Hey guys, first time poster, long time lurker. I do run a Macbook and Laptop repair business in Adelaide, where I work mostly on 0201, 0402 size SMD components. So having tweezers is a must these days as these buggers fly.
I need advice, or maybe help with a project which I started and went sideways
. Its the UniSolder project
https://github.com/valerionew/unisolder-notes.
I have committed to the project and built the case at the peak of the chip shortage, and paid more than I should for the components. Probably spent almost 1K$ on chips, parts, genuine cartirdges and handles.
My goal was to build NASE-2C like station which supports nanotweezers, but would be also compatible with 210 and 245 handpieces and other cross-station handles.
My dreams went down the drain after long troubleshooting (my knowledge of mV opamps is limited), resoldering all components multiple times, and replacing multiple chips one more time. We tried to troubleshoot it in the Dangerous prototypes forum but haven't reached much progress in the past year
http://dangerousprototypes.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=298647.
I am definitely doing something wrong, so went and resoldered all the components from the front board into another board by checking values and orientations one more time with no avail.
Now I need to make a choice. As it's been over a year, I am sitting here with AN115 nanotweezer, NT115 handle, a range of C115 cartridges and looking at this failed project.
Heartbroken decided to move on and choose one of these two:
2,6k$ JBC NANE-2C Nano Rework Station 2NT
https://www.oritech.com.au/jbc-nane-2c-nano-rework-station-2nt-230v.htmlThis will give me 2 extra soldering NT115 handles which I can try to sell and recoup some of my loss.
But will not allow me to use 210 or 245 handles as they are not cross-compatible.
The station is sexy, and fancy and saves lots of space on my bench with hanging tools, but I will still need to keep using my awful T12 replica for generic soldering jobs.
3K$ JBC DDE 2 Tools Precision Rework Station
https://www.oritech.com.au/jbc-dde-2-tools-precision-rework-station.htmlThis will allow me to use a wider range of tips, and micro tweezers 210, 245 series are not that big compared to nanotweezers with the smallest tip in use. And should be able to work on 201 size too.
For another 1K$ I can choose a DMSE with 4 ports to run 4 tools without swapping them.
https://www.oritech.com.au/jbc-dmse-digital-solder-desolder-rework-station.htmlBut have a look how much space these takes
, I could had them hanging on Unisolder with some sleep modification, and they all could have been (cheaper) different brands
I probably need an extra 400$ on cartridges, as 50$ per piece.
I can try to sell these, but it's a limited sector so not sure if anybody will need them:
Nano Handle: NT115
Nano Tweezers: AN115
Cartridges: C115101 x1 - C115103 x1 - C115105 x2 - C115107 x1 - C115112 x1 - C115113 x2.