Really universal soldering controller

[Erythros]

The case is 130x110x95. At least 3 different 100-120VA torogidal transformers from various manufacturers can go in there.

For example, one of them is polish INDEL.

I am using this transformer:
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/tst100w_24 ... st100013/#

Well, I was thinking about buying aluminium square tube (jäckl) which can be had in 120X120X4 or 100X100X4 custom length cut. Mill into it some grooves. Put the the front PCB on front panel, back on back panel and toroid between them. Maybe mill tipping display holder. Rubber legs on bottom.

I have sent some requests for quotes on toroidal front. Sometimes custom is on par with of the shelf. (In price department.)

[sparkybg]

What's so cool about toroidal transformers?

Many things, but for me the most important one is the much lower leakage inductance.

[sparkybg]

Yea, no kidding those would benefit greatly.

Well. not so greatly. But the benefit is clear enough.

In fact Maxim has a nice 1-Wire thermocouple amp with cold junction compensation and all that jazz. ;)

Which again is not swutable for a project like this. It is too slow for series thermocouple devices.

PTC based devices would not benefit. And I suspect those are the majority of devices?

IMHO, exactly the opposite. :) For example, the majority ot integrated heater tips are series thermocouple ones. This includes JBC, HAKKO, Weller and so on.

[sparkybg]

weller have directly in handle Cold junction sensor, ADC for temperature and opamp, maybe acc or gyro, i cant identify IO. I have picture but i cant find it.

Many manufacturers do have such irons in their portfolio. ERSA for example.

For reading the temperature in the handle - I meant reading the cold junction temperature there. The rest can be done in the station. For example, I am reading the room temperature on the controller's PCB near the air inlet of my enclosure. And I can say there is not significant difference in the accuracy of the iron temperature in winter (at room temperature around 18-20 degrees) and in summer (at room temperatures upto 28-30 degrees). So the temperature sensor in the handle is not mandatory for normal indoor use of the controller.

[Circuiteromalaguito]

What's so cool about toroidal transformers?

Many things, but for me the most important one is the much lower leakage inductance.

What advantages does it have it cant be solved by Faraday effect of a proper metal case? I'm an electronics newbie, I very probably missed something.

There's much controversy about Toroidal transformers being a fashion trend.


http://www.soundstage.com/maxdb/maxdb071998.htm
http://www.raftabtronics.com/TECHNOLOGY ... fault.aspx
http://www.avellindberg.com/transformer ... notes2.htm
http://sound.westhost.com/power-supplie ... r-series-r

What about...

Open Hardware

300px-Open-source-hardware-logo.svg.png (18.17 KiB) Viewed 7477 times

?

I understand if you don't want it for personal reasons, but it can be an amazing community project for the DIY scene!

What do you think about using CERN's OHL?

Ideally, it would be nice to remake the schematic and PCB design in KiCad, because Altium is expensive and using Open Source would make it more open too. CERN's involvement is making things more exciting too!

There's some tools to convert Altium files to KiCad (I assume you are using it by looking at schematics).

This tool can assist the process:
https://github.com/thesourcerer8/altium2kicad
http://www.eevblog.com/forum/open-source-kicad-geda/translating-altium-to-kicad-(altium2kicad)/

Someone converted uCurrent to KiCad, it seems manually:
http://ludzinc.blogspot.com.au/2014/04/ ... nyhow.html
http://ludzinc.blogspot.com.au/2014/05/ ... -gaps.html

[Sjaak]

Did cleanup of doubleposts in this topic.

[sparkybg]

there's some obsession with toroidal transformers in DIY these days

When one transformer has several times lower leakage inductance, and is more compact for the same power, this is not contradictory, but objective decision.

[Circuiteromalaguito]

there's some obsession with toroidal transformers in DIY these days

When one transformer has several times lower leakage inductance, and is more compact for the same power, this is not contradictory, but objective decision.

I get it. Thanks!

[neslekkim]

Is it easy to mount the toroid inside the solderingstation housing?

[mrjoda]

one screw with one cup and two rubber rings...

[TilmanBaumann]

Guys you are still talking about transformers. Just saying.

[neslekkim]

one screw with one cup and two rubber rings...

I know that, but I don't know availble room and placement in that cabinet

[Circuiteromalaguito]

can you post some video where you soldering with iron and where we can see how is temperature stable ? Some sheet of copper or power transistor or something ?

you can write me to one set of unnasembled PCBs, 10€ +/- for set is a good price :)

I have one idea, can you do some modification for encoder ? For example these 3 buttons will be direct temperature memory and with encoder you can set temperature, controll menu and other functions ? I think these buttons arent so good as encoder. You have some free pins i think encoder is a good "option feature".

I was going to post some example vídeos...

https://youtu.be/OLcLOmV0bL8
https://youtu.be/5uiroWBkdFY
https://youtu.be/H3-TfdZVBCc
https://youtu.be/fYz5nIHH0iY
https://youtu.be/b9FC9fAlfQEjuvy

can you post some video where you soldering with iron and where we can see how is temperature stable ? Some sheet of copper or power transistor or something ?

you can write me to one set of unnasembled PCBs, 10€ +/- for set is a good price :)

I have one idea, can you do some modification for encoder ? For example these 3 buttons will be direct temperature memory and with encoder you can set temperature, controll menu and other functions ? I think these buttons arent so good as encoder. You have some free pins i think encoder is a good "option feature".

I was going to post some example vídeos...

https://youtu.be/OLcLOmV0bL8

[Circuiteromalaguito]

can you post some video where you soldering with iron and where we can see how is temperature stable ? Some sheet of copper or power transistor or something ?

you can write me to one set of unnasembled PCBs, 10€ +/- for set is a good price :)

I have one idea, can you do some modification for encoder ? For example these 3 buttons will be direct temperature memory and with encoder you can set temperature, controll menu and other functions ? I think these buttons arent so good as encoder. You have some free pins i think encoder is a good "option feature".

The main ideas of my proposals:

* Prototype showing detaillidly all the internals while working, showing voltages, frequencies and temperatures while working.
->Maybe this would require a smart use of PiP and using multi-camera or whatever other way (logging.and putting data in post-production?), but too much work to do it for just one person..

* Real usage under different conditions
- THT and big junction solderings.
-SMT and THT mixed PCBs to populated PCBs with those pin filled ones.
- Desoldering using solder wick. Not sure if your controller can drive a desoldering tip too.

* Different soldering tips for each of the same tests, repeating each one of them on the same conditions:
- HAKKO: T12/T15, FX8801...
- PACE: TD100....
- JBC: C245, C210, Microtweezers.
- WELLER: WSP80.
- Others if possible.

I know, this is very time consuming. So I hope test could be made by all community members instead of just you, some of them can have better measurement tools for temperature and such. You may publish your projects in other forums if you are allowed and wish to do it, so you'll get more reviews.

If you want: I can help you setup a WordPress site or a github one, the last one is easier but more limited.

I wrote too much for now. I'll wait for your replies, take all the time you would need! I don't care to wait at all!

If I get incomes this summer (I hope!), I would like to buy an unpopulated PCB, a toroidal transformer and get some good soldering tips for it (THT and SMT work).

I'll try to see if I can use the same transformer for a DIY lab (linear?) adjustable PSU on the same case (and maybe share the OLED display too?), because I'll not use both devices at once and could provide some portability.

I would be very thankful if you reply all them, despite some might not be the ones I would like to receive.

Thanks in advance! ;)

[Sjaak]

Another cleanup of double/tripple post.

@circuiteromalaguito: please use the delete button in the webbrowser next time. Please consider also using that for posting. This is the last time I clean up your mess (offical warning)