CFW for KSGER/Quicko STM32 Soldering Stations

[bozo]

All updates for SSD1309 (V2.0) and ST7565 (V3.0) work.

[AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS]

DavidAlfa hi sorry i hadn't tested new build   
i really like the new layout of  build script.
let me know if you need me to test any versions (still glued to the bench) 

bozo just idea could you put both screen's connectors so layout will let you use any screen? SSD1309/ ST7565

[KocsisV]

IRON is 2KB, and most remaining screens use ~1KB or less.

That is great, so there is plenty of room left, even on 10k targets!

Nevermind: STM32F101/2/3 don't have USB OTG, so it's a dead end!

One can implement one in software . I'm leaning towards the printout method via the virtual serial port over SWD. Or just reading out the flash completely and parsing it back via a tool (this is what I did previously). And thanks ST for implementing the standard CRC32 with the Ethernet polinom with a non standard implementation!... Took me 2+hour too figure out what magic combination of byte ordering, data inversion works. At least on the newer controllers the reversing and negating can be controlled, but not on the F1xx.

[AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS]

KocsisV thanks you for helping on the eev
sorry to be a Pain but do you think its posable for me to add second input like stand sleep mode but in ide to sleep and switch mosfet off until it reads there is a valid tip temp input so i can just swap tips without switching off the unit (similar tips) thanks andy

[wickated]

KocsisV thanks you for helping on the eev
sorry to be a Pain but do you think its posable for me to add second input like stand sleep mode but in ide to sleep and switch mosfet off until it reads there is a valid tip temp input so i can just swap tips without switching off the unit (similar tips) thanks andy

you can hotswap tips

[DavidAlfa]

One can implement one in software .

Do you have a lot of free time, don't you?

AUTOMOTIVE, if the station does weird things when removing the tip, just solder a 1M resistor between 3.3V and T12+ (Or 10M between the mosfet power pins), it will keep the amplifier input at high level removing any bouncing, and it won't affect the measurement on normal operation.

[AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS]

thanks David was trying not to bother you .i was thinking trying to adding tip changing input like jbc. but if i can just change tips with out frying anything then not needed?


thanks wickated i didn't know ok to hot swap


(working on pcb layout)

[DavidAlfa]

Remember the power is the upper T12 pin, thus the last to make contact when inserting it.
Only a faulty connection could cause issues, ex. a bent contact or broken wire shorting the power, in that case it will blow the mosfet with or without detection pin, so no difference.

[wickated]

thanks David was trying not to bother you .i was thinking trying to adding tip changing input like jbc. but if i can just change tips with out frying anything then not needed?


thanks wickated i didn't know ok to hot swap


(working on pcb layout)

if you want jbc experinec while tip swap u can select "run after error" mode to "off". so after tip change u have to manually start.

[DavidAlfa]

Or just increase the error timeout.

[AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS]

thanks all two ways to skin a cat 

[bozo]

Test with SSD1309 SPI KSGER V3.0 works well.

[AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS]

what was the problem?

[KocsisV]

Why does the latest STM32CubeIde ships with an 8 year old version of make... it does not support grouped targets. For that a more recent version is required (4.3 released in 2020 january).
I'm trying to get rid of the need to manually generate code from the .ioc files and also have only one main.c/.h (not one per board).

[soldermarc]

Which hardware revision should be preferred for building a T12 STM32 station with custom firmware and maybe display upgrade in mind?
As far as I found a spi interface is needed.
It is hard to find a seller making right descriptions, even the STM32 clones are only mentioned sometimes. And if you can trust the pictures... 
At the moment there are versions named 2.1, 2.1s, 3.1s . I also found a version called 2.01 that seems to have the spi, but also the not(?) cfw compatible mm32.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000104741034.html

[DavidAlfa]

It's hard to guess. Neither I have too clear the KSGER versions.
But basically: 4 pin OLED=i2c,  6-7pin=SPI.

Most OLEDs (SH1106, SSD1306, SSD1309) can be configured to work in i2c by changing some resistors.
It's only the cheaper alternative ST7565 LCD which can only work in SPI mode.

