How to make your own soldering station

How to make a DIY soldering station with a hair dryer: step-by-step process

Both novice radio technicians and those who are fairly experienced in this matter encounter some difficulties when soldering radio-electronic elements.

An inexpensive soldering iron bought in a store can cause overheating, due to which carbon deposits form on the tip, which leads to poor contact with the tin on the board, the board also overheats and the traces peel off.

In this article we will write how to make a homemade soldering station with a hair dryer with your own hands, providing assembly diagrams, videos and photographs.

This option can be considered the simplest and cheapest. This design regulates the voltage on the soldering iron by changing the heating temperature of the tip. The performance of the heater and the position of the regulator are determined experimentally.

The soldering process can be customized to suit your needs and specific production times. A dimmer for a chandelier can act as a voltage regulator. The only disadvantage of this idea is the small range of possible outlet temperatures. That is, for soldering it would be better to make the voltage range 200-220 V, and not 0-max. Most likely, you will need to modify the circuit, adding a “fine-tuning” resistor to the main resistor.

Assembly diagram at home

The rectifier bridge in this circuit will allow you to increase the voltage from 220 V at the input to 310 V at the output. This option is relevant for home craftsmen whose home has low electrical voltage, which does not allow the soldering iron to heat up to operating temperature. If you don't have a dimmer, you can do it yourself.

Air soldering iron

Sometimes when soldering you need to replace SMD elements, and the soldering iron with the tip is too large for this. For this purpose, an air device is used, whose operating principle is similar to that of a conventional hair dryer : an air flow is forced through a heated element to the soldering site, contactlessly and evenly heating the solder.

An air soldering iron can be made from a working old device - instead of a tip, insert a tube from the antenna that matches the old tip in size. Make the soldering iron so sealed. Forced air supply is provided by an aquarium compressor through dropper tubes.

To adjust the temperature of the air flow, you can use a voltage regulator . The best option if you don’t have an extra working soldering iron is to take a non-working tool and rewind it to a voltage of 8-12 V.

This method is preferable from the point of view of electrical safety. The nichrome for the heater here can be a piece of wire, a 0.8 mm spiral from an electric stove, which is wound without overlaps of about 30 turns instead of the old one.

The power of the transformer must be at least 150 W.

A more expensive method of regulating the temperature at the soldering iron tip is to maintain the temperature at the soldering iron tip. For this purpose, a thermocouple is additionally installed. Combining the described homemade products will allow you to make a universal soldering station. The device will have a voltage regulator that adjusts the input to the transformer, which changes the power of the heater.

When you need to desolder a large microcircuit, and for this you need to warm it up thoroughly and evenly, it is recommended to use a homemade thermal hair dryer with a temperature controller. You can also make an infrared soldering station, for which you need:

• nichrome spiral;
• ceramic lamp socket.

Nichrome is connected to a step-down transformer. The temperature on the surface of the parts is controlled by a thermostat.

The circuit of a soldering station with a hair dryer includes a block and a manipulator-hot air gun, where the air is heated. The devices are used to repair cell phones and household appliances. The methods for generating air flow are as follows:

• Turbine - air is supplied by a small vane electric motor in a hot air gun.
• Compressor - air is supplied by a compressor located in the main unit.

Mainly, compressor stations differ from turbine stations in that the latter can generate a larger air flow, but do not push the air through narrow openings enough. Compressor stations are more efficient when air must pass through narrow nozzles used for soldering in hard-to-reach places.

The principle of operation of the station: the air flow passes through a spiral or ceramic heater in the tube of a thermal hair dryer, heats up to the required temperature and exits through special nozzles onto the workpiece. The hot air gun is capable of providing air temperatures of 100-800°C. In modern stations, temperature, power and air flow direction are easily regulated.

In comparison with other stations (in particular, infrared), the disadvantages of hot air stations are as follows:

• The air flow may blow away small parts.
• Uneven surface heating.
• Additional attachments required.

The advantage is that turbo air stations are much cheaper than others.

Assembly Recommendations

At home, it is easier and cheaper to make a station with a hairdryer on a fan, where a coil plays the role of a heater. A ceramic heater is expensive and can crack if there are sudden changes in temperature. The compressor is difficult to construct on your own, and it cannot be attached to a hair dryer, so you will have to run an air pipe from the main unit, which adds inconvenience.

The supercharger will be a small-sized fan (a cooler from a computer power supply will do) near the handle of a thermal hair dryer. A tube is connected to it, in which the air is heated and discharged onto the soldered element. A hole is cut at the end of the cooler through which air enters the tube with the heater. On one side, the cooler is tightly closed so that during operation the air only flows into the tube and does not come out. The blower is mounted at the back of the hair dryer.

The heater is much more difficult to assemble . Nichrome wire is wound in a spiral onto the base. The turns should not touch each other. The length of the spiral is calculated based on the fact that its resistance should be 70-90 Ohms. The base can be a base with low thermal conductivity and high resistance to high temperatures.

When designing a hair dryer, many different parts can be taken from old home hair dryers. Every device, even a simple and cheap one, contains mica plates from which a cross-shaped base is assembled for the spiral. The bases of old soldering irons or halogen lamps for spotlights are also used. The base of 5-7 cm should be unoccupied by the spiral. The ends are retracted from the spiral along the base. This part is then tightly wrapped with heat-resistant fabric.

Next, a tube is made from porcelain, ceramics and similar materials. The diameter is calculated so that there is a small gap between its inner walls and the spiral. Thermal insulating materials are glued to the top of the nozzle:

• fiberglass;
• asbestos;
• other.

Insulation will ensure greater efficiency of the hair dryer and will allow you to safely handle it with your hands.

The heating element and the nozzle tube are separately connected to the blower so that the air flows into the nozzle, and the heater is located inside the nozzle in the middle. The junction of the nozzle and the supercharger is insulated to prevent air leakage.

The shape of the resulting structure resembles a pistol. For convenience, holders and handles can be attached to the body. Special nozzles are purchased or machined from heat-resistant metal. There should be four wires running from the manufactured hair dryer to the main unit and coming out of the back of the hair dryer. It is recommended to collect them together and re-isolate them.

The block body contains two rheostats, one of which regulates the power of the air flow, and the other regulates the power of the heating element. It is better if the switch for the heater and blower is common. The final step is an outlet device for the socket.

• It is important to follow fire safety precautions in the workplace.
• During operation, try to prevent sudden changes in the temperature of the heater. Do not touch the heating element or hair dryer attachments.
• Change the attachments after the hair dryer is turned off and cooled down.
• Do not allow liquid to come into contact with the hot air gun.
• Ensure the work area is well ventilated.

A soldering station-hair dryer is a fairly convenient device that you can assemble yourself. Despite its shortcomings, this is a quite suitable device for repairing household appliances.

