I'm just wondering what is the difference between this solder and likes of TS100/TS80 that have much smaller footprint?
I have TS80 (and 3 tips for it) and Unisolder with JBC T245 handle and about 10 tips for it.
You cannot compare them directly since JBC with high thermal tip wins hands down over TS80, but that would be an unfair comparison. TS80 is a very good soldering iron, indeed, portable, very capable (I soldered 16 mm2 wire with it), but Unisolder with JBC handle is just more powerful, ergononic, temperature stability is the best, etc, etc.
As I mentioned above, keeping dev stuff private from non dev people is safer, we don't want to burn your hardware or house, tested firmware will be uploaded to dropbox or something like that..
My understanding (and correct me please, if I am wrong) in order to obtain uploadable firmware, one would need a C compiler to make it. As of current state - (as I understand) one would need a specific version of C compiler (even paid version). You probably going to host a raw C code on repo, thus obtaining a firmware would be non-trivial task)).
Open repository will probably give an opportunity to watch for the frequency of commits and overall feeling for the project progress. Of course it is up to you how your team wants to run this project, whatever you would make in development of this project would be highly appreciated by the community
Not sure if maintaining the project on two repo's is useful when GitLab offers more features in my mind. But then again, I also use gitlab for projects with Qt/python/C++ on embedded linux which build on merge with Releases.
OK , let us know when it becomes public repo, I would be interested to follow (since I have gitlab account
I'm setting up gitlab project for keeping our work (software, firmware, hardware) and issues, at the moment project is "private" until I finish setting everything up, and make sure that there are no problems with it, after that it will be open to everyone, but right now want to make sure that we don't break existing hardware.
I am really pleased that there are people who want to improve the firmware. May be Sparky (you read this thread I know will be joing this efforts in comfortable for him role. I think he had very interesting ideas from the beginning).
For the rest of us, not gifted with profound developer skills)), it would be nice if you set up donation feature on the web page somewhere, so that we can support developers.
Also, it would be nice if you can maintain repo on Github too)))
Maybe we could start a buy and sell thread, with a clear instruction on what is allowed and what not?
I think that is an excellent idea. In the first message, we post different BOMs (for Mouser, Arrow, Digikey and rather 'local' suppliers such as RS and likes), as well as other users could post their offerings. I think it also might be useful to organize group buys (like the one where I got my set from the 'banned' user ) in that thread too.
It would be nice to post a link to a new thread in this thread.
Hi everybody. I quoted Minkok here where he talks about the main disadvantages of the current firmware. It would be so awesome if someone with the right knowledge would take a look at adding hibernation and true quick tip exchange. Unfortunately I am not that person, and neither is Minkok as he admits himself. Is there anyone here that would like to take a crack at this?
Eventually, I asked about further development on a few forums (eevblog also), but never got a reply. Probably we need a person passioned about diy projects which happen to be C developer as well))
1) Sparky was very unhappy about someone trying to make a business out of his project. However, he said that some sort of 'overhead' markup is quite acceptable (if I remember correctly he mentioned some ballpark about 10%), provided that it takes time for someone to organize ordering and shipping, etc. 2) There is a strong activity (like on diyaudio.com) in a group buy area, where someone orders PCBs, parts, etc, often for some private (belonging to the group buy organizer project). Do you think that those 'commercial' threads and users are immediately banned from the forums? Check it out for yourself. 3) I've purchased about a dozen DIY projects (the number is low because they were mainly audio projects), in most cases you get PCBs from the authors at a reasonable price, and eventually kits - full or partial. Sparky's choice was not to do anything (nor PCBs nor kits), and I respect his right to do whatever he wants to do with his own project...but.. anyone thrilled with his project immediately has a task of obtaining PCBs and parts... Where? PCBs are not difficult nowadays, but orders usually priced for some quantities, and when you can get PCBs cheaper than when you order yourself - I do not see any problem here, because I do not understand how 'profit' is made, in a sense it very much how group buys works.. 4) My fellow forum members - please take into account that not everybody lives in Europe or States. There are some countries like Russia, where you get minimum 2 weeks delivery from Aliexpress (usually 3-4 weeks), about 3-4 weeks for USPS mail from States and 5-6 weeks delivery (for some parts) from a specialized Russia components store. Getting into a project could be a half a year venture easily. And we do not have wonderful arrow, mouser, digi-key and likes in Russia. Of course I could use forwarding service from States, but for small parts (say few resistors and caps) I get postage bill for 9 USD from Mouser and 10 USD from the cheapest offer to forward small parcel (up to 500 grams total weight including box), so 19 USD for pack of resistors which might cost 5 USD))). Thus assembling over 100 parts from the BOM might be a tedious business, and when I see someone offering a set of the parts BELOW digi-key price+shipping, I really do not see any problem with that. If I understood what Sparky was saying about this "business" (cost plus small mark up) it is not a 'business' in a sense, but rather group buy where you get everything cheaper than you get individually and organizer gets his expenses covered.
However, I do have respect for the claim that those 'offerings' should not be in the support thread, but then the question is - if anyone wants PCB or parts - where should he/she find those offerings? I saw cases that in the first pinned post there were links where to buy parts and etc. Maybe that would be a solution for this.
