CFW for KSGER/Quicko STM32 Soldering Stations

[DavidAlfa]

I already thought this many times.
Last year, I bought a 1.14" 135x240 ST77889 display for testing.
I modified, improved and released a driver/graphic library for it making use of stm32 DMA, achieving prettty nice speeds.

Anyways, there're several reasons I decided to not do it:

- It's a lot of work, specially if I have to add every display/driver anyone requests. Also, I would have to buy the display for the development.

- The graphics driver would need to be done completely, there's no RAM for buffering, all operations need to be done at pixel level over the lcd interface.

- Even if using DMA, driving a colour LCD over SPI is usually pretty slow, specially ksgers using stm32F101 (36MHz). Only DMA transfers (image/block filling) achieves acceptable speeds, fonts are way slower, specially big fonts.
   (Have you seen those arduinos refreshing the display at 2FPS? No thanks!)

- Wasn't happy with the performance/image quality, redrawing usually causes tearing effect or glitches due the interface slowness.
   Most of these displays can't be read over 3-wire SPI, so forget transparency. Also most don't have Tearing Effect output to minimize the tearing.

- It would be a lot of work just for a minority of users.

[yelkvi]

It's a pity. But I understand you.
It's just that with age my eyesight worsened and I wanted a bigger display. And I already have such a TFT display.
I'll have to order a larger OLED. Under the current conditions, it will not be cheap.

[DavidAlfa]

I also understand you! But it's a lot of work!

Regarding the screen size, I find these 2.4" OLED screens price close to insulting.

About 3 weeks ago I ordered this 128x64 2.4" monochrome LCD for testing (I'm still waiting for it):
https://a.aliexpress.com/_uAbRI3

Making it work will be much easier because it shares the same rows/columns pixel structure and resolution, so it should only take few changes to the display commands.

LCDs have worse contrast and brightness than Oleds, but they don't have burn-in issues and are a lot cheaper.

I have yet to see the image quality, if it looks terrible, then why bother?
Also the brightness can't be controller unless more circuitry is added. Not really a big issue as it won't wear out like Oled do.

[yelkvi]

About 3 weeks ago I ordered this 128x64 2.4" monochrome LCD for testing (I'm still waiting for it):
https://a.aliexpress.com/_uAbRI3

Which of the three colors?
Blue, cyan or black?
Blue is very fond of the Chinese themselves - they put them everywhere. Perhaps this is due to their perception of color.
But I really don't like blue.
Will the characters on black be visible well?
Show me the result, please.

[DavidAlfa]

I ordered the black model, but the colour doesn't matter, they will work in the same way 

[yelkvi]

The well-known Chinese device. LCD 128x64 SPI
Will his indicator work?
Now from China it is very long to wait for a parcel. And there are many such testers. And they lie idle

[DavidAlfa]

You can't simply plug any screen and expect it to work, every screen is different, might have a different controller...
The display you showed seems to be this one
Looks like it uses the same command set as the ST7565R, which the controller of the display I'm waiting for.
So once I test it, if it works for me, should work for you, too.

[yelkvi]

I'll wait for the results of your experiments.
I have an experimental "rabbit" (display) - I can try it.

[Rixi]

I just noticed that Banggood has the "10pcs T12 Soldering Iron Tips Set" on FlashDeal for 18.99 USD and thought this might be interesting for some of you guys:
https://www.banggood.com/custlink/KKDdUK0zom
I will order one set even I still don't have a T12 station yet (but will order one too).

[yelkvi]

I have an old controller from KSGER V2.0.

I uploaded the firmware from David - it works. Even replaced STM 101 with 103 (was in stock).
But I don’t understand where he takes the input voltage data from?
I reviewed the entire board - there is no resistive divider from +24 to the STM port (unlike later versions).
Therefore, the display shows the wrong voltage: 19 - 20 volts, regardless of the real input voltage (changed from 15 to 24 volts).
Add missing details? On the 19th pin, if I'm not mistaken?

When calibrating, in order to reach 400C, I had to "wind up" almost to the maximum (40000) the coefficient
The operational amplifier is SGM8551, the resistors in the strapping correspond to the ratings. And this is the situation with T12, and with JBC (Chinese).