Soldering stations

Source: https://tokar.guru/instrumenty/payalniki/delaem-payalnuyu-stanciyu-svoimi-rukami.html

Homemade soldering station with hair dryer

Anyone who has tried to repair electronics has come to the realization that a soldering iron alone will not be enough. Some SMD elements simply cannot be desoldered without the help of a hot air dryer.

That is why, over time, a soldering station is purchased that includes both. Most cheap options rarely meet individual preferences. Therefore, a do-it-yourself hot-air soldering station is not something unattainable.

The article will discuss various options for soldering stations, as well as the self-assembly process.

What is a soldering station

To put it simply, a simple soldering station consists of several main blocks:

• power unit;
• Control block;
• indicators;
• manipulators.

The power supply can be switching or transformer. The first has smaller dimensions and is capable of delivering more power. The transformer power supply has a characteristic sound during operation and requires large dimensions for high power.

In some cases, the transformer unit proves to be more reliable, but this directly affects the weight and dimensions of the soldering station.

The soldering station control unit consists of a board on which there are microcontrollers, variable resistors and other elements that are responsible for feedback, as well as for generating the output signal for the manipulators.

The following can be used as manipulators at a soldering station:

• soldering iron;
• hair dryer;
• infrared head.

There are indicators on the front panel of the station. They display readings from temperature sensors located in the manipulators. In most cases, additional calibration is required to achieve correct readings.

Types of stations

All soldering stations can be divided into two large groups:

• hot air;
• infrared.

Each of them is tailored to its own tasks. In most cases, professional repairs require both types of soldering stations. The first is a small block that has one or two manipulators. A hot air soldering station can include only a hair dryer or a hair dryer with a soldering iron.

There are soldering stations that only have a soldering iron as a manipulator. Usually these are the varieties that are called induction. In conventional hot-air stations, the soldering iron is heated by a ceramic or similar element to which voltage is applied. This element transmits temperature to the tip.

In induction soldering stations, heating occurs due to the action of an electromagnetic field. The energy is immediately transferred to the sting.

Thanks to this approach, it was possible to reduce the inertia of the soldering station, increase the response time, and also increase power with smaller dimensions. In those products that contain heat-intensive elements, it is impossible to do without an induction station, because

it is capable of heating large areas of tin in a short time. In some cases, this is difficult to achieve even with a hot-air hair dryer.

Induction units are several times more expensive than conventional stations, but their efficiency guarantees pleasure and high precision when working.

Infrared soldering stations are a separate division. In appearance, they are practically different from the two previous types. They consist of two main modules:

• head or top heating;
• bottom heating.

Heating in them occurs due to infrared elements. Thanks to the bottom heating, the board is heated evenly, which avoids deformation when removing or sealing certain elements. Most often, infrared stations are used to replace chips with BGA soldering.

They are chip-crystals that are fixed on the board using special solder balls. Some types of such chips can be replaced with a conventional hot air station, but the quality will suffer.

The cost of a good infrared station starts from one thousand dollars.

Note! There is a separate subtype of infrared stations, in which the infrared element is placed in a manipulator that resembles a hair dryer. Such products are not widely used and are rarely used.

Self-assembly

Two of the listed types of soldering stations can be assembled yourself. In most cases, ready-made modules that are commercially available are used. If you wish, you can develop your own circuit and assemble it, but often this is not necessary, since it is cheaper to buy ready-made components.

Thermal air

The simplest hot air soldering station can be assembled from a regular soldering iron. Below you will find instructions in photographs on how to do this. The entire assembly process will require the following components:

• soldering iron with wooden handle;
• aquarium compressor;
• screwdriver;
• drill;
• medical IV;
• foil;
• antenna part;
• stranded wire.

The process begins with the need to disassemble the soldering iron. The screw is unscrewed and the tip is released.

The next step is to remove the handle, which will be needed later. The wires that connect the power cable to the heating element are unscrewed.

The wire is pulled out of the handle and a small hole is drilled in the side.

The power wire is inserted through the hole made. To make this easier, you can tie it to a piece of wire and stretch it through it.

Now you will need the previously prepared dropper. The part on which the elastic is located must be cut in half, as shown in the photo.

After this, the remaining part with the tube is inserted into the handle, where the power cord used to go.

The connection turns out to be quite reliable and airtight. Next, the heating element removed earlier is connected to the power wire, which was threaded into the drilled hole.

It is important to insulate the wires well to avoid electric shock. The heating element is installed in its place. After this, a piece of foil is wrapped around the holes in the heating element, which are intended for cooling, as shown in the photo.

To keep the foil in place, it must be secured with copper wire wrapped around the foil.

The nozzle, which will provide a directed air flow, is made from a piece of tube from the antenna. It is simply inserted into place of the sting, as shown in the photo below.

The hole through which the power wire passes must be well sealed. A regular sealant will do for this purpose. Next, the aquarium compressor is connected to the second part of the tube from the dropper.

We can assume that the hot-air hair dryer is ready; the temperature it develops during operation reaches approximately 300 degrees.

This result will be quite sufficient for working with small components on boards. The power of such a hair dryer can be increased by winding a nichrome thread on a heating element, and also by installing a compressor with higher performance. In conjunction with a hairdryer, you can use a regular soldering iron. You can always take such products with you.

The process of assembling a product with a more complex structure is described in the video below.

Infrared

It is also quite possible to make an infrared station yourself. For this purpose you will need:

• soldering iron;
• PC power supply;
• car cigarette lighter.

You can use the old power supply. You only need one working line with a voltage of 12 volts. No special power required. The only thing you need for a soldering iron is a wooden handle. It can be used from any other device or made independently. The first step is to disassemble the cigarette lighter to get to the heating element that is located inside. The photo shows what it looks like.

The next task is to attach the cigarette lighter handle to the soldering iron handle. You can use glue for this. Next, you need to drill a hole in the cigarette lighter handle so that the power wires can be fed through the hole. Once the wires are connected, you can assemble the cigarette lighter module with a ceramic spacer, as shown in the photo below.

The entire structure can be secured to the handle using an additional metal plate. When everything is ready, the wires are connected to the power supply to a 12 volt output. The finished version of the mini-station is shown in the photo below.

The station turns out to be compact, so it is easy to transport and can be powered from any source that is capable of delivering 12 volts DC. It could even be a battery, so the station turned out to be completely autonomous. If you assemble a small block of 18650 lithium-ion batteries with a 12-volt converter and install a charging controller, then the price of such a station will not be.

The mini-station heats up almost instantly, and the maximum temperature can exceed 400 degrees. Small elements such as capacitors and transistors can be desoldered, as can be seen in the photo below.

The distance to the board when soldering must be at least 10 mm. In addition to miniature SMD elements, the station can easily cope with microcircuits in SOEC packages. The photo below shows direct evidence of this.

