CFW for KSGER/Quicko STM32 Soldering Stations

[DavidAlfa]

No need of so, it will automatically turn power off when tip is removed?
If you want more time when switching tips, you can increase Error Timeout, so it waits longer.
2 seconds is a pretty good value.

[LILO]

I think the point is to cool down the tip before removal wo touching encoder knob.

[DavidAlfa]

Anyways the tip won't cool down just because you remove the power, it will take several minutes.

[clytle374]

Well, I got it done.  And it works. 

[dcore]

Can't see for sure in the photo, but looks like U2 middle pin is not soldered.
When you use smart active, what's the lowest load value you can get?
The lowest I can setup in my ksgers is 6, the other ksger needs 8 (I use c245 in both).
It's much better using smart load when soldering, specially if it's a larger copper mass.

I'm really happy using this FW, thanks @davidalfa!

[clytle374]

Can't see for sure in the photo, but looks like U2 middle pin is not soldered.
When you use smart active, what's the lowest load value you can get?
The lowest I can setup in my ksgers is 6, the other ksger needs 8 (I use c245 in both).
It's much better using smart load when soldering, specially if it's a larger copper mass.

I'm really happy using this FW, thanks @davidalfa!

Very good eye.  I had the boards made without through hole components, and without the expensive opamp for cost reduction.  I'm switching to night shift and missed it in all the excitement.  Safe to say you caught it way faster than I did   

Just to avoid getting a bad comparison, and I've never used it before, what is your test method?  Let me know and I'll get you a number.  I'm using T12 tips.

   

[clytle374]

When you use smart active, what's the lowest load value you can get?

I think I figured it out.  Nice that the shake icon blinks when it's triggered.  So I can get it down to 3, if I hold my breath and not breathe on it.  4 if I want to breathe freely.  It can easily detect wetting the tip with solder.  Very cool feature.  Very very fine work by @davidalfa Thank You!

Here was how I was testing since I don't have a proper stand.

[dcore]

Just to avoid getting a bad comparison, and I've never used it before, what is your test method?  Let me know and I'll get you a number.  I'm using T12 tips.

How to setup the Smart Active Load is on DavidAlfa github in the operation instructions.

[clytle374]

How to setup the Smart Active Load is on DavidAlfa github in the operation instructions.

I found it, see my second reply above.  my t12-j02 tip definitely requires a 4

[ststefanov13]

For the information of all colleagues regarding the compatibility of T39 soldering tips of Hakko FX-971 FX-972 .
 Soldering tip connector is same as T12/T15.

With David's firmware it works perfectly, only the heater is changed = 5.7 ohm, power 100W. The thermocouple connected in series to the heater is the same type.

Original HAKKO FX-971 FX-972 handles can be used after replacing the connector with GX-X.

T12/T15-К  23.65 EURO
Т39  - 25 EURO
~1.5 ЕURO = +20W

[wasyoungonce]

First Stupid question of the day...looking at buying one of these to try T12.   Should I buy the Ksger ver 3.1 (supposed to be STM32 IC) or Quicko T12-958 (I'm not sure of the handle differences here, supposed to be STM32)

Prefer FX9501 alloy handle not sure of differences or if they some have sleep jiggle etc  I'll be after a few extra cassette tips etc Like T12-BC3M/2M and others (Ksger doesn't have)

Sorry if its be discussed...I did look   Those T39 tips look good

edit this answers handles used
https://www.rchelicopterfun.com/t12-soldering-station.html
The 907 handle is very similar to the 9501 handle. It uses the same T12 soldering tips, has the same NTC & motion switch and still fits in the KSGER T12 clone iron stand I mention later on in the review.

[clytle374]

First Stupid question of the day...looking at buying one of these to try T12.   Should I buy the Ksger ver 3.1 (supposed to be STM32 IC) or Quicko T12-958 (I'm not sure of the handle differences here, supposed to be STM32)

I recently bought 2 of the "KSGER T12 Soldering Iron Station STM32 V3.1S OLED" from Aliexpress.  Both the line powered and the 24V powered.  Both had MM32 processors and the NTC on the control board without it being wired to the output connector. One handle had the NTC the other had a place for one, but no conductor for it.  I replaced the MM32 with a real processor on one and killed the other for R&D to design my own.  I can't help with the other questions, sorry. 