[DavidAlfa]

Edit: It seems it's a unknown version? A lot of connections seem different.
Pin 19 (PB1) seems to go to the temperature sensing instead the voltage monitoring, also the buzzer and eeprom seems different?
Clearly this board need a new profile. Not compatible with any other existing ksger profiles.
I can barely appreciate anything in that picture, please update with better resolution, both sides.
And you have to trace the connections, I need the schematic to adapt the firmware.

[yelkvi]

I will make an external resistor divider. Which PIN of the controller should the signal be sent to?
Here is the schematic from this version of the controller. The port assignment is different from later versions. For example, the PWM port on the key transistor is PA6, and in version 2.1 it is PB0.
But it works with your firmware.

But it is possible that the problems with the calibration are connected precisely with the other purpose of the controller pin.
In my version 19 pin is the PWM control, while in others it is the voltage control input.
Surprisingly, temperature control works in this configuration as well.

[DavidAlfa]

Oh wait, the v2.0 naming confused me, it's basically a v3.0 hardware and should use that firmware.
It's all right. Your version is here.
As you see, v3.0 is almost the same.
The only difference I can really see is the missing voltage monitoring. I hadn't notice before.
Well, whatever not being there, you can use that schematic as reference. Supply monitoring goes to PB0 (stm32 pin 18).
Replace R5 (249K) with 120K or 150K and try calibrating.

[yelkvi]

OK. Thanks. I'll try and post the result here.
Today is Friday - if I do not have time, then on Monday.

P.S. I added two resistors with a 104 capacitor.
Connected to 18 pin stm - everything worked fine.
Now correctly displays the input voltage.
I'll deal with the amplification factor later.

[Polf]

I also came to the conclusion that OLED displays are not the best option, there is burnout and the size is small. I hope that David will offer an option with a SPI display, which he ordered on Ali, he also ordered the same 

[DavidAlfa]

Nice work yelkvi 
Polf, I bought the inverted model, white pixels over black background, imitating the OLED style.
Didn't arrive yet... Something weird happenned with that order, usually it takes 10-15 days, it's been 40...

Check the feedback here, there're lots of pictures.
Some look great, others are dim or bleached, it's impossible to really know.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005001621784395.html

[Polf]

I ordered in the same store and also black and white, we'll see what comes. The mail service is called 4PX Express, but I don't think it will be fast.

[ygi]

Viewing angles are probably not great judging from users' pictures. It may or may not be a problem depending on where you position your station.

[DavidAlfa]

It's a LCD, they'll always have that issue.
However, I don't see the sense of spending $20 on a 2.4" oled screen, on top of that having to handle it like Extremis Expensivium Delicatum stuff.
Does the LCD look worse? Sure. But doesn't burn out and costs a quarter.
It's .just a test 

[yelkvi]

LCD displays come with different angles of the best view.
Perpendicular, top, bottom. I have one multimeter better visible from below, and the other vice versa.
Like this Chinese, David will see only when he receives the package. And we will wait

[yelkvi]

You can't simply plug any screen and expect it to work, every screen is different, might have a different controller...
The display you showed seems to be this one
Looks like it uses the same command set as the ST7565R, which the controller of the display I'm waiting for.
So once I test it, if it works for me, should work for you, too.

I have a 14 PIN display.
Here's one: https://aliexpress.ru/item/1005002863542148.html


P.S. Today I continued to modernize the Chinese board on the advice of David.
I put a DC / DC converter from 24 V to 5 V so that the 3.3 V stabilizer is less heated.
Also, a 10 Mom resistor is added under the board at the thermocouple input.

[ricktendo]

I would love to see something become of this, you guys should consider teaming up and making a better controller board and sell these!

[yelkvi]

A good option for firmware from David. Powerful power supply. Easy to convert to C245. The price is good. I ordered myself.

https://aliexpress.ru/item/4000183089084.html

The same power supply is used in the Aixun T3A. I checked - I connected the controller with David's firmware to this power supply. Works well with C245. Does not turn off when heated.

[Dejw0089]

Hi,
It is possible that fw will work with QUECOO T12-959?

[ygi]

It's not possible. T12-959 uses a completely different microcontroller and doesn't have nearly enough RAM on top of it.