Electronics > Manufacturing & Assembly

Thermaltronics M series tips failing more often than expected

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Psi:
So I've had 2 thermaltronics tips fail sooner than I would have expected given the quality of the brand.
The tips are the 13.56 MHz curie style.
All tips were purchased from a legit supplier. (RS Components)
 
One lasted about a year and the other lasted less than a month.
Seems very odd, I don't use them that much, maybe 8 hours a week.

My station is the TMT-9000PS.

Anyone know what might be happening?


Also, do Metcal tips work in the thermaltronics TMT-9000PS? maybe I should try those instead?
They look identical.

thm_w:
Less than a month, contact them to see if they'll cover it under warranty. Mention the other failed tip as well. Does the coil read as open circuit?
Yes the metcal ones will also work as thermaltronics is a copy of those. But thermaltronics is much cheaper for new tips ($18).

I've had no issues with the tips, used for years, although not heavily. Mike said he has no issues as well: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/metcal-soldering-tip-pathology/

mikeselectricstuff:
I've had a couple of apparently failed tips actually turn out to be solder blobs stuck up the connector  of the tip shorting it out.
Not seen any lifetime issues with Thermaltronics - I mostly use two daily and can't remember when I last replaced them - couple of  years at least

Psi:
The first one was a yellow temp knife tip and it went open circuit.
The latest one is a red chisel tip. It still reads as connected and it still gets hot but not hot enough to melt solder.

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