Projets:SolderStationWEnglish - Revision history

Yann: First proofreading pass

2015-07-28T19:38:33Z

First proofreading pass

Mrpozor: /* How is working this stuff */ Spell checking

2015-07-16T08:04:43Z

‎How is working this stuff: Spell checking

Marc: /* The Electrolab Kit */

2015-07-03T08:09:28Z

‎The Electrolab Kit

Marc: /* Why this kind of soldering tip */

2015-07-02T15:15:44Z

‎Why this kind of soldering tip

Marc: /* Why a temperature control system */

2015-07-02T15:15:19Z

‎Why a temperature control system

Marc: /* SMD SolderStation for Weller RT series */

2015-07-02T15:13:55Z

‎SMD SolderStation for Weller RT series

Marc at 15:02, 2 July 2015

2015-07-02T15:02:39Z

Marc at 15:01, 2 July 2015

2015-07-02T15:01:24Z

Marc: /* The Electrolab Kit */

2015-07-02T14:56:29Z

‎The Electrolab Kit

Marc: /* How it works */

2015-07-02T14:53:25Z

‎How it works

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
-== '''How is working this stuff ''' ==
+== '''How this stuff is working''' ==
 This project is based on Martin Kumm DC3MKB’s project (http://www.martin-kumm.de/wiki/doku.php?id=Projects:SMD_Solderstation), published in July 2014. Martin made a very interesting hack: using an Arduino Uno and a Weller soldering iron tip to build a low cost professional soldering station.
-Other soldering stations based on the same recipe came to life almost everywhere. Including the one made by Andreas, DL4JAL (http://www.dl4jal.eu/smd_loetstation/smd_loetst.html), who preferred to use a Microchip PIC18F2520 microcontroller. The power front-end and the temperature input network are strictly the same as these made by Martin. Its main disadvantage is that a newbie will have more difficulties using PIC MCUs and will have a harder time to change the firmware, compared with DC3MBK's approach. An Arduino is directly programmable using a simple USB cable.
+Other soldering stations based on the same recipe came to life almost everywhere. Including the one made by Andreas, DL4JAL (http://www.dl4jal.eu/smd_loetstation/smd_loetst.html), who preferred to use a Microchip PIC18F2520 microcontroller. The power front-end and the temperature input network are strictly the same as Martin's. Its main disadvantage is that a newbie will have more difficulties using PIC MCUs and will have a harder time changing the firmware, compared with DC3MBK's approach, as an Arduino can be programmed using a simple USB cable.
 The working principle is simple: The tip of the iron includes both the "soldering tip" itself, the heating resistor and a temperature sensor.
-The Arduino, for its part, uses this probe to read  the iron temperature (on port A7), and compares this value with the preset temperature requested by the user. If the measured temperature is too low, the Arduino increases the duty cycle of a PWM (pulse width modulation) output on port D3. Otherwise, if the temperature is too high, the duty cycle is decreased. This strobe of variable width pulses is used to “more or less” briefly open and close the power supply circuit of the iron, or more precisely the integrated heating element located in the tip of the iron. This closed loop-measuring, comparing a set point, proportionally changing the value of a current flowing in the circuit, is a "classic” in the “process control” world, and is called a "PID loop" (proportional-integrated-derived).
+The Arduino uses this probe to read the iron temperature (on port A7), and compares this value with the preset temperature requested by the user. If the measured temperature is too low, the Arduino increases the duty cycle of a PWM output (Pulse Width Modulation) on port D3. If the temperature is too high, the duty cycle is decreased. These variable width pulses are used to briefly open and close the power supply circuit of the heating element integrated in the tip of the iron. This closed loop -measuring, comparing with a set point, proportionally changing the value of the current flowing into the circuit-  is a standard in the world of Process Control, and is called a "PID loop" (proportional-integrated-derived).
 == '''Why a temperature control system''' ==
-Electronic geeks, Ham Radio or hackers, use less and less discrete “thru hole”  components, and more and more surface mounting devices. These devices require very precise soldering temperature ( eutectic), which may vary very strongly depending on the type of wire that is used, the class of compounds which is employed and the nature of the solder contact.
+Electronic geeks, Ham Radio or hackers, make less and less use of discrete “thru hole” components, and more and more of surface mounted components. These components require a very precise soldering temperature (eutectic), which strongly depends on the type of wire, on the class of components, and on the nature of the solder contact.
-- The solder wire is a polymetallic compound whose melting point depends on the nature of the metals that compose it. A tin-lead-silver alloy melts at 178 ° C, a tin-lead at 183 ° C, tin-copper-silver (said "ROHS welding") to + 217 C, and a tin-copper at 227 ° C . Without precise control, it is difficult to precisely reach this point. Too cold, the tip cannot melt the solder wire, too hot, it will accelerate the oxidation of the alloy and cause microcracks. Worse, with the new lead-free solders, poor temperature control will cause micro-whiskers that could eventually cause short circuits.
+- The solder wire is a polymetallic compound, and its melting point depends on the nature of its metallic constituants. A tin-lead-silver alloy melts at 178°C, a tin-lead at 183°C, tin-copper-silver (so-called "ROHS welding") at 217°C, and tin-copper at 227°C . Without a precise control, it is difficult to precisely reach this point. Too cold the soldering wire  won't melt, too hot it will accelerate oxydation of the alloy and cause microcracks. Worse, with the new lead-free solders, poor temperature control will cause micro-whiskers that could eventually cause short circuits.
-- All components are not created equal in terms of temperature resistance and thermal shock. Resistors are ... more resistant to long contact with a hot iron tip. That’s definitely not the case with quartz or some active components.