You can also desolder larger components without much difficulty. The station can be slightly modified to make it a convenient option for work. One of the modules that is easy to use additionally is a dimmer, as can be seen in the photo below.

Its purpose is to be able to adjust the power of the soldering station. As a power source, you can use not a power supply from a PC, but a power supply for an LED strip, as can be seen in the photo below. It is easy to purchase at any electrical goods store. The total power of the station is approximately 50 W, the current required for its operation reaches 6 amperes. This should be taken into account when choosing a power supply.

The disadvantage of such a soldering station can be considered the lack of contact with the element that is being soldered. Because of this, there is no way to remove excess solder, and it is also impossible to correct the part if it was positioned offset and the solder has not yet cooled.

It is advisable to provide a separate power button on the handle, which will prevent the cigarette lighter from overheating. While operating such a station, it is necessary to hold the manipulator at an angle of 90 degrees to the element that is being soldered.

This will make it possible to influence it evenly with the entire area of ​​the heater.

Additionally, for successful soldering of small elements you will need a set of tweezers. Their jaws must be sharp to make it easier to grip miniature components. In addition, you cannot do without a device called a “third hand”. There are many variations of it, but the main purpose is the same everywhere. It consists of holding soldered wires or entire microcircuits.

To make it easier to see small components, you need a good magnifying glass or microscope. An integral part of the master's toolkit is good lighting. It would be desirable if it were based on LEDs that do not flicker during operation. When soldering using a station, you cannot do without flux. This is a special solution that improves adhesion and cleans the metal for soldering.

A variant of an infrared soldering station with bottom heating can also be assembled independently. There is a video about this below.

Summary

As you can see, building your own soldering station is not as difficult as it might seem. At the same time, the costs for such a soldering station will be minimal, and it can be used anywhere.

If we are talking about a professional level of repair work, then it makes sense to think about purchasing a high-quality factory soldering station, which has various operating modes and settings. When learning, there is no point in buying an expensive soldering station; you can start with cheap options for soldering stations.

If the training is successful and during this time the desire to work is not lost, then you can think about purchasing a professional soldering station.

Source: https://2proraba.com/instrumenty/samodelnaya-payalnaya-stanciya.html

DIY soldering station with a hairdryer from available parts at home:

Today, many are faced with such a problem when radio equipment fails for various reasons.

To perform complex work on repairing electronic equipment, a conventional soldering iron, as a rule, is not enough, and special equipment is required.

That is why electronics lovers are thinking about how they can make a soldering station with a hairdryer with their own hands from available parts at home. There is nothing complicated about this, and the detailed instructions that will be described below will help you with this.

Soldering gun: what is it?

A soldering station is special equipment that can heat up to very high temperatures and allows you to heat metal leads very quickly. This device has a very primitive design, so not only a professional, but also a novice radio amateur can understand it.

In this case, soldering guns are used in conjunction with other equipment, since when working with the device it must be directed with millimeter precision. In this case, an excellent solution would be a soldering station with a hair dryer, which you can make with your own hands without any problems. Such devices are considered semi-professional and can be used to perform a large number of tasks of varying levels of complexity.

Main differences between soldering guns

Before figuring out how to make professional-grade soldering equipment at home, you need to understand what differences a soldering station can have. It’s easy to make a soldering iron from a hair dryer with your own hands. In terms of its technical characteristics, it will be absolutely identical to factory analogues, among which the main ones are:

• tip diameter;
• power;
• active air cooling system performance;
• maximum operating temperature.

These characteristics determine how well a homemade soldering station with a hair dryer will work, so they should be given special attention.

Design features

Soldering guns allow you to melt plastic and various metals with a low melting point. Softening of alloys is carried out by blowing hot air, which is heated by a special spiral. What can you use to create a soldering station with a hair dryer yourself? Atmega328, for example, like any other similar device, consists of the following elements:

• frame;
• a heating element;
• air blower;
• pen;
• switch.

Some devices can also be equipped with a sensor and a heat level regulator, as well as special attachments that allow you to perform soldering work of various levels of complexity.

Making a soldering station from improvised materials

Every person with at least a little knowledge in the field of electronics will be able to make such a device as a homemade soldering station with a hair dryer. It’s not difficult to create it with your own hands from available materials.

Any old or non-working device, as well as a steel tube, can serve as a housing.

When working with the equipment, the housing will heat up to critical temperatures, so in order to be able to work with it, the tube should be wrapped with a special material that is resistant to high temperatures.

Stationary device

Soldering stations can also be stationary. In this case, they are fixed at the workplace to increase stability and ease of use. Such equipment can be equipped with a special movable mechanism that allows you not to move the board during soldering.

A do-it-yourself soldering station with a hair dryer can be made from an old hair dryer. Arduino is an open source platform that allows you to quickly and easily create any electronic device.

This device uses mica plates as heating elements. The melting point of this metal is very high, so it can withstand any load perfectly.

As for heating coils, any that are made of soft metal will do. Nichrome would be the best option.

When manufacturing a soldering station, great attention should be paid to the power of the heating elements. It must be calculated in such a way that the device quickly melts the metal without damaging the microcircuit. The power regulator of the soldering station hair dryer will also help solve the problem. With your own hands you will be able to manually regulate the temperature conditions of the equipment.

Soldering station from a soldering iron

An excellent alternative for the device body would be an old soldering iron, or rather its body, and all the insides should be completely removed. This must be done very carefully so as not to damage anything. In addition to the housing, you will also need a 2 kW halogen lamp. It is necessary to make a quartz insulator from it.

To do this, using a diamond cutter, the ends are cut off the glass, resulting in a tube, onto one end of which a technological nipple is placed, and a hole is already made in it for the heater. A nichrome plate will act as a heating element in the equipment.

Its thickness should be no more than 0.7 millimeters, otherwise the soldering station with a hair dryer will take a very long time to cool down.

It’s cheaper to make the device yourself, but you need to follow a certain sequence of actions:

• The quartz insulator is carefully placed into the spiral.
• To prevent the device from getting too hot during operation, the insulator is wrapped with foil.
• Next, the heating element is placed in the body of the soldering iron and secured with a wire from the handle side.
• A previously prepared structure is also placed here, which is pre-wrapped with asbestos cord, which ensures a better fit in the body.
• The handle contains a hose responsible for supplying air, which is connected to the compressor.

That’s all, actually – a do-it-yourself analog soldering station with a hairdryer is completely ready for use.

What mistakes should you avoid during the assembly process?

Many beginners mistakenly believe that only a heating element and a fan are enough to make a soldering gun. Therefore, most often they make this equipment from an ordinary hair dryer. However, in this case it will be impossible to melt even tin, not to mention harder metals.

