Weller rework stations. WXR3 versus WR3

[FrankE]

Aye, it may very well be recent. I went through loads of literature in recent weeks and I thought the WX irons progressed 55, 65, 120.
I'm looking through the 'Weller Soldering Tips Brochure' on SOS just now and there's no mention of the 80. That's dated 2013.

Quite possibly, the 7/2014 is the earliest I see it mentioned in. As I said, almost no information so I think nanofrog is probably correct that although it made it into the catalog I have, it was only actually released very recently to a limited market. I'm going to contact my supplier and see if this can be ordered and also confirm what tips it uses.

Weller seem a bit quiet about upcoming releases (and model retirement).

There's a WT series coming out, which I've seen nothing of in the UK. It never came up in my serch in recent weeks so I assume it was prepended to their German Download Centre list very recently and still being pre-release hasn't made it onto their World of Weller WOW catalogue or glossies yet.

http://www.simpex.ch/fileadmin/bereiche/produktionstechnik/News/30112015_3/2015_WT%20Line_E.pdf

http://weller.de/sys/tools/curl_download.php?selected_file=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia-weller.de%2Fweller%2Fdata%2FDownloads%2FWT_Flyer_DE.pdf

[edit: Oh, it's on the english language download page http://www.weller.de/sys/tools/curl_download.php?selected_file=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia-weller.de%2Fweller%2Fdata%2FDownloads%2FWT_Flyer_GB.pdf ]
I wonder what models or series they plan to quietly retire?

[nanofrog]

What's the difference between the Silver-line heating and the Power response heating in actual use?

Not used both so can't comment on a performance difference. But since they didn't make a new heating element & tip series for the WXP80, I'd guess the performance difference isn't much in the 80W range at least.

I'd say there's a real performance difference on the tips offered however, as the tips for the WX series I looked up on All-Spec all had Germany listed as the COO. Didn't see a single tip offering for this series of irons made in Bosnia (only tip COO I'm aware of that has QC problems), so the tip plating should be consistent. Never heard or experienced a plating issue with US, German, or Japanese made tips at any rate. 

[blacksheeplogic]

What's the difference between the Silver-line heating and the Power response heating in actual use?

Not used both so can't comment on a performance difference. But since they didn't make a new heating element & tip series for the WXP80, I'd guess the performance difference isn't much in the 80W range at least.

The LT series tips take a little longer to heat up (WSP80/WP80) compared to the WXP65 Power Response tips, but it is not much a few seconds. I don't feel any real difference in use.

The biggest differences are price (LT tips are much cheaper), selection (a lot more LT tips to choose from), availability, and durability.

[nanofrog]

What's the difference between the Silver-line heating and the Power response heating in actual use?

Not used both so can't comment on a performance difference. But since they didn't make a new heating element & tip series for the WXP80, I'd guess the performance difference isn't much in the 80W range at least.

The LT series tips take a little longer to heat up (WSP80/WP80) compared to the WXP65 Power Response tips, but it is not much a few seconds. I don't feel any real difference in use.

The biggest differences are price (LT tips are much cheaper), selection (a lot more LT tips to choose from), availability, and durability.

FWIW, my WMP micro iron heats up 2 - 3 seconds faster on average than my WSP80 as well (less power @ 65W, but less thermal mass to the tips as well, so they still heat up faster).

[blacksheeplogic]

FWIW, my WMP micro iron heats up 2 - 3 seconds faster on average than my WSP80 as well (less power @ 65W, but less thermal mass to the tips as well, so they still heat up faster).

I have a lot of LT tips some in common with the Power Response irons, the Power Response tips for both the WXP65 and WXP120 are faster to come up to temp than the LT tips. It makes little difference in actual use.

Also, the micro iron and tweezers for the WDM, I now standby them at 300F for a few minutes rather than turning them off every time I put them in the stand to extend their life.

[nanofrog]

I have a lot of LT tips some in common with the Power Response irons, the Power Response tips for both the WXP65 and WXP120 are faster to come up to temp than the LT tips. It makes little difference in actual use.

Good to know.  Out of curiosity, how hard have you pushed them (i.e. how many layers, component package, and so on?)?

