Design a New Precision LCR Tweezers with Much Lower Cost 【Shannon Tweezers ST42】

[nAyPDJ]

Hey, I bought one of these tweezers and I'm very impressed! Of course I had to take it apart 

What is the name of this packaging technology with the black epoxy blob, if you don't mind? I've never seen anything like that before. Doesn't look like COB...

[Shannon]

Now you can press and hold joystick in measurement UI to power off the meter, and overload detection is available!
For the power off function, ST42 will beep before turning off and as soon as you release the joystick battery will be disconnected.
As for timeout auto-power-off, in which case the meter is not used for a period of time, it will still show original 5 seconds count down UI. Press the joystick to cancel the countdown.
If the timeout period is not suitable for you, simply change it in settings menu of system->timeout.

Thanks ono on EEVBlog for proposing this optimization!

Enjoy it

[tautech]

Now you can press and hold joystick in measurement UI to power off the meter, and overload detection is available!
For the power off function, ST42 will beep before turning off and as soon as you release the joystick battery will be disconnected.
As for timeout auto-power-off, in which case the meter is not used for a period of time, it will still show original 5 seconds count down UI. Press the joystick to cancel the countdown.
If the timeout period is not suitable for you, simply change it in settings menu of system->timeout.

Thanks ono on EEVBlog for proposing this optimization!

Enjoy it

Link to new firmware please.

[ebastler]

Link to new firmware please.

I haven't tried the latest version myself yet, but the firmware update tool should find it automatically:

The commandline tool by default downloads the latest firmware from server and push it to device. Please make sure there is internet connectivity before running the tool.

https://shannontweezers.top/docs/upgrading-firmware/

[KungFuJosh]

I ran the update, it went quickly. The new shutoff works FAST. I haven't tested anything else for this version though.

[Grandchuck]

Update is hanging at ...................

[thm_w]

I have the bin file but I can't see any way to force an offline update.

[Shannon]

Update is hanging at ...................

looks like service is not working, we have restarted the service, and firmware update works well now.
For updating details please refer to the video in firmware update page:
https://shannontweezers.top/docs/upgrading-firmware/#v151-202345

There are few details should be attention,
1. Shutdown ST42
2. push “up” joystick in power off mode and hold
3. connect ST42 to computer with internet
4. Observe the screen, it will display bootloader version, not the Shannon tweezers logo (start display)

and then use the firmware update command, it will works well

[Shannon]

I have the bin file but I can't see any way to force an offline update.

ST42 doesn’t support offline update, the file you download is an update program
Here is the video of firmware update method.
https://youtu.be/iW8T11KWXq8

[Shannon]

Now you can press and hold joystick in measurement UI to power off the meter, and overload detection is available!

Over load detection will be designed with more details
For those too small value with bad accuracy, it will display <20mohm(e.g)
And too large value out of range, it will display >20Mohm(e.g)

New firmware will come soon

[Grandchuck]

Thanks Shannon.  Works now!

[ono]

I just tested OVERLOAD and press and hold to turn off, both work great! Great product, kudos Shannon! I think your product deserved some good honest review on EEVblog channel. Did you think about contacting Dave and sending them your tweezers for that purpose?

[Grandchuck]

They are really handy!  A recent use: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/repair/tek-501-power-supply/

[thm_w]

ST42 doesn’t support offline update, the file you download is an update program
Here is the video of firmware update method.
https://youtu.be/iW8T11KWXq8

So not the .exe, but the .bin file it downloaded. Seems you encrypted that though.

[Shannon]

So not the .exe, but the .bin file it downloaded. Seems you encrypted that though.

Online update is a big trend, look at those mobile phone applications,
instruments can also be more intelligent

We do not provide downloaded bin files, which are relatively difficult to maintain.
And one advantage of management through the server is that it is convenient to track the quality of each st42, which is quite important for quality optimization.

[ErichKeane]

I ended up ordering one of these yesterday!  I'm not likely to be as adept as any other of the folks in this thread, but it looks like it'll come in handy now and then. 

[tautech]

One customer visited this week instantly clicked Buy Now on my recommendation. Another is doing his due diligence but very interested.
Please send commision check/cheque to tautech. 

[Sparrow]

I few people have mentioned in this thread that these tweezers are much better than the Mastech MS8911.
They have not said why though.
Apart from the obvious things like the form factor and upgradeable firmware, in terms of the results it displays, what are the main advantages?

I only occasionally want to find the value of SMD capacitors in a circuit.
Given the limitations of making an in-circuit measurement, absolute accuracy is not top priority.
I just need to know what value the cap is likely to be, e.g. 22pF or 47pF or 47nF.

So for my use case, would there be any advantage to buying these over the MS8911?

[Hydron]

Massively more responsive and comfortable to use, plus a whole lot more features. I also have the mastech ones due to recommendations on the forum before these ones came along but I was very disappointed, hence buying Shannon's.

[Martin72]

Hi,

I own a MS8911, bought it only because of the low testvoltage in the hope, it could measure components in a circuit better than it´s cheaper brother.
But that was a huge disappointment until today..
I wonder if the shannon could do it better and if yes, why and how (didn´t read this thread so far, sorry).

[tautech]

I wonder if the shannon could do it better and if yes, why and how (didn´t read this thread so far, sorry).

Simply, Shannon never used the Mastech design to guide new product development. 

Instead focussing on what the marketplace leaders featureset and accuracy offered then bettering it.
AFAIK the only hiccup has been with a finer tip design he came up with that plainly wasn't robust enough for general purpose work.

 

[4thDoctorWhoFan]

Shannon's Tweezer website seems to be down.

[tautech]

His store is still alive:
https://www.aliexpress.com/store/1102064026?spm=a2g0o.detail.1000007.1.ac277d11pG7fnB

[Martin72]

Simply, Shannon never used the Mastech design to guide new product development.

OK, that answers everything. 
Joking aside, how high is the hit rate to detect the exact value of components when they are in a circuit?
Mastech had tried it with a low voltage(0.1V), in order not to bring possible semiconductors to conduct and thus to change the current flow.
If the Shannon can do this better, how could it be done, obviously not just with a low test voltage.

[thm_w]

Simply, Shannon never used the Mastech design to guide new product development.

OK, that answers everything. 
Joking aside, how high is the hit rate to detect the exact value of components when they are in a circuit?
Mastech had tried it with a low voltage(0.1V), in order not to bring possible semiconductors to conduct and thus to change the current flow.
If the Shannon can do this better, how could it be done, obviously not just with a low test voltage.

You can select 0.1, 0.5 or 1.0V on the tweezers. Higher voltage can be better for accuracy when out of circuit.
If there is parasitic LCR at 0.1V, there is not a ton you can do about it. Probably techniques exist but I don't think any ones really bothered to research it.

https://www.lcrresearch.com/post/how-to-use-an-lcr-pro1-lcr-meter-for-in-circuit-testing
https://www.lcrresearch.com/post/understand-the-capacitance-change-when-a-voltage-is-applied-to-a-capacitor