Every hardware hacker need good soldering tool. My idea was to build own but with very specific qualities. On one side not so expensive, on second side high quality and also small with precise control and features. I found some projects where is used Weller soldering tips designed for WMRP soldering iron with standard 3.5mm jack and inside the tip is also thermocouple for sensing temperature. These tips are not so cheap but the quality is really great, especially for fine soldering. Hardware design is based on similar projects but with many modifications and improvements. Also my request was to make the hardware small as possible to fit into handle and capable to supply from hobbyist LiPO battery.Buy one on tindiy: https://www.tindie.com/products/vlk/rt-soldering-pen/
Details
Features:
very compact - will fit into handle
display show status, preset and tip temperature, power, supply voltage, drop, ...
two buttons
automatic standby
sensing supply voltage and tip current
precise regulation with PID (PSD controller with some modifications)
supply voltage is from 5V to 18V (best is 10-13V)
designed to supply from LIPO battery 2S (7.4V max is about 18W) or 3S (11.1V max is more than 40W)
calculating consumed Wh
heat-up in 5sec from 25 to 400°C (with 40W limit)
Idle current about 8mA
What is planed:
case
battery monitor (warn when battery need charge)
configuration editor for some constants from PSD controller, power limit, ....
Weller this year introduced new series of RT tips with nice slogan "No compromise".
There are three types:
RTM - RT Micro - they are same like previous line RT, but with new naming
RTP - RT Pico - these tips are smaller, shorter for more precise soldering
RTU - RT Ultra - these tips are in opposite bigger and designed for higher power (till 150 Watts)
All the tips have same pinout and in general are compatible,
RTM and RTP (also previous RT) have resistance of heating element 2 Ohm and they are designed for 12 V (current is 6 A) but maximum average heating power is 40 Watts - this power is controlled and limited by PWM.
RTU has resistance of heating element 3.5 Ohm, this mean, to reach 150Watts is necessary to use higher voltage - at least 24V, but the current will be still similar - what is good for the JACK connector.
But actual design of RT soldering pen has limitation for power at 18 V and current to RT, RTM and RTP will be at 18 V: 9 Amps - the pen it should withstand it, because average pulse power is limited by SW to 40 W) question is what can withstand the JACK connector.
The main question is how to use this with RTU tips they need 24 V. so, absolute maximum rating of HW 1.0* is 25V for supply voltage (limiting element is input capacitor) after replacing input cap next limit will be 30V (maximum voltage of MOSFET switches)
*Absolute maximum rating for previous HW v0.3 is 20V - this is limited by 20V MOSFET switch.
For RTU if the supply will be 24V then output power can be near to 150 Watts, but this need also modifications in SW to allow higher output power. Yes, this is planed and new release will available be soon.
Another problem with new tips is that each kind RT/RTM, RTP and RTU has different dimensions of the cylinder on JACK side and is necessary to count with this for case design. (old RT and new RTM have same dimensions of the cylinder) this is also reason why Weller sell for each kind different tip holder.
MS tips:
If I talking about tips there is one more question: What it mean if in name is "MS", it mean that tip meets Military Specifications. But there is no more informations. In general the main different is that shield of the tip is electrically isolated from the connector, standard tips have shield connected to ground.
Although is still in development state is stable and has many new features, like simple main screen with large temperature, Fahrenheit mode or left-handed mode.
There is also many features in background
Update is easy and safe with any SWD (ST-Link) programmer
Yes, I know, there is still no news about the case, so, at least something simple....
I try to put this soldering pen into transparent shrinkable tube (ø 10 mm) and seems with very good success, buttons are easy to press, so very good and cheap protection.
.... but one small fail, I forget to put down the protecting foil from the display! ,-D
I would like to see the priority on accelerometer, sleep/wake, battery protection/indicator, and usb power delivery with lower voltage mode so I can make use of my many common Li-ion batteries.
I am not sure the big power and ultra size tip compatibility seems worth it. So many changes for different jack size, power, and thermal concerns with the current design, but I am not the one needing/wanting big power in this compact size.
I like this project for a lightweight and convenient portable option, but of course, this is up to vlk where he likes to to focus efforts. Thanks to you vlk whatever you decide!
I have another little question please.. :-) Why in HW 1.0 the maximum temperature is 500° but in HW 0.3 is limited to 400° ? Hardware 0.3 does not support temperatures over 400° ? If yes, why you limit it to 400° ? Thanks.
P.S. I hope in the next firmware you make editable from the menu "standby timer" and "display OFF timer" which are very useful.