+- All components are not created equal in terms of resistance to high temperatures and thermal shocks. Resistors are ... more resistant to a long contact with a hot iron tip. That’s definitely not the case with quartz or some active components.
-- The nature of the solder pad can cause troubles. On a PCB with a large ground plane, heat dissipation is such that it can "cool" immediately an iron tip if this one is too thin and offers little thermal inertia. The copper of the PCB is an excellent heat radiator. To minimize this problem, it is advisable to use  "thermal breaks" on each grounding pad or connected to a large copper plane ... and / or to increase the heating temperature of the tip itself(thus meaning a very good and efficient temperature control).
+- The nature of the solder pad can cause troubles. On a PCB with a large ground plane, heat dissipation is such that it can cool down an iron tip immediately if it is too thin and offers little thermal inertia. The copper of the PCB is an excellent heat radiator. To minimize this problem, it is advisable to use "thermal breaks" on each grounding pad or connected to a large copper plane ... and / or to increase the temperature of the tip itself, with the risk of destroying the glue between the copper and board of your PCB - generally composed of glass fiber and epoxy.  For this as well, a very good and efficient temperature control is required.
-== '''Why this kind of soldering tip''' ==
+== '''Why this soldering tip range''' ==
-- Because it has been manufactured by of one of the most serious manufacturers of soldering tools. Some members at Electrolab have Weller stations for over 35 years and still find spare parts needed to maintain them.
+- because it has been manufactured by of one of the most serious manufacturers of soldering tools. Some Electrolab members have had Weller stations for over 35 years and still find the spare parts needed for their maintenance.
-- Because it has nearly fifteen different soldering tops with  different forms and shape ranging from the microtip for delicate SMD components (0402, QFN, TSSOP) to "chisel" and "screwdriver" tip of 2,2mm
+- because it includes nearly fifteen different soldering tips with different shapes ranging from the microtip for delicate SMD components (0402, QFN, TSSOP) to 2,2mm "chisel" and "screwdriver" tips
-- Because it heats in less than 5 seconds and 10 s to cool down, allowing an almost instantaneous changing of a tip with another one ... with other older soldering stations, this kind of operation was requiring  at least two different soldering iron.
+- because its price is affordable, between 28 and 35 euros (without VAT)… almost the price of an entry-level soldering station made in China.
-−
--	Because such quick heating and cool-down time coud also be triggered by a “sleep” or “stand by” control system which saves energy and prolongs the life of the soldering tip.
-−
-- Because the price is affordable, between 28 and 35 euros (without VAT)… almost the price of an entry-level soldering station made in China.
+-
 == '''The different parts'' ==
 * An Weller iron soldering tip RT series.
 * An Arduino Nano
-* Some peripheral devices, including an operational amplifier for temperature measurement (amplification of reading the sensor data), a power FET charged with supplying the current to the heating resistor of the iron
+* a handful of electronic components, including an operational amplifier for temperature measurement (amplification of reading the sensor data), a power FET charged with supplying the current to the heating resistor of the iron
-* A man-machine interface, pompous term for either a triplet of 7-segments displays and a rotary encoder (or an optional color LCD screen), and a yellow LED used to indicate that the preset iron is heating.
+* A man-machine interface, pompous term for a triplet of 7-segments displays and a rotary encoder (or an optional color LCD screen), and a yellow LED used to indicate that the preset iron is heating.
 * Two printed circuit boards, one supporting the Arduino –the MCU board-, the other the interface –the Display board.
 == '' 'Accessories and options' '' ==
 * A box depending of your junkbox, taste etc…
@@ Line 73: / Line 70: @@
 == '''The Electrolab Kit''' ==
-The Electrolab Soldering Station kit available in 3 versions
+The Electrolab Soldering Station kit is available in 3 versions
+'''A warrior version''' including, for only 5 Euros:
-'''A warrior version ''' that includes, for only 5 Euros
 * The two basic circuit ... and the BoM (list of components).
-'''A full kit ''' which includes, for only 35 Euros
+'''A full kit''' which includes, for only 35 Euros:
-*The 2 PCB ("7-segment displays" and MCU)
+* The 2 PCB (for "7-segment displays" interface and MCU)
 * All active and passive components
 * A stereo jack compatible with RT soldering tips
-* An "Aviation" connector (output of the solderstation’s housing)
+* An "Aviation" connector (output of the soldering station’s housing)
-'''A more than complete kit''' for only xxx Euros which includes
+'''A more than complete kit''' for only xxx Euros, including:
 * The “full kit” edition
@@ Line 96: / Line 94: @@
 This edition is available only during special event and shows on the Electrolab booth.
-This soldering station needs a 12Vcc/60W  input voltage(not include). Any kind of 12V switching power supply easily found on eB will do the job.
+This soldering station needs a 12Vcc/60W input voltage(not included). Any kind of 12V switching power supply easily found on eBay will do the job.
-Note also that Ham radio and other “low signal/high frequency pundits”, who often use components such as AsGa transistors and highly sensitive and fragile component which could not cope with static and transient voltage coming from the 220V main, prefer to use series-regulated power supply with a good old transformer, a diode bridge, filtering capacitors etc.
+Note also that Ham radio and other “low signal/high frequency pundits”, who often use components such as AsGa transistors and highly sensitive and fragile component which could not cope with static and transient voltage coming from the 220V mains, prefer to use series-regulated power supply with a good old transformer, a diode bridge, filtering capacitors etc.

