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Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

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Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#31

Post by graindcafe »

segfaultbuserr wrote: post #24
wheybags wrote: post #9

For the ignorant software only folks like me: why would a soldering iron need a CPU?

> For the ignorant software only folks like me TL;DR: Software is eating the world. First, it doesn't, but it can be easier or cheaper if you use one. You can build a closed-loop controller using only analog electronics, but it doesn't mean you should . Because silicon is so cheap, sometimes it's reasonable to use a $1 microcontroller and 20 lines of code, instead of 3 opamps, 5 resistors and 3 capacitors. I don't me…

Thanks! You answered all my questions in one time

Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#32

Post by mschuster91 »

emosenkis wrote: post #28
mschuster91 wrote: post #23

Sidenote if someone from Pine reads this - what is the difference between "courier shipping method" and "standard shipping method"?!

I dunno, but my local postal service and/or their customs clearance procedures have a tendency to add a week or more of latency to delivery so I'm hoping that paying the extra $19 lets me avoid that...

Oh god. Just had a quick Google, looks like the EU has decided to make VAT payment mandatory without the previous up to 22€ exception (https://www.paketda.de/news-zollfreigrenze-22-euro-abgeschaf...). That's gonna be one of a nightmare, international shipping already takes ages...

Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#33

Post by dogma1138 »

londons_explore wrote: post #16

It's theoretically possible with USB-C to avoid the power MOSFET for the heater, and instead instruct the power supply to vary the voltage between 5v and 20v which should adjust the heat output by a factor of 16... Could be a neat way to make an ultra low cost iron...

USB type-c power delivery is 5 or 20V it’s not a variable voltage supply.

Switching between the modes isn’t fast enough and if you do try to pulse modulate it you more likely than not to kill your power supply as they weren’t designed for that.

Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#34

Post by dogma1138 »

syntaxing wrote: post #8

Been super eager to get one of these after reading the announcement last time on HN. Placed an order right away! $25 for a TS-100/80 like features with a RISC-V processor?! Sign me up! To be honest, I have no clue why I need a RISC-V chip on my soldering iron...but seems like it'll be worth the $40 (with shipping) worth of entertainment. Edit: Seems like this batch has a GPIO + JTag breakout board!

If it’s for actual use and not hacking it would wait...

$25 for a high powered device that one holds in their hand and has a heating element would have me worried.

Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#35

Post by jamesrr39 »

Squonk42 wrote: post #4

"Device Warranty: 30 Days" => Totally illegal in my country

Across the whole of the EU this isn't legal (the legal minimum warranty period is 2 years[1]).

Legal aspects aside, it also isn't exactly a vote of confidence in the quality of the product. I mean, 30 days, really?

1: https://europa.eu/youreurope/business/dealing-with-customers...

Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#36

Post by mouldysammich »

dogma1138 wrote: post #34
syntaxing wrote: post #8

Been super eager to get one of these after reading the announcement last time on HN. Placed an order right away! $25 for a TS-100/80 like features with a RISC-V processor?! Sign me up! To be honest, I have no clue why I need a RISC-V chip on my soldering iron...but seems like it'll be worth the $40 (with shipping) worth of entertainment. Edit: Seems like this batch has a GPIO + JTag breakout board!

If it’s for actual use and not hacking it would wait... $25 for a high powered device that one holds in their hand and has a heating element would have me worried.

Soldering irons generally are not expensive. Antex which is a fairly reputable soldering iron brand (as far as i understand) sell them as low as 10$ on amazon

Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#37

Post by s5ma6n »

mschuster91 wrote: post #32
emosenkis wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I dunno, but my local postal service and/or their customs clearance procedures have a tendency to add a week or more of latency to delivery so I'm hoping that paying the extra $19 lets me avoid that...

Oh god. Just had a quick Google, looks like the EU has decided to make VAT payment mandatory without the previous up to 22€ exception ( https://www.paketda.de/news-zollfreigrenze-22-euro-abgeschaf... ). That's gonna be one of a nightmare, international shipping already takes ages...

Uff this is really bad news. `After 2021-01-07 any purchase outside-EU will hit customs and taxed.`

It was already a problem ordering from Pine and this also exceeds the 22 Euros.

Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#38

Post by buescher »

voxadam wrote: post #19
wheybags wrote: post #9

For the ignorant software only folks like me: why would a soldering iron need a CPU?

The biggest application is probably closed-loop PID temperature control. Such a control loop doesn't take much of a CPU but it definitely exceeds the capabilities of something like a 555 timer.

I recall a Bob Pease column from years ago where he showed how to do full PID control with a single op-amp.

Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#39

Post by voxadam »

buescher wrote: post #38
voxadam wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The biggest application is probably closed-loop PID temperature control. Such a control loop doesn't take much of a CPU but it definitely exceeds the capabilities of something like a 555 timer.

I recall a Bob Pease column from years ago where he showed how to do full PID control with a single op-amp.

That's something I'd enjoy reading.

Re: Pinecil: Portable USB-C RISC-V soldering iron

#40

Post by ctz »

antoinealb wrote: post #27
chrismorgan wrote: post #25

I have given up on understanding the mess that is USB-C. It lists “USB type C: PD and QC 3.0 12V-20V 3A”. Would this work via a USB Type A port, with an A-to-C adapter/cable?

No. Type A ports are only capable of 5V delivery, and this requires 12V. USB-C is a mess.

Type-A ports are capable of USB-PD up to 100W (20V at 5A), however that's not backwards compatible with non-PD type-A ports or wires.
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