Just wondering if it's like JBC, where you only see what it can really do when pushed really hard, such as accomplishing jobs without preheating that others can't.

Also, the micro iron and tweezers for the WDM, I now standby them at 300F for a few minutes rather than turning them off every time I put them in the stand to extend their life.

It's certainly a nice feature to have.  I had to buy an optional stand to get it, but I don't regret doing so (got it at a decent price). 

[blacksheeplogic]

Out of curiosity, how hard have you pushed them (i.e. how many layers, component package, and so on?)?

Just wondering if it's like JBC, where you only see what it can really do when pushed really hard, such as accomplishing jobs without preheating that others can't.

I run most of my irons at 700F (set to stand by 300F after a couple of mins in the stand). I also have 8 channels so I tend to switch between hand pieces if I need a larger tip.

In terms of using a pre-heater, it takes time and I'm lazy.

[FrankE]

This seems to be the latest datasheet, from Wellers/Apex's UK website - http://weller.de/en/Weller--Products--Product-details.html?article_id=D0092449001408612108A201#{"string":"","current_site":"weller","current_brand":"Weller"}

What's the difference between the Silver-line heating and the Power response heating in actual use?

I really can't tell much difference. The LT seems to heat quicker, but I didn't time them.
I'm pretty slow, so even recovery time is something I'll never notice..
BTW,  I've been scratching my head with three bags of bits, each containing two black nozzly looking things. You don't happen to know where they go perchance. Nothing in the manuals and I looked online.

[nanofrog]

BTW,  I've been scratching my head with three bags of bits, each containing two black nozzly looking things. You don't happen to know where they go perchance. Nothing in the manuals and I looked online.

Generally speaking, if there's a tail on them (tube portion that extends beyond the threads), they go to the desoldering iron. If no tail, then they'll be for the hot air pencil.

Posting a photo or two would help get it nailed down correctly though. 

[FrankE]

BTW,  I've been scratching my head with three bags of bits, each containing two black nozzly looking things. You don't happen to know where they go perchance. Nothing in the manuals and I looked online.

Generally speaking, if there's a tail on them (tube portion that extends beyond the threads), they go to the desoldering iron. If no tail, then they'll be for the hot air pencil.

Posting a photo or two would help get it nailed down correctly though. 

Sorry, it was the small hours of the morning, and my can't-be-botheredness prevented me getting up, walking 5 metres, picking up the bags and copying the part number to the thread.

T0058703922 Steckverbinder fur Aflage


Now I knocked one of the stands over and noticed three holes each side of the base of the stand it would seem that the items are dowels / double ended spigots to hold adjacent stands together.

[nanofrog]

Sorry, it was the small hours of the morning, and my can't-be-botheredness prevented me getting up, walking 5 metres, picking up the bags and copying the part number to the thread.

T0058703922 Steckverbinder fur Aflage


Now I knocked one of the stands over and noticed three holes each side of the base of the stand it would seem that the items are dowels / double ended spigots to hold adjacent stands together.

I know I've been there on more than one occasion, so worries.  At least you got it figured out. 

BTW, I'm not getting an image ^.  Fortunately, I took off the img tags, and the Alibaba site came up. 

[FrankE]

Yeah, I had to google for images and there was only that one. I couldn't see how to upload an image from file.

[nanofrog]

Yeah, I had to google for images and there was only that one. I couldn't see how to upload an image from file.

When you're typing out a post, there's an Attachments and other options link just below the text box, on the left-hand side. Click it, and it will allow you to upload files. 

[FrankE]

Well, I'm kinda up and running with both the Weller WXR 3032 3 (and a vac pen) channel rework station and the WSD81i single channel 80W.
They all heat up really fast, recover quickly.
The WXP 65 iron on the 3032 has a wider range than I expected. I've soldered a bunch of battery tags with it, though it laboured a wee bit on a ground plane on a wireless set.
The hot air gun I've hardly had twanked up at all and it has been fine reflowing on old SMD and PTH boards.
The desolder gun. Why did I not get one before? Faffing about with spring vacuums pens and braid. I'm working on a corroded PCB board of a shaver (mixed PTH and SMD) and it's been brilliant to clear up the pads.
The lighting round the irons to indicate heating and setpoint achieved are handy but depending how I have put the desoldering iron in the stand the light isn't visible as it doesn't go all the way round the handle. That very minor. It only really matters on first switch on and it a matter of seconds.

