow for 3rd party tips?

We did not patent the tip design, anyone is welcome to make third party tips.

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

We made some different electrical design decisions than they did. TS-80 tips aren't rated for the power that we're putting out, so being compatible with the TS-80 tips could be pretty sketchy.

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

#36

Post by teraflop »

varispeed wrote: post #24
jareklupinski wrote: post #16

i literally just bought a pinecil and usb-c battery pack (with carry case) to make basically a DIY version of this three weeks ago, but would have gotten this one instead if it existed back then after a few days trying to turn that into a daily driver however, i've had to go back to my weller desktop station, for one weird reason: i dont have anywhere to put the hot iron in between uses! i dont know if it's just me,…

It seems like they didn't thought this product through. Holder is one thing, but holder should be able to put the iron on idle when not used. Otherwise it will be burning through tips like there is no tomorrow. I had one of these pencil soldering irons as I needed to solder something at a location. Once I powered it on, I was like oh snap, where do I put this thing now. Very much noped out and got the thing home wher…

The article mentions that the iron has an accelerometer-based idle mode, like most of its competitors. So no special holder is required.

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

#38

Post by scottbez1 »

dlevine wrote: post #28

I paid ~$100 for my Hakko FX888D, and have had had that for almost 10 years. Looking on the Internet, the price hasn't gone up much. Not sure whether this (for $250 including the power supply) is a class above that. The repairability is a definite plus (assuming parts continue to be available for many years), and all the nerdy features are also cool, but not sure how useful they will be in the real world.

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, and most are cheaper than this new iFixit iron, so you can get that class improvement for the same price as your Hakko station, so I'm curious if their improvements are a big enough step up from _those_ irons to justify the price.

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

#39

Post by ploxiln »

jareklupinski wrote: post #16

i literally just bought a pinecil and usb-c battery pack (with carry case) to make basically a DIY version of this three weeks ago, but would have gotten this one instead if it existed back then after a few days trying to turn that into a daily driver however, i've had to go back to my weller desktop station, for one weird reason: i dont have anywhere to put the hot iron in between uses! i dont know if it's just me,…

I got this $6 soldering stand, I use it with my pinecil v1 (and the pine64 silicone usb cable), it works pretty well for me: https://www.microcenter.com/product/659412/eclipse-enterpris...

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

#40

Post by BugsJustFindMe »

> The accelerometer detects when you pick it up and heats it back up.

I don't want this. I would rather push a button and wait for a light to turn on. Automatic off, fine, I guess, though I don't love it and would never want to rely on it. Automatic on, no way.

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