Every time I see a soldering iron use a 3.5mm headphone jack for the tips, some dark dumb part of my brain wants to plug a pair of headphones into it to see what happens.
Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
51–60 of 415 posts
Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
#52I hear https://github.com/google/web-serial-polyfill gets used a fair amount on Android devices, so that might be one road you could go down. Additionally, I can't imagine it would be that hard would it be to build a mobile app that could provide a WebSerial interface to a friendly webview of your choosing. You'd need the user to download an app, but then you could use the same code for both web and app versions.
Oh interesting, I'll have to try that polyfill - I've been using web serial for all my projects lately because I hate users having to install anything, but Android has been an annoying gap.
Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
#53don't see what tips are compatible or will be on offer. Shame that I can't control it on the pen.
Looks like it only takes their proprietary tip design (never seen one using a 3.5mm jack) but they don't have any others for sale yet. There are at least a few different tip designs out there already that don't require tools to replace (Metcal for example) so why not just do that? Unless someone comes out with an adapter, I can't use any of the tips I already own and would need to rely on iFixit for replacements.
Also, can you safely put 100W through a headphone jack? The ones I can find on Digikey that list a power rating seem to max out at 75W but most are well below that. Headphone jacks aren't exactly meant for high power, there is only a small amount of contact between the terminals since there's very little power required for line audio. Obviously big speakers require more power but those use things like XLR, RCA, and wire posts that provide way more contact.
Adding to this, I don't want to use their Chrome-only web app to configure it. Is this thing actually a serial device or is it something that only Chrome can talk to? If the former, just make it an Electron app if you want to be lazy. Can I still run the web app locally if iFixit decides to stop hosting it?
iFixit acts like they are all for open hardware and then go make something that uses proprietary tips and a (likely) closed source web app. I'm glad I could repair it if necessary but seems like a step back from a cheap solder station from Amazon that has a control panel and takes Hakko tips.
Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
#54Well 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…
It's our own design, although clearly inspired by those who came before. I'm really happy with their quality, but you'll have to judge that for yourself. We're handling the boosting automatically in software. When the iron detects that it's under load, it maxxes out the power to the tip. It's incredibly responsive. You're right, where you want that is with high thermal mass objects like ground planes. The difficult p…
Thanks for the response! If true, this would make the experience more like a Metcal then. Very good iron. You must have your thermistor/thermocouple very close / inside the tip itself then, no?
No doubts then on the tip quality - I've seen the rest of your stuff (good).
Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
#55This looks really nice! Can the base station be used like a normal powerbank (for plugging phone or laptop into it)? Also while it is in use?
Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
#56Never buy cheap tools. It looks like a cool gadget, but is it actually useful for soldering? Does it maintain correct temperatures? How long the tips last and can you buy them easily? Are there many variety of tips? etc. etc. If you are into soldering, do yourself a favour and buy something tried and trusted like Hakko FX-951 if you are on the budget. It will probably outlast you.
I don't see why maintaining tip temperature would be even slightly difficult with modern electronics. It should be possible to make a very cheap and excellent soldering iron at this point.
Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
#57Every time I see a soldering iron use a 3.5mm headphone jack for the tips, some dark dumb part of my brain wants to plug a pair of headphones into it to see what happens.
Magic smoke is released. Do try to avoid doing this with headphones in ears.
Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
#58Never buy cheap tools. It looks like a cool gadget, but is it actually useful for soldering? Does it maintain correct temperatures? How long the tips last and can you buy them easily? Are there many variety of tips? etc. etc. If you are into soldering, do yourself a favour and buy something tried and trusted like Hakko FX-951 if you are on the budget. It will probably outlast you.
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Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
#59This looks really nice! Can the base station be used like a normal powerbank (for plugging phone or laptop into it)? Also while it is in use?
Yes! You have two ports on the front, so you can charge your phone or laptop while you solder.
Or, mount two soldering irons with different tips. The wheel controls the temperature, and the blue action button toggles between which one you're controlling. Two soldering irons can be hot at once.
Re: Show HN: iFixit created a new USB-C, repairable soldering system
#60Overall a great idea, though not a fan that you can’t directly change the temperature on the soldering iron without the power station.