[wasyoungonce]

many thanks...guessing the Quicko t12-958 is thus best way fwd to get stm32 IC

Edit I saw and note your open source T12  Very nice

edit 2: The PCBs (on all) really need rivets for the connector!
edit 3: Quicko T12-958 ordered plus tips we shall see

[wasyoungonce]

ok received my Quicko T12-958    Soldering "good" layout very good, even plastic liner under power board.   Case GND'd ok, but Tip.....not!   Sigh attached pics   They appears to have gone to a different display see images.   Its an STM32F103CBT6 IC (edit 32F not 23F ) with programming header space.  So pretty much the same as I posted in open STM32 sT12 stations https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/open-t12-soldering-station-released/msg5571525/#msg5571525


None of the heatsinks cover PCB traces, even traces with resist.!  I added pdf schematics that appears to be correct I do not know where i got this probably this forum.  But it is supported for STM32 custom firmware.   But want to resolve the tip GND first.   Pin 4 (T-) does go to GND thru I sense resistor and NTC is in handle and according to schematic.

Question....haven't yet seen schematic but can I connect iron tip GND to case GND, or thru a resistor?

Haven't yet turned it on...I got quite a few spare differing cartridges

edit: Do I need to upload these images and or do a reverse engineer to schematic and upload to the GIT?  Its the same PCB as the T12-958 v2 seen here
https://github.com/deividAlfa/stm32_soldering_iron_controller/blob/master/Readme_files/boards/T12-958_v2.jpg

edit edit: Ok all my answers are previously done by Spleenharvester, Lilo and David Alpfa on previous pages.  I thank them very much.  But one question they (spleenharvester)  earthed tip to GND   I noted it wasn't already, but, if I do this then surely the ISENSE resistor on T- is then bypassed?    added lats schematic by spleenharvester many thanks

Once i resolve the tip GND I'll play then take FW dump and upload the STM32 custom FW many thanks to all especially spleen harvester, Lilo and DavidAlfa

[clytle374]

None of the heatsinks cover PCB traces, even traces with resist.!  I added pdf schematics that appears to be correct I do not know where i got this probably this forum.  But it is supported for STM32 custom firmware.   But want to resolve the tip GND first.   Pin 4 (T-) does go to GND thru I sense resistor and NTC is in handle and according to schematic.

Question....haven't yet seen schematic but can I connect iron tip GND to case GND, or thru a resistor?

The tip is earthed on the Ksger by solder bridging T- and GND at the connector. 

[wasyoungonce]

Thanks Cory there is a sml GND pin and T- to the left I can use, but I did get confused as the Case GND (green wire) comes out the pwr board left side (of 3 pin connector) and shifts position to the front panel "centre pin" of the 3 pin connector!   Hmmmmm

But the question is, T- has a sense resistor, very low ohms (.005R) so putting GND on T- would bypass this sense resistor.   Many thanks and forgive if this is a stoopid question

Tip cal went perfect, also setting SLP and STBY temps and time.  Its a great little unit.   But as you said your "open source" would add more functionality.

Oh, my Iron has tilt shake sensor and NTC thermistor,   This station kills my Hakko 936 and various other stations I have.   But have to keep one older as its vac desolder capable.  Got tips....yes!....need spare handles!

[clytle374]

Thanks Cory there is a sml GND pin and T- to the left I can use, but I did get confused as the Case GND (green wire) comes out the pwr board left side (of 3 pin connector) and shifts position to the front panel "centre pin" of the 3 pin connector!   Hmmmmm

But the question is, T- has a sense resistor, very low ohms (.005R) so putting GND on T- would bypass this sense resistor.   Many thanks and forgive if this is a stoopid question

Tip cal went perfect, also setting SLP and STBY temps and time.  Its a great little unit.   But as you said your "open source" would add more functionality.

Oh, my Iron has tilt shake sensor and NTC thermistor,   This station kills my Hakko 936 and various other stations I have.   But have to keep one older as its vac desolder capable.  Got tips....yes!....need spare handles!

I didn't quite understand what you were saying the first time.  First time I've been aware of the isense.  I don't know if there is any provision in David's firmware uses that data or not, I'm not sure how I missed that it existed in all my research.  Try out his firmware. 
 
Not sure why earth and GND can't be tied together.  If you use a resistor and hit something live it might just burn out. 'Safety grounds' need to be solid. Static grounds are whatever.  I work on high enough voltages that grounds make me nervous .