I've a few things to iron out though. Folk keep pilfering my DB9 to -RJ45 adaptors. I've none left so I haven't yet connected the unit to my PC (also on my bench/desk) so I can set and log the parameters there. Maybe they should network enable the unit in the next refresh? It would make the wiring easier for the integrators in commercial facilities.

[Edit:The Com port at the rear of the WXR is an RJ (6 pin) Connectivity to the
PC is by buying more stuff from Weller, specifically what looks like an RJ11 to RJ45 T0058764710 lead and an RJ?? to DB9 adaptor. T0058764711. I can't make out the connectors from the web images but the part numbers are as stated by Weller. Who the hell has a DB9 serial port on their computer these days?]

I need to order some more tips. I ordered a couple last week but it's a holiday weekend so all my orders from last week have yet to arrive. 

It was a lot to spend but they're of good build, will last and Wellers seem to hold much of their value.. I got a good deal on the 3032 from the same fellow I bought the WSD81i from http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Weller-WSD81i-Digital-Soldering-Station-WSP80-WDH-10-Stand-NEW-NO-BOX-/401092479137?hash=item5d62f988a1:g:IDkAAOSwUV9Wppek

[bson]

What's the WX vacuum picker called?
Can't seem to find it anywhere.

[donkey77]

The vacuum pick up included is this: http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/pick-up-tools/0135890/

Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't seem to notice much difference between different models/technologies of irons.

Personally I think if you get a reasonable level adjustable temp station and iron/s you're not going to have too many problems. It then comes down to tip availability and cost etc and that's going to depend on your locality and available distributors. It seems what's good for Europe might be expensive in the US or vice versa.

p.s. I found 3 bags of the plastic nozzles/pins in the drawer, I hadn't paid too much attention to them at the time, assuming they were just spare pipe nozzles/joiners.

[nanofrog]

It then comes down to tip availability and cost etc and that's going to depend on your locality and available distributors. It seems what's good for Europe might be expensive in the US or vice versa.

I whole heartedly agree.

One example that'a harder to get in the US is Ersa. Kurtz Ersa offers their stations directly, and AFAIK, there's only one distributor. But the biggest issue IMHO, is the fact they're only offered in 230V.

FWIW, it seems like the hand operated equipment is an after-thought compared to their production equipment here. Makes sense at any rate, as production products should generate higher profits by a substantial amount.

[blacksheeplogic]

What's the WX vacuum picker called?
Can't seem to find it anywhere.

The Weller Vacuum Pen product catalog code is : T0052918499. WVP VACUUM PICK UP

[shawnb]

Thanks for this thread, I am in the market for a rework station (leaning towards the WXR3 -- only a bit more than a Hakko, and can't justify 2x the price for a JBC) and had some of the same questions.

Does anyone have any thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages of the WDXV120 inline desoldering iron vs the WDXP120?  Other than the disposable collection chamber in the WDXV, is it mainly a matter of preference for handle thickness, or is there a difference in the way that the two designs perform for certain jobs?

Thanks,
Shawn

[blacksheeplogic]

Does anyone have any thoughts on the advantages/disadvantages of the WDXV120 inline desoldering iron vs the WDXP120?  Other than the disposable collection chamber in the WDXV, is it mainly a matter of preference for handle thickness, or is there a difference in the way that the two designs perform for certain jobs?

It's price, preference and ergonomics mainly. I don't like the DXV hand piece, it feels cheap and uncomfortable to use compared with the XDP. They both get the job done and I can't really say I find much of a difference in performance.

[zitoune]

Hello,

Reviving an old topic - I am trying to figure out the latest WXR3 models since it seems Weller is retiring the WR3 models.

I was hopping someone would know the difference between different MPN references. Across the web we can find for example MPN: T0053501699 and MPN: T0053501699N

Official Weller website references the WXR 3030 as T0053501699N while the ApexToolGroup store references WXR3 models as being obsolete and somehow replaces with WXR3N models, but I cannot spot any difference between both.

Thanks.