There is a way to increase the heating temperature by reducing the fan speed and hole diameter, but in this case the heating element will heat up too much and may fail, and the case will completely melt.

Types of soldering stations

All devices are divided into two types:

• A turbine soldering station with a hair dryer can be created quite quickly with your own hands. In it, an electric motor is responsible for air movement.
• Compressor devices are assembled on the basis of compressors.

In the first case, a powerful air flow is created, and in the second, the air moves more directionally, making it possible to use various nozzles. In terms of their operating principle, both types of stations are no different and are completely identical.

How to make a device?

A do-it-yourself soldering station with a hairdryer can be made at home from scrap materials that can only be found in the garage. The basis for the equipment will be a household hair dryer, from which we will need a housing. The role of the heating element will be performed by a spiral, and to ensure a constant flow of air you will need a small fan, which is fixed to the handle of the hair dryer.

To make a spiral, nichrome wire is taken, which is twisted into a spiral with a small distance between the turns. For the base, it is better to take any metal that does not conduct heat well.

When winding the spiral, you need to leave a few centimeters free on the base. This place will need to be wrapped with heat-resistant fabric so that you can pick up the soldering station while working with it.

It is best to choose a ceramic or porcelain nozzle, and thermal protection is created to increase efficiency.

Once assembly is complete, the soldering iron will vaguely resemble a gun. To increase the ease of use of the device, it can be attached to a special holder.

In order for a homemade soldering gun to comply with all safety rules, all exposed wires must be insulated. At the very end, a switch is installed and the network cable is connected, after which you can begin testing the equipment.

As it turns out, making a soldering station at home is easy. The most important thing is to follow the instructions and follow safety precautions.

Source: https://www.syl.ru/article/319313/payalnaya-stantsiya-s-fenom-svoimi-rukami-iz-dostupnyih-detaley-doma

DIY soldering station: 3 easy ways to make it

Soldering electronic circuit boards requires maintaining a certain temperature level for various parts, because insufficient heating will lead to poor solder connections, just as excessive heating will cause premature oxidation of tin and the same poor soldering quality.

In addition, tracks on an overheated board can peel off and entire sections can become charred. If earlier radio amateurs used a set of several soldering irons to work with small and large parts, tinning a relatively large area, today this function is solved with one soldering installation. But due to the high cost of such a device, not everyone can afford to purchase it, so we will tell you how to assemble a soldering station with your own hands.

Operating principle and implementation options

The operating principle of a soldering station is the ability of the device to regulate the heating temperature and maintain it within established limits throughout the entire process.

Of course, the implementation of all of the above functions is not an easy task, so the manufacture of a full-fledged analog can be done by experienced electricians who have the proper equipment and experience in assembling electronic circuits and manufacturing printed circuit boards.

Therefore, first we will analyze relatively simple manufacturing options, in which temperature adjustment is carried out manually. But even such soldering stations are quite enough to perform high-quality soldering of parts, guided only by the external signs of the operation of the tip.

Method number 1. Contact soldering station

For such a soldering station you will need a relatively classic soldering iron with a power of at least 80 - 100 W, a power regulator (in this example we will use a dimmer), a diode bridge, and connecting wires. Such a soldering station will operate without feedback on the temperature of the soldering iron tip, so the effectiveness of the effect on the solder will have to be determined experimentally.

Rice. 1: manufacturing diagram of the simplest station

Since the voltage in a home network can be significantly lower than 220V, a diode bridge will be used in the soldering station circuit.

The manufacturing process consists of the following stages:

• Assemble a bridge from four diodes or take a ready-made assembly with operating parameters from 220 V to 300 V;
• Cut the power cord at a distance of 10 - 15 cm from the handle, the reserve is needed for connecting to the soldering station;
• Strip the wire leads both near the soldering iron and on the cord, we will also use it for connection;
• Connect one of the power cord wires to the diode bridge via a dimmer, and the second directly;
• Connect the leads of the diode bridge to the wires of the soldering iron; it is better to use a terminal connection, bolted or soldered;
• Insulate electrical connections to prevent electric shock when working with a soldering station;
• Install the bridge and dimmer on the dielectric base.

The simplest soldering station is ready for use; just plug it into a power outlet and turn the handle to the desired position. The principle of working with it is similar to a wood burning device.

When working with large elements, the power regulator is set to the maximum position.

With small ones, it is displayed at half the value, it should be noted that the design of the temperature controller based on a dimmer changes the supply voltage from 220 to 0V, and it makes no sense for you to limit it to less than half.

Method number 2. Contactless soldering station

As practice shows, it is not always possible to heat the tip to influence any elements of the board; for example, it is extremely difficult to get close to SMD parts. In such situations, a soldering gun is used to direct a stream of hot air onto the legs.

Despite the similarity, it is not possible to convert a conventional hair drying device into an infrared station, since the operating temperature must reach 500 - 800ºC. To assemble such a soldering station, you will need an air compressor, a heating element, a housing for controls, a nozzle, a step-down transformer, a rectifier, and an air speed control unit.

The schematic diagram of such a soldering station is shown in the figure below:

Rice. 2: electrical circuit of a hot air gun

The operating principle of the soldering station is based on the influence of infrared radiation from the heating element directly into the soldering area. The compressor supplies air from the heater through a tapering nozzle, creating a turbine effect; it is advisable to ensure pump performance in the range of 20 to 30 liters per minute.

When making an infrared station, there are two ways to do it - a manual model or a stationary one. The first option is suitable in situations where the IR soldering body is expected to be relatively small in size and will fit comfortably in the hand. The second method is suitable for large-sized devices in which the station is installed motionless and the workpiece moves under the nozzle.

Let's consider this example of manufacturing a non-contact soldering station:

• Wind a heating coil made of nichrome wire, in this case it is used with a diameter of 0.8 mm. You can take another option, for example, from an electric stove. Fig. 3: Wind up the heating element
• For winding, use a rigid frame, lay the turns close together, but do not overlap, and be careful not to short-circuit the winding. The smaller the diameter of the wire you get, the more efficient the heating will be; a spiral with an outer diameter of 8 - 10 mm will be enough.
• In this example, several spirals are made, connected in parallel to increase the heating temperature.
• Install the resulting spiral on a cylindrical frame made of non-flammable material.

Figure 4: Place the spirals on the dielectric element

First remove all excess from the frame, but if it is already ready, you can immediately wind it.