[DavidAlfa]

It's not really Isense, just a short detection, triggers below a threshold.
It's the only board with this, so protection is not implemented in CFW.
I might add support for it, it's not hard, just make a new error screen showing shortcircuit, halting the station.

[wasyoungonce]

It's not really Isense, just a short detection, triggers below a threshold.
It's the only board with this, so protection is not implemented in CFW.
I might add support for it, it's not hard, just make a new error screen showing shortcircuit, halting the station.

Many thanks...me thinks if its drawing too much current...its already too late for the station PSU!

[LILO]

Hi!
You confuse schematics ground with protective ground. There are three wires, red positive, black - negative (ground) and green - protective ground. Just connect green to the black. I did it at PSU connector with blob of solder.

[wasyoungonce]

Hi!
You confuse schematics ground with protective ground. There are three wires, red positive, black - negative (ground) and green - protective ground. Just connect green to the black. I did it at PSU connector with blob of solder.

Yes i'm doing a drawing of the SMPS, learning kicad 8.0 at same time so its painfully slow   But there appears a connection from the black -ve to case GND thru a choke all the way back to case and DC plug in GND.

I guess I got confused due to symbology used of front panel drawings.   I'll get the SMPS done soon.  I find Kicad painful but can see the sense in their manner

starting to get there.   Thanks to internet videos....many thanks LILO

[oleg401169]

Hello, David! I have a question - I assembled a prototype of a soldering station based on the ksger 3.0 topology, your firmware was installed and works fine, and I decided to assemble a full-fledged soldering station, but it will have both T12 and C245 connectors, and here is the question - can you please tell me where I can make changes to the code so that when selecting the T12 mode, any free pin has a high level, and when selecting C245, a low level, respectively. Let me explain the logic - this pin will have a logically controlled MOSFET (irlz44n, for example), responsible for the jumper that is responsible for operation in these modes, that is, if the T12 mode is selected, then this pin has a high level, the MOSFET is open and the circuit operates in T12 mode, and if the C245 mode is selected, then the pin has a low level, the MOSFET is closed and the circuit operates in C245 mode? I could implement this with a separate controller and button, but I would like to implement this at the station firmware level, if possible.

[DavidAlfa]

You could use a stm32 pin, shorted to ground to choose T12 and "free" to select C245.
Not hard, but I have to look around it.
Will update later when I have some free time.

[DavidAlfa]

This should work.

Load the project in cubeIDE, open the .ioc file.
Choose any free pin, click on it and set it as GPIO Input.
Right click on it, set user label as "SET_PROFILE".
Go to System Core tab, GPIO, click on the pin you just created, enable the pull-up.

Then open Core/Src/user_main.c and replace Program_Handler function with this:

Code: [Select]

void Program_Handler(void) {
  static bool last_profile_state, curr_profile_state;
  static uint32_t last_profile_time;
 
  bool profile_now = HAL_GPIO_ReadPin(SET_PROFILE_GPIO_Port, SET_PROFILE_Pin);            // Read pin (Short to ground or leave floating. Put a diode in series between the stm32 pin and the handle connector (1n4184, 1n4007, etc) so voltage can't get in on mistake or damaged wiring.
  uint32_t time_now = HAL_GetTick();                                                      // Get tick

  if(last_profile_state != profile_now){                                                  // Profile pin changed
    last_profile_time = time_now + 200;                                                   // Reset timer, 200ms
    last_profile_state = profile_now;                                                     // Update value
  }
  else if((curr_profile_state != last_profile_state) && (last_profile_time > time_now)){  // Stable input, profile changed, update the working profile
    curr_profile_state = last_profile_state;
    setCurrentProfile(curr_profile_state);                                                // 0=T12, 1=C245.
  }

  handle_buzzer();                                                    // Handle buzzer state
  RE_Process(&RE1_Data);                                              // Handle Encoder
#ifdef ENABLE_ADDON_FUME_EXTRACTOR
  handleAddonFumeExtractor();
#endif
#ifdef ENABLE_ADDON_SWITCH_OFF_REMINDER
  handleAddonSwitchOffReminder();
#endif
  if(getProfileSettings()->WakeInputMode!=mode_stand){
    readWake();
  }
}

Then compile and flash.

[oleg401169]

Thank you very much, as soon as I try it, I will let you know. I just don't have time right now - I need to evacuate with my family, the war is already 10 km from my city and is not trying to end, as soon as I am free I will try your advice and let you know. Thank you again!