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 == '''How is working this stuff ''' ==
-This project is based on Martin Kumm DC3MKB’s project (http://www.martin-kumm.de/wiki/doku.php?id=Projects:SMD_Solderstation), published in July 2014. Martin made a very interesting hack : using an Arduino Uno and a Weller soldering iron tip to build a low cost professional soldering station.
+This project is based on Martin Kumm DC3MKB’s project (http://www.martin-kumm.de/wiki/doku.php?id=Projects:SMD_Solderstation), published in July 2014. Martin made a very interesting hack: using an Arduino Uno and a Weller soldering iron tip to build a low cost professional soldering station.
-Other soldering stations based on the same recipe came to life almost everywhere. Including the one made by Andreas, DL4JAL (http://www.dl4jal.eu/smd_loetstation/smd_loetst.html), who preferred to use a Microchip PIC18F2520 microcontroller. The power front-end and the temperature input network are strictly the same as these made by Martin. Its main disadvantage is that a newbie will have more difficulties using PIC MCUs  and will have a harder time  to change the firmware, compared with the DC3MBK approach. An Arduino is directly programmable using a simple USB cable.
+Other soldering stations based on the same recipe came to life almost everywhere. Including the one made by Andreas, DL4JAL (http://www.dl4jal.eu/smd_loetstation/smd_loetst.html), who preferred to use a Microchip PIC18F2520 microcontroller. The power front-end and the temperature input network are strictly the same as these made by Martin. Its main disadvantage is that a newbie will have more difficulties using PIC MCUs and will have a harder time to change the firmware, compared with DC3MBK's approach. An Arduino is directly programmable using a simple USB cable.
-The working principle is simple: The tip of the iron include both the "soldering tip" itself, the heating resistor and a temperature sensor.
+The Arduino, for its part, uses this probe to read  the iron temperature (on port A7), and compares this value with the preset temperature requested by the user. If the measured temperature is too low, the Arduino increases the duty cycle of a PWM (pulse width modulation) output on port D3. Otherwise, if the temperature is too high, the duty cycle is decreased. This strobe of variable width pulses is used to “more or less” briefly open and close the power supply circuit of the iron, or more precisely the integrated heating element located in the tip of the iron. This closed loop-measuring, comparing a set point, proportionally changing the value of a current flowing in the circuit, is a "classic” in the “process control” world, and is called a "PID loop" (proportional-integrated-derived).
-−
-The Arduino, for its part, uses this probe to read (A7 port) the iron temperature, and compares this value with the preset temp. requested by the user. If the measured temperature is too low, the Arduino increases the duty cycle of a PWM (pulse width modulation) output on the D3 port. Otherwise, if the temperature is too high, the duty cycle decreases. This strobe of variable width pulses is used to “more or less” briefly open and close the power supply circuit of the iron, or more precisely the integrated heating element located into the tip of the iron. This closed loop -measuring, comparing a setpoing, proportionally changing the value of a current flowing in the circuit-  is a “classic” of the “process control” world, and is called a " PID loop " (proportional-integrated-derived).
 == '''Why a temperature control system''' ==

