Part 2 of the review:
Part 2 of the review:Thanks a lot for the accuracy review video, the performance is very nice.
Except two issue,
1. 1nF test result is around 1%
2. Rdc measurement is not suitable for the large resistance.
Where are the latest firmware versions ?
I tried download from the site but I just seem to keep getting the same version for some reason as I did a month ago, with a modified date of 26/5/22, called "fw-update-5.26", the site lists up to 1.4.4 but I don't think the file I am getting is it, as the file names, sizes and dates are identical to what I downloaded some time ago, at the time of 1.4.2, which I am not even sure was right at the time either as these dates are from May, before those updates.
Is it just some random quirk or is my browser not actually getting the latest version downloaded?
Where are the latest firmware versions ?
I am not even sure was right at the time either as these dates are from May, before those updates.
Is it just some random quirk or is my browser not actually getting the latest version downloaded?
I believe the updater downloads the latest version at run time. Which is not ideal, but I suspect is an intentional decision for IP protection.
I was thinking of running Wireshark while updating to see what it does...
Accuracy checks are all good. Usability is also good. However, I am seeing some curvature at the probe tips. Photo attached.
Congratulations Shannon, this is a great product at a fair price and is every bit as good as I expected!
Accuracy checks are all good. Usability is also good. However, I am seeing some curvature at the probe tips. Photo attached.
We did produce two batches of tweezer tips,
but the difference between them is that the thickness of the first batch of tweezers remains at 0.2~0.3mm, and the thickness of the second batch is about 0.1mm.
The tips of the first batch of tweezers will be much stronger, but are not as good as a good tweezer when picking up small parts.
There are two reasons, the first is that the thickness is indeed thicker than a good quality tweezers, and the second is that the gold plating is done by electroplating, and the surface of the gold layer is very smooth.
So we changed the tip of the tweezers to be more pointed. You should be the latter batch. Both batches are made of the same material, using high hardness stainless steel and then gold plated.
Before production, we also studied the difference between good tweezer tips and bad tweezer tips, better tweezers, their tweezer arms tend to fit well, not just the tweezer tips touching together, so you will find When over-clamping the ST42's tweezer arms, the tweezer tips will be slightly separated to protect the tweezer tips and prevent the components from falling off.
And you know there is no tweezer tip to complete the action of tilting things. Similarly, if you fall from a table with a height of 1m to a hard ground, the tweezer tip will also be knocked crooked.
As thm_w said, we were more worried about the wear of the gold plating layer, and the surface impedance will be relatively large, even if these errors can be calibrated out, but this problem still exists, which is why we are wondering if there is a better 4-wire structure.
We are sorry about the bent tip of your ST42 tweezers.
And we are a little curious about how the tip of your tweezers is bent.
We want to understand the use case, and then try to optimize it and give users some reminders, Thanks.
So maybe I have a defective unit.
At least once when frozen the unit still reacted to key presses with beeps, so even a soft reset functionality (e.g. holding center for 10s to reset) that could be implemented via a software update would have helped in this case.
Here are my other suggestions/feedback that don’t seem to be related to the specific unit I have:
- Out of range values should be indicated by < or > signs. At least show ">2.38V" instead of "2.39V" in LED mode and "VF >1.17V" instead of "VF 1.17V" in diode mode - so that one immediately sees that is the maximum possible. The same might be done for small or negative values (e.g. "<0.001pF").
- It would be nice to be able to switch it on by touching the tips together (maybe this needs a hardware revision).
- I would like diodes to be included in auto mode (at least when test-voltage is 1.0V).
- It should be called "series" and "parallel" (second one is correct in device menu but still wrong on help sheet).
- Long press short cuts would be nice but of course need thought to get right. My suggestions would be: left -> auto mode, right -> quickset, up -> auto frequency, and maybe: down -> shutdown.
Let's try to figure out the frozen problem firstly.
Have you try to using screwdriver make the tips more stable?
You can help us observe if the 4 white insulating ring is broken, these white insulating ring protect the tips(test signal) from the ground.
if the screw breaks through the insulating ring, the test will be frozen as you mentioned.
In my view FWIW today SMD smart tweezers need be offered with fine tips as optional and supplied with more rugged tips for the vast majority of use.
After 15 years of hobby use the original tips in my ST3 tweezers are still in good shape and they have been abused, no doubts about that.
Today now we're down to 0201 they are much too small for a generic do everything tip that must also offer a good service life.
Shannon IMO needs go back to the design bench and draw up at least 2 different size tips and maybe different styles of them too.
In my view FWIW today SMD smart tweezers need be offered with fine tips as optional and supplied with more rugged tips for the vast majority of use.
After 15 years of hobby use the original tips in my ST3 tweezers are still in good shape and they have been abused, no doubts about that.
Today now we're down to 0201 they are much too small for a generic do everything tip that must also offer a good service life.
Shannon IMO needs go back to the design bench and draw up at least 2 different size tips and maybe different styles of them too.
Its a good idea to have two tip sizes. Maybe a wider flatter end that would fit the full width of say 0603 or 0805.
The issue is how do you get it to pierce any flux or oxide layer, without a sharp point? Machining something would be tough, like the tips of pogo pins: https://www.qatech.com/images/resources/tip-selection/Bead_Bump_Dome.jpg
The tip design looks close to the Smart Tweezers though. Unless the Smart Tweezers specifically call out what steel/material they are using, then its probably not that simple to figure out.
The tip design looks close to the Smart Tweezers though. Unless the Smart Tweezers specifically call out what steel/material they are using, then its probably not that simple to figure out.You think ?
To get the tweezer hinge design as good as it apparently is and overlook the tip design is quite a mistake although not everyone has a set of tweezers for the 15+ years I have and used in the wide range of use I have.
In circuit component testing is a very important part of service work so to capture a good market share they need be able to do all these tasks without batting an eyelid.