• Make a metal cup for the heating element, in this example of making a soldering station we will make it from the body of a AA battery.
• Make a nozzle from a piece of a telescopic antenna from a radio receiver, one edge of which should be splashed and put on the washer. Fig. 5. Put on the washer
• Screw the nozzle washer to the battery cup using appropriate bolts.Fig. 6: Screw the nozzle to the glass
• Place thermal insulating material inside the glass between the spiral and the walls to prevent overheating of the external parts.
• Assemble a diode bridge from four semiconductor elements; if you already have a ready-made assembly at hand, you can use that too.
• Make a power supply from a step-down transformer and a rectifier unit; your task is to obtain a low voltage at the output to reduce the likelihood of electric shock. In the example under consideration, it turns out to be about 10 - 15V, the transformer power is 150W. A similar model can be taken from ready-made equipment.
• We will make the case for the soldering station from an ordinary plastic bottle. In this example, we need transparent plastic, since it is easier to connect the power supply, air blower and control board. Fig. 7. connect all elements in the housing
• Connect the cooler and heating coil to the power supply terminals, connect the voltage regulator. Fig. 8. install the cooler

The heat flow power can be adjusted either by the air supply speed or by the voltage level supplied to the heater.

• Connect the power cord to the transformer terminals - the soldering station is ready for use. Fig. 9: Soldering station is ready

Method No. 3. Automatic soldering station based on Arduino

Such a soldering station is assembled on the basis of an Arduino microcontroller, which acts as a logical element that processes data from the temperature indicator and regulates the heating power of the tip. A distinctive feature of such a device is the complete automation of temperature control - you just need to set it and wait for it to heat up. An example of a circuit for assembly is shown in the figure below:

Rice. 10. diagram of a soldering station based on Arduino

To assemble such a station you will need:

• the Arduino board itself to control the operation of the soldering station;
• digital display for displaying heating temperature;
• microcircuit for programming a soldering station;
• transistor, stabilizer and buttons, store of resistors and capacitive elements.

To assemble such a soldering station, use the diagram below; the heating element will be the tip of a conventional soldering iron with a temperature sensor, which are connected to the assembled circuit.

The disadvantages of such a device include its complexity, which is why novice radio amateurs may simply not be able to assemble a working version the first time. Also, to solder the elements used in the automatic station, you will need a special soldering iron and preliminary skills in working with it, so as not to damage the parts.

Source: https://www.asutpp.ru/payalnaya-stantsiya-svoimi-rukami.html

How to make a homemade soldering station with a hair dryer with your own hands: step-by-step process - Machine

Modern parts for the manufacture of electronic devices are extremely sensitive to overheating, so to solder them, many DIYers think about how to make a soldering station with their own hands. You can purchase a ready-made soldering station, but the price of such a product is high. This encourages you to start making a small installation yourself.

The designs offered by craftsmen vary in complexity of execution. Some experts offer such complex designs that only a very skilled craftsman can replicate their work. Most users need designs that are inexpensive in terms of components and easy to implement.

Purpose

To create a modern gadget or other product based on microcircuits, you need to make high-quality seams in a limited space. Soldering of some parts is carried out under significant amplification, even under a microscope. Only the presence of a soldering station makes it possible to achieve satisfactory performance characteristics.

Purchased stations necessarily include several main components:

• Control and control module. It helps the user navigate operating modes: current strength, voltage, tip temperature, air flow and a number of other indicators.
• A soldering iron capable of melting a specific type of solder. Overheating much higher than the specified values ​​causes the formation of slag, which does not allow achieving acceptable quality.
• Tweezers with an internal heater can help in the installation and dismantling of microelements and SMD components.
• A hairdryer with a thermostat for warming up a local space and soldering groups of contacts (microcircuits) will help in difficult spaces.
• Infrared heat source for heating a large area on boards, as well as group installation.
• A directed heat emitter for spot heating of a space will help to perform miniature work.
• Devices for sucking out solder after desoldering parts.
• Auxiliary fittings, holders, special devices for spatial connection of parts. Antistatic devices for the master, as well as mats for placing parts and components.

In addition to the above, the stations are equipped with racks for placing tools with spring holders. Depending on the complexity and configuration, the installation price varies.

Purpose and objectives of application

Soldering stations are used in radio engineering and related areas of production and creativity. Users use the tool to perform different types of work.

1. Pyrography is the making of drawings using thermal devices. By heating individual sections of the workpieces, the position of the thermoplastic elements is changed. Compositions are created from plastics of one color or multi-color compositions.
2. Weld plastics in the manufacture of cases, boxes or other flat and spatial products.
3. Carrying out installation, repairs and other targeted work. Some types of work are only possible with the use of hair dryers that melt plastic particles without overheating it.
4. For assembling electronic devices and instruments.
5. Soldering and installation of electronic circuits in electronics.
6. Tinning and preparation for complex installation of massive parts and assemblies connected by melting solder.
7. For welding in confined spaces.
8. Soldering SMD components, mounting and dismantling them on boards.
9. For shrinking heat-shrinkable insulation upon completion of work.

Review of soldering station designs

Soldering stations vary in purpose, as well as in the configuration of the equipment included in them. They are classified according to basic parameters.

Contact stations

Such soldering stations are equipped with soldering irons that interact with molten solders. They contain soldering irons themselves with replaceable tips, as well as control units that maintain a given temperature regime.

The most advanced designs are automatically turned on only when the position of the soldering iron in space changes. If it is placed on the rack, the power is turned off and heating stops.

It's not just the tip that can be heated. The air flow, which is used to warm up the space, also heats up. They are equipped with a fan (some can even be considered a compressor) and a heater.

Such a tool is capable of group installation and dismantling. Several contacts of the microcircuit are soldered at all points on the board. Similarly, if replacement is necessary, the part is dismantled.

The presence of such tools allows for efficient use of space in the manufacture of compact installations.

Infrared devices

For instruments with quartz and ceramic heaters, soldering is performed using a non-contact method. The tool itself is only used to heat the soldering area. The tip does not touch parts or solder.

The IR emitter is located at a distance from the soldering area. It only heats a limited area in a given location.

A modern soldering station combines several types of equipment. The main difference from household soldering irons is heating to the specified parameters. If necessary, it is easy to change the spaces being treated and the heating level.

Industrial soldering stations are not only made to be universal. Some have a narrow scope of use:

• for installation at a remote location of parts;
• for dismantling elements;
• combined devices;
• repair installations.

The most developed designs are equipped with digital regulators.

Analogue installations

Analog soldering stations are equipped with devices with feedback. Their operation is regulated by specified temperature intervals. When receiving a signal that the limit mode has been reached, the device automatically turns off.

Some users believe that such devices help to perform quick and high-quality installation of electronic circuits and installations.

Making a homemade soldering station

For a homemade soldering station you need to purchase:

1. Socket for connecting a soldering iron.
2. Dimmer is a device for regulating the power of connected electrical appliances.
3. Set of wires and hardware for installation.
4. Laminated fiberboard for the manufacture of soldering station housing.

It remains to figure out how to make a simple device that will help in further work. It seems that it couldn't be simpler.