Hello, yes, it is because on v0.3 has different resistor divider and maximum measurable temperature is around 500°C (regulation cannot exceed 400°C) and on v1.0 is around 1000°C, limit to 500°C is from reason to protect the soldering tip.
There is way to replace certain resistors and change FW.
FW features: yes I have this in my TODO and also other thinks, but currently I have limited time to work on this project, but hope soon I will have more time.
Hi vlk, congratulations for your wonderful project. I have 2 questions please 1) What functions you have added on HW 1.0 with gyroscope ? 2) is it possible to install the same gyroscope on old HW 0.3 ? (You can publish one installation scheme ;) For the people who purchased HW 0.3. This is to reassess and equalize HW 0.3 to the new 1.0
1: gyroscope is not currently used by SW, planed is in next releases for detecting free fall and or for wakeup,...
2: yes, it is possible but everything is so small, probably with some gyro module. and currently it has no sense while is not used by SW ,-)
Personally I don't need the gyro, there is automatic turning off by detecting if you do not solder and wake up is not necessary, while it heat-up in 4 seconds, ok I need to press button before..
Will there be PCBs available on Tindie anytime soon again?
Alternatively, I think about building one myself. Did not see board/gerber files for the current version, though. Do you mind adding them to github? Thx.
I just received your soldering iron. Works like a charm - Thank you for making it! If anyone out there is unsure about buying it, I warmly recommend it. Cheap, and quite effective.
I’m an intermediate in soldering, mostly doing PTH parts. But recently I realized I need to have some sort of soldering iron that easily portable because sometimes I need to fix things when I'm travelling
In the DIY community, T12 clones and TS-100 are popular. What are their pros and cons compared to your RT soldering iron?
I know T12 clones aren't portable, but I'm including it here for the sake of comparison.
I Just bought one of your controllers and I'm looking forward to using it. I am just thinking about a case and looking at the RT tip that I have here, Do Weller hold the tips in with a ring magnet in their official hand-pieces?
be careful if you wan't add magnet, because the magnet can influent the current sensor, which is HAL-based, although if there is compensation for surrounding magnetic field, large error can stop correct measurement.
I have a doubt I am manufacturing my own PCB, which connector do you use for the display connection? Can you show an example of how you assemble the screen with the PCB?
I love this, It would be really cool if it could have a USB-C PD connection. I carry about a big high power USB C battery bank and it would be very convenient if this could have something like a STUSB4500 integrated to get the most out of it. this is where the TS80 is lacking.
Hello Chris, there is a problem with USB-C because at 12 V there are 6Amps pulses and not all power sources can withstand this load. Normally USB-C PD can deliver at 12V 3 Amps. (maybe some power supplies can deliver at 12V 5Amps)
In general the average power load is still smaller than USB-C PD power supply, so some filters with high capacity can help to decrease the current peaks.
If you still want to use USB-C you can use ZYPDS (it is easy to pack it because it has same width like my board)
Just wanted to let you know I'm very interested in your project.
Do you know when the HW revision is going to be available?
Also, I wanted to design a 3D printed case for this (with two side that can be clipped or screwed together). Would be interested if I shared the design?
Dear Vik, I work with industrial 3D printing and CNC, I can help with design and manufacturing of a case for your project. I'd also gladly buy one for myself :D Please contact me if you're interested in cooperation. We're just over the border - in Poland :)
you don't need to kill for this case, I can send you the STL File. Never forget, we are a ordinray people and not a Company and we have our private Life as a FIRST Prionity and much later coming our hobby! I don't look every day or every weeks this page... Sorry!
@Otto Winter Of course! Sorry if I came off as impatient or demanding, I was just very impressed and eager to build my own. Weller tip compatibility make this more appealing than TS80 and your enclosure looks phenomenal.
A copy of the STL file would be hugely appreciated!
i just cracked my screen when trying to fit it into the too narrow case. what did you do? could you replace the screen with a new one? and how? i would also like to repair mine as the display is not showing anithing anymore. thanks
vlk
To program, use ST-Link utility from ST, or any other SW for Flashing STM32 micro-controllers (openocd, texane/stlink, pystlink, ...)
Otto Winter
Felix Rusu
Clara Hobbs
bobricius
I would like to see the priority on accelerometer, sleep/wake, battery protection/indicator, and usb power delivery with lower voltage mode so I can make use of my many common Li-ion batteries.
I am not sure the big power and ultra size tip compatibility seems worth it. So many changes for different jack size, power, and thermal concerns with the current design, but I am not the one needing/wanting big power in this compact size.
I like this project for a lightweight and convenient portable option, but of course, this is up to vlk where he likes to to focus efforts. Thanks to you vlk whatever you decide!