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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

#161

Post by ssl-3 »

kwiens wrote: post #142
ssl-3 wrote: post #112

Meh. Seriously. Pros: 1. "Portable, sorta" 2. Reasonably high-power 3. Has an accelerometer (as does everything else in its class) 4. "Repairable" Cons: 1. No Hall effect sensor to detect when iron is placed in holder 2. A walled single-source garden of soldering tips that doesn't even exist yet instead of using commodity COTS parts 3. The fucking temperature control is fucking paywalled behind a proprietary USB powe…

We considered having a sensor to detect when the cap is installed, but found that the accelerometer met that need. The default sleep timer is 30 seconds, but I set mine to 5 seconds and it works great. All of the settings, including the temperature setting, are available in the web interface for free. The settings persist permanently on the iron so you can use it with any USB-C PD power source that you've already got…

I mean...

Here I am soldering in the field with my fancy microprocessor-controlled portable soldering iron. I've been using it with 63/37 and doing SMD work, but in front of me now I've got a big wire on a 1/4" TS plug to work on that was put together with lead-free solder and I simply need a higher temperature in order for anything to melt.

I never expected an audio tech in the US to use lead-free solder for anything, ever, but here I am anyway.

So now, I've got choices.

Do I find a computer to plug my soldering iron into so I can reprogram it?

Do I use the $170 temperature control (more than twice the cost of the iron itself) that I left on the bench for safe keeping?

Or do I see this situation in advance, and buy seemingly any other temperature-controlled portable soldering iron instead?

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

#162

Post by auxym »

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…

Same, the first thing I looked for is what tip it uses.

I want to like the miniware, pine, etc irons, but I'd really like being able to buy T15 tips from my local electronics supplier, who carries Hakko.

If the product isn't sucessful and/or ifixit stops producing tips for whatever reason, a perfectly good iron is effectively bricked.

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

#163

Post by mixmastamyk »

kwiens wrote: post #148
mixmastamyk wrote: post #98

Looks neat. I might have thought web features were cool ten years ago but no longer want any more devices with wifi and possibility of telemetry in my house. Not to mention having to bring up a browser to configure instead of pushing a physical button. No desire for limited Tesla-like design. Is that the case, or did I misunderstand?

I completely agree and love buttons and knobs. In this case, we didn't think the setting was necessary at all. It's very rare that you need to change the soldering temperature. We found that most of the reasons that people historically change their setting is because their iron isn't responsive enough to the actual workload. With 100 Watts of power and an ultra-fast response time, you can flow the joules that you act…

Hmm, the power supply has a knob, that’s ok. Why does it mention a web console? Video didn’t mention.

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

#164

Post by ryukafalz »

kwiens wrote: post #83
nightpool wrote: post #8

I 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.

Very interesting, I will check that out! And yes, if it seems like mobile browsers don't plan to add support then we'll have to look at wrapping it in a native app. I'm hopeful that smartphones will start supporting higher power output from their USB-C ports. The iPhone does 4.5W right now, which is (barely) enough to melt solder, but not enough to do anything with.

My phone only has a 16 Wh battery; I'm not sure I'd want it to dump 100 W out its USB-C port even if it could!

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

#165

Post by 6SixTy »

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…

Even compatibility with TS100/Pinecil V2 tips would be better. TS100 is meant to be open source, and the Pinecil V2 tips are just shorter with a different resistance.

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

#166

Post by ssl-3 »

alnwlsn wrote: post #156
ssl-3 wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

...just as IronOS does on a Pinecil.

The sensor for the Pinecil / TS100 seems to be located fully behind the tip though: https://web.archive.org/web/20221110163337/http://www.minids...

Indeed.

I guess we'll have to wait for an iFixit teardown to see how this new widget actually differs in internal construction.

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

#167

Post by dpedu »

kwiens wrote: post #129
cruffle_duffle wrote: post #76

Soldering is one of those things where the tools you use have a direct impact on the quality and enjoyment of the work. Shitty $20 soldering irons from Home Depot not only produce awful results but they are incredibly frustrating. I’m pretty sure most people who think they suck at soldering and hate it only feel that way because their tool sucks. A good quality soldering iron and high quality, thin solder make a huge…

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.

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

#168

Post by arcanemachiner »

luqtas wrote: post #95
cruffle_duffle wrote: post #76

Soldering is one of those things where the tools you use have a direct impact on the quality and enjoyment of the work. Shitty $20 soldering irons from Home Depot not only produce awful results but they are incredibly frustrating. I’m pretty sure most people who think they suck at soldering and hate it only feel that way because their tool sucks. A good quality soldering iron and high quality, thin solder make a huge…

dunno. my first ever soldering project was a handwired keyboard. i was popcorning when i finished. it was my first time using a mechanical switch keyboard too. not bad... 2° project, right after finishing the keyboard was soldering a PMW3360 sensor to someone's board from Github. it was a freaking blast on my 40W, 40 BRL (~ 8 USD) solder i still have it & i'm selling handwired keyboards at a very cheap price (made wi…

Popcorning: "the happy little jump that guinea pigs give when they are full of joy"

In case anyone else was wondering.

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

#169

Post by jamesgeck0 »

green-salt wrote: post #153
kwiens wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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 algorith…

Do you have plans to have an actual local application to do this? Chrome-only web tools are not sustainable and a deal breaker.

As noted in the article, there's also a traditional serial interface.

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

#170

Post by scottbez1 »

mixmastamyk wrote: post #98

Looks neat. I might have thought web features were cool ten years ago but no longer want any more devices with wifi and possibility of telemetry in my house. Not to mention having to bring up a browser to configure instead of pushing a physical button. No desire for limited Tesla-like design. Is that the case, or did I misunderstand?

No wifi - it's web serial so connects locally via the USB connection when you plug the iron (or base station) into your computer. It's only "web" in the sense that it uses a browser and web technologies for the GUI, not "web" as in over the internet or wireless.
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