Cheapest STM32 station I've found so far.
i2c display, fancy aluminium plate, nice handle, but linear regulator (might run hot), although I don't think it'll overload:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000183089084.html

More updated hw, no overheating issues, etc (i2c display)
I'd get this one. i2c isn't really a problem, unless you specifically want to connect a ST7565 display.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003108002691.html

Older Quicko design, terrible fw but decent hw (SPI display):

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000611002273.html

Then you enter overpriced KSGER territory, prices double very fast and doesn't really provide any hw enhancements!

In any case, ask the seller first to confirm it ships with stm32 and not some random clone!

[ygi]

Though if you're going to install one of those "big" 2.42" screens, it won't fit inside the original enclosure. It might be a better deal to just buy board and PSU separately and then find or make a custom case.
I spent some time looking for a bigger screen that would fit the original case but for anything bigger than 1.3", the frame and/or driver board are too tall. Meh, 1.3" is good enough anyway.

[soldermarc]

@DavidAlfa
Wow, thank you very much! That helps a lot.

The second one mentions a CKS controller chip

Due to the impact of covid-19, the STM32 chip is out of stock, and the STM32 chip is temporarily replaced with a CKS microcontroller. The recovery time is temporarily uncertain.

Whatever "recovery time" should mean?

@ygi
Yes, I already thought about this. I could build a soldering station (or maybe two) around one bigger PSU I already have.
Main problem is, most combinations of board+handle+tips bought separately are more expensive than a complete station. Even if I throw away the original PSU and case.
You think the option for a bigger display isn't worth the expense and extra costs?

Edit: I thought, it would be nice to have a slightly bigger display, maybe LCD, that has no OLED disadvantages and lasts as long as the rest of my soldering career...

[ygi]

To me it's not worth it because I don't enjoy building the case and I'm not confident I can make it look as nice as I'd want, I also like the stock form factor and looks and my eyes are still good enough to read what's on the small screen.
That being said I can't speak for you. I don't know about your needs, what you deem important from the usability standpoint or how much work you're willing to put into this project. What I can tell is my station is now 5 years old and its tiny (0.96") OLED screen still works fine and bright. I do have a 1.3" on order just because it's a cheap and easy improvement.

[DavidAlfa]

So the recent planetary conjuction did the magic and I finally received the screen.
Worked right away with the current settings.
It's pretty decent, definitely a lot bigger than the 1.3" OLED.

The only real drawback is the extremely slow switching time, it seems the pixel response time is like 300ms, so fast moving images look weird.

The angles aren't terrible either, you have about 45° where the image looks nice, then it starts to wash out.

The background haze can be greatly enhanced with a dark filter (Check picture with the original dark filter on top).
With daylight the contrast is a lot better, it's in the night/afternoon where you notice the black pixels let some light pass through.
The backlight consumes 50-60mA at 3.3V.

Finally, a video in daylight:

[mastershake]

im still waiting for mine to arrive i ordered all three colors to see which i like the best then i may order a few more. using the green oled ones now.

[yelkvi]

Great news!
I just have to wait for my displays to arrive.
I analyzed the circuit with I2C displays. It is easy to modify it for the SPI indicator.

The backlight consumes 50-60mA at 3.3V.

Turning off the display now makes no sense - the current consumption is scanty, the display itself does not degrade (unlike OLED)
You can also make a clock (as in the original firmware) in standby mode

[DavidAlfa]

You can't power these down, I mean, you can send the poweroff command, but the backlight will stay lit unless you make some modifications, so the dimming options are removed for this display.
The current consumption is only important for ksgers with linear regulator (Reducing 24V to 3.3V), the display alone would cause a thermal load of 1.2W, which is a lot for a small regulator.
You could connect the leds to 24V with a 2W 330ohm resistor...

[KocsisV]

Do the oled and lcd variants require different IO configuration files?

[DavidAlfa]

The only difference between them is in board.h, having either "#define ST7565" or "#define SSD1306".
I thought the hardware profile would need to be adjusted, perhabs slower SPI clocks, but not required in the end.
I know I could do it better, but it's easier to just copy the entire folder, as I said, I already spent too much time in this project, it works, it's documented, has a idiot-proof building script... what else?