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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

#61

Post by cruffle_duffle »

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.

I was gonna point out the same thing as the parent about the tips but figured that what you said must be true. Those existing tips were meant for specific power and whatnot… y’all needed to do your own thing to meet your higher, different specifications.

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

#62

Post by thesh4d0w »

The 100w and heat resistant storage caps are nice, but that battery pack pricing and the lack of on-device controls makes this not an option for me.

$110 cad for the soldering iron is semi-reasonable, if a bit high compared to their competitors. $342 for the iron + battery means that's a $230 battery pack, which is absolutely insane.

Requiring the battery pack to be able to easily change controls means anyone doing more than super basic work, needs the $342 combo.

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

#67

Post by kwiens »

alnwlsn wrote: post #54
kwiens wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

Yes, the thermistor is inside the tip. That's essential to getting good performance out of the algorithm.

The instant that the iron detects that it's under load, it pours power into the heating element. That makes it feel and perform like a much more powerful iron. We're dynamically responding to the power load and flowing heat into the material.

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

#68

Post by ssl-3 »

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,…

They make soldering iron stands in factories every day, and have probably done so for at least a century so far.

Just pick one out out that you like and get it coming your way.

For portable use, I got some snap-on purpose-built "legs" made from steel wire from aliexpress the other day that let me put the Pinecil down safely on a flat surface. They work a treat.

(And for bench use, stick a magnet to the collar of the stand. Pinecil V2 has a Hall effect sensor built in (and one can be added to V1) that will detect when the iron is in the stand, so IronOS will enter a selectable lower-temperature sleep mode right away. It heats back up quick enough that it's unlikely to ever get in the way.)

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

#69

Post by jdietrich »

varispeed wrote: post #22

Never 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.

Lots of cheap tools are excellent. In this space, Sugon/Aifen make fantastic JBC clone soldering stations for under $100; you can use original JBC tips, but MAGMA tips work 95% as well as the JBC originals at a fraction of the cost. The range of tools and materials being produced for the Chinese phone repair market is incredible - some stuff (like tweezers) that's just outright better than any western equivalent, some stuff that's completely novel and has no big-brand equivalent.

https://bresun.aliexpress.com/store/900239507

https://kaisitool.aliexpress.com/store/3152011

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

#70

Post by kwiens »

syntaxing wrote: post #60

Overall a great idea, though not a fan that you can’t directly change the temperature on the soldering iron without the power station.

You can set the temperature on the iron with our web console, which uses Web Serial: https://www.ifixit.com/fixhub/console

Once you set the temperature, the iron remembers it and you can use any power source.

We've spent a lot of time talking to engineers and makers who solder all day, and it turns out that most people rarely change the temperature. Pick a temperature you like and leave it there.

Our heating algorithm detects and dynamically responds to load, so you don't need to turn the temperature up for larger thermal masses: it'll add as many joules as required to get it to temperature.

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