New DIY Metcal compatible soldering station

[fireworks]

  There is a new open source project for a DIY Metcal compatible RF generator:

    https://github.com/SergeyMax/SolderingStation

  It also has a Youtube video:

   

  The output power is 80W, so it's higher than the 40W or so of a MX500.
  Looks very promising!

[apblog]

Dumb question... 80 Watts is a lot of RF power, or so I recall from my days of setting up antennas on rooftops.  We were warned to be careful of 100 Watt microwave dishes, for example.

Is this thing gonna roast my eyeballs?    

Like this guy —> 

OK, obviously not, but WHY not?  The idea of an RF soldering iron has always scared me a bit.

[David Hess]

Even 5 watts of RF can give a serious RF burn but in this case all of the RF is absorbed in the soldering tip instead of being radiated so it is not a problem.  It is no more dangerous than applying 80 watts of RF to a dummy load.

[Towger]

80w is what the newer 5200 base stations output and handles support.
 

[CristopherD]

how does this compare to the older metcal irons?
i think they had 433mhz and 13.56mhz?

There was a DIY metcal thread here
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/diy-metcal-13-56-mhz-rf-supply/500/

[helius]

The Metcal products with F connectors (including all the original ones from prior to the OK Intl acquisition) are 13.56 MHz (ISM band).
Some of the newer products have three-pin circular connectors and operate at 450 kHz (SRD band for avalanche beacons). This system was mainly developed, as I understand it, to better compete with the prices of ceramic-cartridge products like Hakko or Weller.

[rfmerrill]

Sorry for necro, but did anyone actually try building this? I just made a big post on my build in this same subforum here: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/i-built-the-diy-metcal-compatible-soldering-station/