To make a simple soldering station, you need ordinary soldering irons. The power of the first is 100 W, the second has a 40 W heater.

Simply turning it on without an intermediate block shows that carbon deposits form on the soldering iron tip. It occurs due to overheating of the tip during the heating process. You need a device that will limit the heating temperature. To mount parts on the board, you just need to melt the solder. As it hardens, it will securely connect the parts.

• The main components were purchased: socket for internal installation; dimmer rated for 100 W.

The dimmer has mounting holes. One is designed to connect to a common network, the other is used to connect to an instrument.

Parts are cut from laminated fiberboard to make the body. Using a glue gun, the body will be assembled into a single spatial structure.

The necessary holes are cut and the parts are soldered. The device takes on the desired appearance.

The bottom cover will be detachable. Special terminals are installed for screws.

1. All that remains is to install the parts inside the body of the soldering station.
2. After installing the dimmer, the socket is installed.

The device is assembled. Testing needs to be done. For ease of operation, graduation is required.

Turning on when the dimmer is set to maximum power indicates that overheating has not been eliminated. It is necessary to reduce the current supplied to the soldering iron.

To calibrate the soldering station, the connection is made through an ammeter. It is connected in series with the load. All that remains is to control the current value by marking them on the dimmer.

By connecting the device contact to the soldering iron plug, check the amount of current flowing. Observe the heating of the tip.

For each measured value, marks are made on the fixed dimmer disk. In the future, it will be enough to set different modes to control the performance of the soldering iron.

• The entire fixed disk is calibrated.

For any position of the rotary engine there are risks. They correspond to a certain current strength, as well as the power transmitted to the soldering iron.

Using solder of a certain brand, temperature values ​​are specified. Each power has its own tip heating temperature.

The soldering station works great. The solder on the tip does not burn out. He just melted.

1. A working device has been manufactured.
2. DIY soldering station.

Making a soldering station with a hair dryer

More complex jobs require a more sophisticated soldering station. It will include not only a soldering iron for thin and deep mounting. To work with groups of contacts you need a hairdryer. It will also be created as an additional tool.

Step-by-step production of the station

This is what the control unit will look like. The digital indicator will show the heating temperature of the tip and air flow. Generally turn off, control knobs will help you set the desired mode.

A 24 V soldering iron is required. It can be purchased from the online store. You need to adapt it for installation in a soldering station. A ball switch is used to control power in the soldering iron. At a certain position the balls turn on the contact, in another position the power is turned off.

The switch is being installed in the soldering iron body. By changing the position of the ball contact, check its performance. Now in a certain position of the soldering iron it will turn off by itself.

The power supply is connected. Now the heating is controlled according to the indicator readings. With a 24 V soldering iron, the main work is completed.

The electric hair dryer is also designed for 24 V. It comes with a connection diagram to the power supply.

The soldering station is made according to the supplied electrical diagrams. The parameters of the parts used are shown in the photo.

According to the attached diagrams, a board is soldered to control the operating modes of the hair dryer. By turning one knob, you change the speed of rotation of the fan impellers. Another regulator changes the voltage on the heater.

Front Panel. It was just cut out of textolite. All that remains is to fill in the missing information.

The main elements of the soldering station are installed inside the case from the disk drive.

The film is printed. The film itself with information is attached to double-sided tape. Now the front panel gets a commercial appearance.

• The operating modes of the soldering iron are tested.

The hairdryer turns on. It comes with several tips. They vary in size.

1. By placing his hand, the installer checks the heating of the air flow.

The additional rack will house the soldering station tools. The green handle of a regular 220 V soldering iron.

Soldering iron testing. The SMD component is being soldered.

• The SMD component is soldered correctly. Fine installation is carried out using a thin tip
• The soldering iron tip can be changed quite easily.
• A more powerful tip helps solder thick wires.

A hairdryer can warm up a fairly large area. Group installation and dismantling of parts is possible.

1. The microcircuit is unsoldered after 10 seconds.

Testing of the soldering station is completed. She's ready to go.

The soldering station helps the master organize the execution of complex tasks.

Source: https://regionvtormet.ru/svarka/kak-sdelat-samodelnuyu-payalnuyu-stantsiyu-s-fenom-svoimi-rukami-poshagovyj-protsess.html

Is it possible to make a soldering station yourself?

Soldering boards and electronic circuits with a regular soldering iron is not very convenient and not always possible. In this regard, even a simple dusty station is a valuable tool. But the cost of finished products is quite high, and if the work is not carried out often, it will not pay off soon.

There is a solution: anyone involved in programming microcontrollers can make a soldering station with their own hands. First you need to understand the principle of operation of the device and its main elements.

Soldering options

The reason that the modern market is able to offer a wide range of soldering equipment is the fact that an ordinary household soldering iron has become a tool that can be bought on every corner. But it does not solder all modern devices.

Using a soldering station, which you can make yourself, you can repair any electrical equipment, including such complex and high-precision equipment as a computer motherboard.

Before we begin the design and begin to describe a homemade digital soldering mechanism, let’s consider what a station can be and what types of soldering exist.

Stations can be roughly classified as follows:

• contact type;
• contact type without the use of lead;
• hot air type;
• combined-thermal-air type;
• dismantling type;
• infrared stations.

The simplest type is contact. Its structure is not much different from a conventional soldering iron, but the contact equipment is devoid of many design flaws that soldering irons have.

Contact soldering

The main problem with a soldering iron is excessive heating of radio components, in particular transistors, diodes, and thyristors. Due to high temperature, semiconductor elements begin to change their current-voltage characteristics and disrupt the flow of electric current in the circuit.

This is why it becomes impossible to regulate the temperature of the heating elements, in other words, a traditional soldering iron sooner or later stops “listening” - the temperature either rises indefinitely or stops growing at all.

Thus, after reaching 400 °C, soldering can only be safe due to short-term solder-tip contact.

When starting to create a contact soldering station, or choosing one of the models that are already offered on the market, you should understand that it must contain a power supply that includes galvanic isolation in its design. It is this “power supply-heater” mechanism that guarantees adequate regulation of voltage and heating temperature. Most often, the most rational heating temperature is 250-350 °C.

Non-contact soldering

Non-contact (hot air) soldering stations are such installations that are excellent for repairing mobile phones, large and small household appliances. The power of such installations is extremely high; they cope well with both lead-containing and lead-free solders.

However, it should be remembered that such devices cannot be used for BGA-type chips. Hot-air, non-contact soldering is a symbiosis of a hair dryer and a soldering iron; soldering using such equipment is very convenient and fast.

Hair dryer device

A soldering station in the form of a hair dryer is usually used to melt or soften a plastic product, thin metal or tin. It is possible to supply high-temperature air only after it has passed through a very hot spiral. In order to create a soldering gun yourself, you will need to carefully familiarize yourself with its design.

