When faced with that very problem recently, decided to take the nuclear option. Neither is conducive to actually getting work done, which is why you are trying to set up a proper bench in the first place. So you either have a bench full of tools that’s uncomfortable to use, or you’re forced to choose what stays out and what gets packed away. If you fill the whole bench with your tools, there’s not going to be anywhere left to work. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen somebody replace the controller on one of these entry-level hot air stations, but because there are so many different versions floating around, you should do some careful research before cracking yours open and performing a brain transplant.Ĭontinue reading “An Arduino Controller For Hot Air Handles” → Posted in Arduino Hacks, Tool Hacks Tagged 858D, arduino pro mini, hot air rework station, solderingĪnyone who’s ever tried setting up a workbench in a tight space knows the struggle: you want to have all your test equipment and tools out and within arm’s reach, but you just don’t have enough surface area. An Arduino Pro Mini is more than up to the task, and a custom PCB makes for a fairly neat installation. All the real magic happens in the handle itself, the controller just needs to keep an eye on the various sensors and provide the fan and heating element with appropriate control signals. The seven wires in the handle connector have already been mapped out by previous efforts, though does go over the need to verify everything matches the provided circuit diagrams as some vendors might have fiddled with the pinout. Rather, says the Arduino version is designed to be more efficient and reliable than the stock hardware. After all, a spare 858D handle costs about half as much as the whole station, so there’s not a lot of room for improvement cost-wise. Now to be fair, it doesn’t sound like price was the only factor here. You can pick up one of the common 858D stations for as little as $40 USD, but that didn’t keep from creating an Arduino controller that can be used with its spare handles. But there will always be bargain-hunting hackers who are looking to get things even cheaper. In general, the cost of electronic components and the tools used to fiddle with them have been dropping steadily over the last decade or so.
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