@@ Line 94: / Line 94: @@
 * An original Arduino Nano
 * A Weller RT soldering tip
 This soldering station needs a 12Vcc/60W  input voltage(not include). Any kind of 12V switching power supply easily found on eB will do the job.
 Note also that Ham radio and other “low signal/high frequency pundits”, who often use components such as AsGa transistors and highly sensitive and fragile component which could not cope with static and transient voltage coming from the 220V main, prefer to use series-regulated power supply with a good old transformer, a diode bridge, filtering capacitors etc.

@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 - Because it has been manufactured by of one of the most serious manufacturers of soldering tools. Some members at Electrolab have Weller stations for over 35 years and still find spare parts needed to maintain them.
-- Because it has nearly fifteen different soldering tops with  different forms and shape ranging from the microtip for delicate SMT components (0402, QFN, TSSOP) to "chisel" and "screwdriver" tip of 2,2mm
+- Because it has nearly fifteen different soldering tops with  different forms and shape ranging from the microtip for delicate SMD components (0402, QFN, TSSOP) to "chisel" and "screwdriver" tip of 2,2mm
@@ Line 55: / Line 55: @@
+-
 == '''The different parts'' ==

@@ Line 32: / Line 32: @@
 == '''Why a temperature control system''' ==
-Electronic geeks, Ham Radio or hackers, do not longer use discrete “thru hole”  components, but more and more surface mounting devices. These devices require very precise soldering temperature ( eutectic), which may vary very strongly depending on the type of wire that is used, the class of compounds which is employed and the nature of the solder contact.
+Electronic geeks, Ham Radio or hackers, use less and less discrete “thru hole”  components, and more and more surface mounting devices. These devices require very precise soldering temperature ( eutectic), which may vary very strongly depending on the type of wire that is used, the class of compounds which is employed and the nature of the solder contact.
 - The solder wire is a polymetallic compound whose melting point depends on the nature of the metals that compose it. A tin-lead-silver alloy melts at 178 ° C, a tin-lead at 183 ° C, tin-copper-silver (said "ROHS welding") to + 217 C, and a tin-copper at 227 ° C . Without precise control, it is difficult to precisely reach this point. Too cold, the tip cannot melt the solder wire, too hot, it will accelerate the oxidation of the alloy and cause microcracks. Worse, with the new lead-free solders, poor temperature control will cause micro-whiskers that could eventually cause short circuits.
@@ Line 39: / Line 39: @@
 - The nature of the solder pad can cause troubles. On a PCB with a large ground plane, heat dissipation is such that it can "cool" immediately an iron tip if this one is too thin and offers little thermal inertia. The copper of the PCB is an excellent heat radiator. To minimize this problem, it is advisable to use  "thermal breaks" on each grounding pad or connected to a large copper plane ... and / or to increase the heating temperature of the tip itself(thus meaning a very good and efficient temperature control).
 == '''Why this kind of soldering tip''' ==

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 <br style="clear: both" />
-    Six Wiki pages and to files are related to this manual:
+    Six Wiki pages and two files are related to this manual:
    * [[Projets:Lab:2015:SolderStation:Firmware| Les instructions de chargement du firmware (version Française) ]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
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+[[File:Generale.JPG |600px]]
 =SMD SolderStation for Weller RT series=
 <br style="clear: both" />

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:01, 2 July 2015
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		+	[[File:Generale.JPG \|600px\|]]
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	<br style="clear: both" />		<br style="clear: both" />
	Six Wiki pages and to files are related to this manual:		Six Wiki pages and to files are related to this manual:

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:53, 2 July 2015
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−	== '''How ~~it works~~''' ==	+	== '''How is working this stuff ''' ==

	This project is based on Martin Kumm DC3MKB’s project (http://www.martin-kumm.de/wiki/doku.php?id=Projects:SMD_Solderstation), published in July 2014. Martin made a very interesting hack : using an Arduino Uno and a Weller soldering iron tip to build a low cost professional soldering station.		This project is based on Martin Kumm DC3MKB’s project (http://www.martin-kumm.de/wiki/doku.php?id=Projects:SMD_Solderstation), published in July 2014. Martin made a very interesting hack : using an Arduino Uno and a Weller soldering iron tip to build a low cost professional soldering station.