Components of the soldering gun design:

• heater (special housing-tube);
• a vane fan or pump that supplies air flow;
• handles, switch, temperature sensor.

Sometimes you can also use special nozzles that allow you to change the flow of the jet.

Control circuit

Let's consider a circuit diagram for controlling a hair dryer, which is powered from a single source. This fact greatly simplifies the operation of the device.

The main element of this circuit is a parametric type stabilizer, which is assembled on transistor VT1, zener diodes D5, D6, D7 and resistance R1. This device guarantees the stability of the soldering gun voltage, while the source voltage may change due to air flow adjustments.

In order to change the fan speed, switch SA1 is used, which has two positions - 8V and 12V.

Zener diode D8 and fuse FU1 provide protection against extreme voltages. When the voltage rises to 15 volts, the diode opens and the fuse blows.

Let's figure out why it is best to use a parametric stabilizer in this design. When using alternating current, voltage peaks can reach extreme values. This will damage the microcircuit. It's quite easy to give an example. At a voltage of 30 Volts (alternating current), the peak will be:

Final assembly

The assembly of a homemade soldering station is carried out in several stages. First, assemble the heating element. It consists of 5 spirals and a ceramic insulating tube. The ceramic tube can be borrowed from a TV (the delay line contains just what you need).

Then the spiral of the heating element is wound. It is best to wind the future spiral using a drill.

One of the most complex design parts is the heater housing. It is usually assembled from a glass, a pipe and a washer.

Surprisingly, a glass with an outer diameter of 1.65 cm fit perfectly from an old lithium-ion battery. It is in such cases that the chemical filling is placed. Before disassembling the laptop battery, it should be completely discharged. For this, low-resistance powerful resistors are used.

You can use a 1 liter soda bottle as the body of the soldering gun. The bottle was selected based on the size of the fan.

Infrared soldering station

When repairing complex circuits and motherboards (especially those with BGA components), you will need an infrared station. Chinese products are of very low quality, and a good infrared installation is quite expensive. The solution is obvious: there is nothing difficult in assembling a soldering tool with your own hands.

When assembling such a soldering device, you can invest in a budget of up to 10 thousand rubles. Despite the low cost, the station performed well during repair work related to the installation of microcircuits.

Description of design

The device consists of the following components:

• control controller;
• bottom type heating;
• top type heating.

The controller must be a 2-channel type.

The first channel is connected to a thermocouple or platinum-type thermistor. The second should simply be connected to the pair. Both channels have automatic and manual modes. The first allows temperatures to be maintained up to 255 degrees using feedback from a thermocouple or thermistor.

Manual mode allows settings in 99% ranges. The controller memory contains fourteen different types of thermal profiles: seven lead-type profiles and seven lead-free solder profiles.

For lead-containing solder, the range of maximum temperature profiles starts at 190°, and then every 5 to 220°.

For lead-free solder, maximum profile temperatures start at 225°, and then every 5 to 250°.

In cases where the upper heating element simply cannot cope and heating cannot be provided, the controller element goes into “pause” mode and waits for the desired temperature. This allows the chip to be adapted for heaters that are so weak that they are not able to follow thermal profiles.

The controllers are also used as temperature regulators for the soldering station, for example, if drying or baking solder masks is necessary. Such devices are great for maintaining temperature.

The simplest installation from the cigarette lighter

The cigarette lighter, which is controlled by 12 volts of the car battery, is capable of creating temperatures that allow soldering BGA controllers and various SMDs.

Many designers believe that such a station provides a heating ring (the so-called “ring”), which will repeat the projection of the heater. However, the test on paper showed absolutely uniform heating, without rings. This means that modifying the cigarette lighter makes sense.

During the test, it was clear that the color of the paper evenly stained the sheet from the center towards the edges. Pure infrared heating plus convection without any blowing - and the cigarette lighter turns into an excellent soldering device.

Soldering stations from the cigarette lighter, compared to soldering hot air guns, are quiet, do not produce any jets or kickbacks, soldering occurs calmly. Ten volts of alternating current, supplied from a suitable transformer, is quite enough to remove a 100-socket processor from the motherboard at a distance of 1-1.5 cm.

The second contact of the spiral must be brought out into the housing tube and fixed with high-temperature sealant. The construction will require brass soldering. It can be done using a gasoline torch, a strip of brass and borax. The distance at which soldering is carried out reaches a maximum of 1.5 cm. This design has proven itself very well.

If you come up with a handle, a body and a holder, and this is quite simple, given the body of the cigarette lighter, then this device will be many times better than a regular Chinese-made soldering iron.

Assembly kit

There are special kits for assembling soldering stations. One such kit offers to assemble a digital station based on the Atmega 328P controller.

Parts List:

• Atmega328p controller;
• LCD with dimensions 16x2;
• OU: LM358;
• optical isolation: MOC3063;
• mosfets IRFZ44N (2 pcs.);
• triac: BT138;
• stabilizer;
• potentiometers 10kOhm;
• trimming resistors 10 kOhm.

The kit also includes two LEDs, a 16 MHz resonator, SMD resistors and a 1 µF capacitor. Soldering work will be incomplete without switches, GX16 5 and 8 pin sockets, and a 24 Volt switching power supply.

Schematic and PCB

Thus, if you know the laws of radiophysics, making a soldering station with your own hands will not be difficult. Moreover, by selecting quality components, excellent results can be achieved.

A soldering gun, contact station and other homemade devices will last a very long time and, unlike their Chinese counterparts, will operate at the required temperature conditions.

Source: https://svaring.com/soldering/praktika/samodelnaja-pajalnaja-stancija

DIY soldering station

The soldering iron, necessary in every repair shop and in everyday life, fades into the background. This is due to the fact that household appliances, gadgets and other devices contain complex electronic boards. Installation and dismantling of radio components is difficult and requires special heating conditions. There is a special set of equipment for this – a soldering station.

Soldering station Megeon 00361

What is a soldering station

This device is also called a soldering machine. This is a set of tools and devices that includes the main elements:

• soldering iron;
• replaceable tip;
• stand;
• thermal hair dryer;
• tin remover;
• adjustment block.

Compared to the price of a traditional soldering tool, this setup costs tens of times more. The station has a number of advantages over a conventional soldering iron:

• the ability to connect more than one soldering iron;
• implementation of precise adjustment with smooth voltage supply, based on a signal from the electronic control unit;
• protection against exposure to static electricity on processed elements;
• overload protection;
• changing nozzles on the working part of soldering irons;
• freeing surfaces from excess solder.

In addition, it protects the operator from electric shock due to the reduced voltage supply to the soldering irons. For professional work or minor single repairs of electronic equipment, this device improves the quality of soldered joints.