Unfortunately Sparky has not responded to this topic for about a year now, likely due to lack of time, or because people are now making a business out of selling unisolder boards against his express request.
What I've seen (in term of pricing for those PCBs) is not a good business, or they sell below cost))).
Sparky reads this forum and I think he will return at some point.
[quote author="cctv"]If you try really hard, unisolder can fit in a Hakko 936 enclosure.
Some of the plastic standoffs need to be cut away, there's no room for an IEC connector, and some of the big capacitors need to be moved out of the way, but this set up works really well![/quote]
[quote author="DinikS"][quote author="minkok"] Hello DinikS, I can see the mosfets are both at a different position, they are rotated left 90 deg - wrong, on the pcb picture. [/quote] Hello Minkok, yes I know about that. Kicad has some bug in 3D viewing. I don't know how to fix it. (( If somebody knows I will appreciate their help.
[quote author="minkok"] Please, if R1 is sleep input and drain of Q1 is sleep output, leave it connected to SLEEP terminal and cut the connection between drain of Q2 and drain of Q1 , you cannot connect them together - different channels input, different channels output. Main point is, Sleep channel to serve iron holder support detection and Hibernation channel to serve tip holder, extractor detection. You need to leave Q2 output not connected, as I mentioned before, channel 2 is not supported by current firmware. Sorry for the little delay.[/quote] Thank you for your remarks. If I understood you right and redraw the schematics and PCB correctly, It came out like this. I added one more pin to make both channels separate.[/quote]
@DinikS,@minkok
I've used your sleep controller board for my Unisolder and works fine, thank you very much for your efforts!
However, I run into the problem with HT tip, which had erroneous readings and did not let controller to go to stand by mode, while using HT JBC tip, your board and JBC stand. Other tips (both original JBC and clones were just fine).
I believe it is not your design, it is total length of unshielded wires between board, stand, soldering iron, lower resistance of HT tips, etc..or combination of all those things.
The solution (which I would suggest as a small upgrade for your design) was offered by @afedorov (thanks again) and included simple RC filter (330 (Ohms and 10 uf cap actually) which solved the issue completely.
I believe there will be small changes in your PCB design (split the IN rail for installing resistor) and slightly increase space between 2 parts to install capacitor. With this update board will not be sensitive to possible hum and noise with lower resistance tips.
[quote author="roor"][quote author="salavat"]The OLED display 2.42" mentioned in this thread earlier can be connected to Unisolder board as shown:[/quote]
I have tried to connect it as displayed but if vcc is connected I do hear some buzzing from power board from one of transistor or mosfet, if not connect vcc then it is working(wasn't expecting this), not buzzing but there is a slight dip in contrast when too many symbols presented on screen.
Do you experience something like this?
and connection schema [/quote]
I have not heard noise, but afedorov mentioned about it. Also, a friend of mine has connected (shorted) pin below SDA pin with SDA pin on Unisolder board. I have not tried it, in my case it worked for SDA connected as shown.
Also, while testing OLED screen before installation on Unisolder board on Arduino Uno board I found that it might not need separate power supply.
OK, I am somewhat consider that I finished my build. HT tip seems to work out (almost) in going to standby mode.
Thank you very much Sparky! (I know you read this thread :) ). I hope that you will have some time to develop firmware further and make JBC 105 tweezers available in a tool set.
[quote author="Wolfram"]The the bigotry is strong with this one (The Equalizor)[/quote]
That's funny. Guy made a few videos on Jabe station. Could be that he got it for free in exchange for review. I think menu is available only in Chinese, unless you plan learning Chinese language, that is inconvenient at least.
Now what is real user is saying about it: WHAT'S INSIDE: - linear transformer - output modulated by two FDB047N10 connected back-to-back (100V, 164A, 4.7mOhm ???) - controlled by STM32F103 (opposed to dsPIC in original), JTAG header is on top (unsoldered) - i2c eeprom for settings - sensor amplifiers are OP07C and LM358 - lcd cog display- everything is optically isolated PROS: - heavy and comfy stand - linear power supply - works with original C245 tips - thin and flexible silicone cable CONS: - included tips are utter crap - transformer smells bad - linear transformer requires quality AC mains -firmware is in Chinese only and is locked up (STM32 protection level 1, might be reversed but I did not bother) - cooler fan is noisy, buzzer is annoying
I counted about 30 orders placed for it on Aliexpress, which I think is way too low. Probably they need more reviews to boost the sales)).
Anyone want to sell Unisolder and buy Jabe station? :)
[quote author="Doomedahab"]@ Salavat: What's your experience with the clone tips? The one clone tip I have (Knokoo from aliexpress) has terrible overshoot and far worse temp stability compared to the 5 genuine tips I have. Is that your experience as well? Sorry for the OT.[/quote]
I mainly based on eevblog user comments, who said that clone tips have equal performance to original ones, so I bought them in a group buy organised by vulcan (he is in this thread).That turned out to be true (so far I have 6 clone and 3 original tips), but he got tips from TaoBao, not from Ali, may be that could explain.
Clones have the same thermal performance (or at least I do not see any difference).
Also, I see often JBC tips offered at good price on Ebay.
