Electronics > Open Source Hardware

Open source Weller RT compatible soldering station with Tweezers :)

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riccardo.pittini:
I developed a soldering station compatible for Weller RT tips.
It was developed for personal use as I simply found that Weller RT1 tips are great fr SMD work but the station + handle price is not low!

It is compatible with Weller:
- RT micro
- Recently discovered that works also with RT Ultra and RT Pico :)
- I'm finalizing the tweezers (they work as well :D)

Here is a link to the station and the firmware + design files.

Some specs from my Tinde website:
https://www.tindie.com/products/pittinihub/soldering-station-rt1/

GitLab project:
https://gitlab.com/pittinihub/solderingrt1

It would be great to have some comments :)
Thanks

riccardo.pittini:
Just wanted to add another teaser :P

Some comments on the tweezers:
- You can run one set of tweezers from a single channel (placing effectively the TCs in parallel, not ideal but for simplicity it works well enough). In this case you have to consider that large differences in thermal mass between L+R heaters will cause a temperature difference on the tips ;).
- You can use the two channels to drive independently the L+R heaters in the tweezers

flywire:

--- Quote from: riccardo.pittini ---Regular package includes: ... 3d printed case

--- End quote ---

Poor design. Could have used a $1 Electronic Project Box.

homebrew:
Hm, since you asked for comments, here are some thoughts for improvements ...

1) Add input protection / add protection at all! No fuse(s) and no reverse polarity protection in current schematic. No overcurrent protection. If that thing is really meant to run from batteries (or LiPo) A LOT has to be done ...

LACKING EVEN MOST BASIC PROTECTION IS IMMEDIATELY A BIG THUMBS DOWN !!!  :--

2) "Beef up" Input barrel jack. The current model specified in the schematic is rated to 2.5A only:
https://lcsc.com/product-detail/AC-DC-Power-Plugs-Receptacles_XKB-Connectivity-DC-005-5A-2-0-SMT_C319134.html

3) Select proper output connectors. These are just headphone jacks. Their current rating seems to be just 500mA:
https://lcsc.com/product-detail/Audio-Video-Connectors_Korean-Hroparts-Elec-PJ-313D-6A_C95463.html

4) Limit/monitor the output. A short in the output (or anywhere for that matter) and this thing will go up in flames if the power supply has no sufficient protection!

5) In your firmware I cannot see code for UVLO. The voltage is sensed but I didn't see code handling an undervolt condition anywhere. Maybe I've overlooked that. This is highly important as under a certain threshold, your MOSFETS will not turn on completely anymore, dissipate all the heat and burn. I wouldn't suggest handling this in software at all! If it is important for safety I would recommend doing this in hardware.

6) Publish the board layouts. I mean - why not? If somebody would "steal" your design, the lacking board design files will not stop anybody at any level of experience ...


Honestly, this currently doesn't feel very safe at all!

Not even talking about a CE ...

riccardo.pittini:
Thanks for the comment :). I just give some thoughts about the design.

- Correct you can use a "Electronic Project Box" I just found them to not to be the size i liked, plus more difficult to make nice cuts for LCD buttons etc. I find good quality 3d prints better than standard "electronic boxes"
- Ja.. the project started in a different way.. just needed something to work for my home table...  then it added things piled up as functionality (as well as for the code). Design needs beefing up and there is very few space left in the code (current rom usage is about 92% and 50% ram .. more or less)
- UVLO it is in the code, just handled in another section ( in lcd_print.ino)... don't ask why... -_- but it was the quickest way i found to update the state machine (considering corner cases)
- you are right (i'll upload them), I don't know I held a bit back, anyhow it is never meant to be a commercial product or not nearly close to that. It is a DYI project for myself, nothing more. I simply wanted to share feed and get reasonable comments and ideas of what could be interesting adding (e.g. I added recently standby detection in software).

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