What is the station for?

DIY power supply for 12V screwdriver

Modern radio engineering and electronic equipment includes printed circuit boards, which are made using the technology of double-sided mounting of elements. It is very difficult to carry out a high-quality replacement of a part without overheating the contact pad and the part itself. Static electricity can damage some elements. It is simply impossible to desolder a microcircuit with a number of pins of 4 or more with a conventional soldering iron.

Electronic temperature control of the tip, solder suction and the use of special attachments included in the station kit allow this work to be carried out. When you remove the soldering iron from the stand, the set voltage is supplied to it, and it is ready for use.

If there is an active selection of temperature from the working surface, the unit increases the voltage supply for additional heating. This is possible because the soldering iron has a built-in temperature sensor that transmits information to the control unit. At the moment when the soldering iron lies on the stand, it is in standby mode with minimal heating. Due to this, the service life of the tip is extended.

The soldering station allows you to control the temperature conditions during installation or dismantling work. The use of two-channel devices makes it possible to set the temperature regime for each soldering iron individually.

Characteristics and operating principle

Do-it-yourself gasoline generator

You can consider the characteristics of soldering stations by dividing soldering methods into two groups: lead and lead-free.

Devices belonging to the first group have a module in their structure that makes it possible to set the required temperature level of the tip. Such models are made both as devices that use electricity for their operation, and as stations based on an alternating magnetic field (induction type). A high level of heat transfer and automatic selection of power for individual elements are the main advantages of induction stations.

To perform non-contact soldering, the second type of soldering installations is used. These are stations based on infrared and thermal air influence on the soldering area.

Summarizing the characteristics of the devices, the following parameters are distinguished:

• heating element material: nichrome or ceramic;
• heating rate;
• temperature adjustment range;
• installation power;
• supply voltage.

Also, the main design features include shape, dimensions and weight.

Main types of stations

DIY Mimo 4g lte antenna

According to the type of impact on the object of soldering work, soldering stations are divided into:

• contact;
• hot air;
• infrared.

The choice of one or another installation is determined by the type of equipment on which soldering work has to be performed. The sensitivity of the electronic circuit elements that will be affected is also important.

Contact stations

This type of device has a traditional soldering iron (one or two) as a working tool. The working element is a conical metal tip with a ceramic heater and a temperature sensor. Replacement tips can also be included in the kit. The difference in such installations depends on the type of solder: whether it contains lead or not.

Contact soldering machine

Hot air devices

Hot air stations operate using hot air and its targeted supply to hard-to-reach areas of electronic boards. They are popular in mobile device and consumer electronics repair shops.

Hot air soldering station HandsKit 852

Infrared devices

Infrared radiation emitted by quartz or ceramic circuit components is used to operate computer equipment. It is used to install parts on motherboards or dismantle them.

Infrared BGA Rework Station

Having selected the necessary components, you can make the device yourself. At the initial stage, the control circuit and type of influence are determined: contact, non-contact or combined.

Scheme

When choosing a circuit design, it is determined what the station will be: analog or digital. The first schemes use the “OFF/ON” principle. When the set temperature is reached after switching on, the voltage supply stops. After the working element has cooled, heating of the tip is resumed. The solution is carried out using a relay or an electronic key.

In the digital version, control is carried out by a microcontroller, the program of which implements a PID controller (a device with feedback in the control circuit).

With the same control method as the analog version, the input power changes here. It is always close to the nominal value. If the tip temperature is slightly lower than the set value, then the heating power is low.

The regulator is in no hurry to increase it. As soon as the difference increases sharply, the PID increases the heating power.

Required tools and materials

The soldering station is assembled with your own hands according to a scheme consisting of two blocks:

• power amplifier boards;
• device power supply.

For homemade soldering stations you will also need:

• device body - suitable for an old car radio;
• display (digital voltmeter);
• soldering iron;
• printed circuit boards.

One of the working models of a suitable design is taken as a sample.

Power amplifiers

They are also station control devices. The circuit is implemented on the lm358 chip. This is a dual operational amplifier. One arm of it works as a comparator, and the other as a thermocouple amplifier.

Amplifier on lm358 chip

The microcircuit is assembled on a printed circuit board. You can make it yourself from foil PCB.

Station diagram based on lm358

Power supplies

The station is powered by a voltage of 24 V, based on the IR2153 microcircuit or another with suitable parameters.

Power supply made on IR2153

If desired, you can get by with an external 24 V power supply that delivers a current of up to 4 A.

The device assembled on this operational amplifier works as follows. At first the soldering iron is not heated. The inverting input of the comparator has no voltage; its output has a supply plus, which opens the transistor.

The spiral heats up and leads to an increase in the voltage value on the thermocouple. The output voltage will become zero when the voltages at the comparator inputs are equal. The transistor will close, the soldering iron will begin to cool down.

The sensor will note a decrease in heating, and the cycle will repeat again.

An electronic voltmeter is installed to monitor the temperature. It is calibrated with a trimmer resistance using a thermocouple in a multimeter.

Arduino

This is a programmable controller in the C++ language version, which has additional methods for processing incoming and outgoing information. Various devices are connected to its connectors. In our case, a temperature sensor. Arduino reads its readings and, after processing, controls the device. The microcontroller is connected to the computer. Software is installed on the Arduino, which regulates temperature and power.

Settings

The assembled circuit does not require any special settings; the main thing is not to mix up the power poles and connect the thermocouple correctly.

An electronic voltmeter is installed to monitor the temperature. It is calibrated with a trimmer resistance using a thermocouple from the test multimeter kit. If there is no multimeter, then the heated soldering iron turns off and cools down to room temperature. By adjusting the resistor, the room temperature is set, based on a thermometer or cell phone data. Then the soldering iron heats up again and turns off again, checking the set value.

Important! When soldering a voltmeter to the board, power is soldered to two pins (1 and 2), and pin 3 is the measuring pin.

Safety precautions and rules of use

When working with a soldering station, you need to ensure that the hot tip does not come into contact with flammable materials and wires. Soldering iron handles and wire insulation must not be damaged. There is a danger of electric shock. The workplace is equipped with forced ventilation.

Attention! Do not leave a soldering iron on without supervision. It is forbidden to place a hot device other than on a special stand and check the heating of the tip with your hand.

Repair and operation

Repairing a soldering station assembled with your own hands comes down to replacing faulty elements. The sensor on the soldering iron most often fails. Operation in the correctly selected operating temperature range extends the service life of the tip and the quality of soldering work.

Soldering machines assembled by yourself work no worse than factory models. Minimum cost, little labor, and the installation will last a long time. Correctly selected circuit elements simplify the assembly and launch of the station.

Source: https://amperof.ru/sovety-elektrika/payalnaya-stanciya-svoimi-rukami.html