Trying this out as a lower cost (but not cheap) replacement for the METCAL station. Looks and feels solid, runs nice and cool. The best thing is, it works with METCAL tips and hand-pieces.
https://www.thermaltronics.com/tmt-9000s.php


Fits nicely under the scope monitor. Only one iron at at time instead of both with the METCAL power station. It takes 5 seconds to heat up, so no big deal for hobby soldering.

Dead cold tip to this in seconds using their tip and handle.


The METCAL hand-piece is on the bottom. Both are nice but the METCAL feels better while soldering (likely because I've used them for years).

I'll be using it for my next PCB build. If my JLC boards show up before Christmas.

 

Certainly the grip of a soldering tool varies between brands, and often takes getting used to. AND certainly some designs are better than others. No question there, either.
Is it possible that the two different brand soldering implements could be interchanged???

 

Certainly the grip of a soldering tool varies between brands, and often takes getting used to. AND certainly some designs are better than others. No question there, either.
Is it possible that the two different brand soldering implements could be interchanged???

It's mainly more plastic on the end of the iron grip. It affects the balance a bit when soldering without looking at the actual tip when using magnification. I'm doing a mental transformation on the tip position on the computer display to physical hand movements of the tip to the PCB. To do these movements quickly, without thinking about it, you need to build mind/muscle memory at the sub-conscientious level. I'll just use my old METCAL hand-pieces on this power station for fine soldering work and use the new type for bulk soldering.

 

 

I haven't soldered much for many years. I did it a lot when was in college and when I was actively making stuff but that was like forty years ago.

I have several soldering irons though, for electronic work I have this (click image)



But I very rarely solder, so is this junk would you guys recommend something better?

 

I haven't soldered much for many years. I did it a lot when was in college and when I was actively making stuff but that was like forty years ago.

I have several soldering irons though, for electronic work I have this (click image)

View attachment 348375






But I very rarely solder, so is this junk would you guys recommend something better?

That should work just fine with a nice clean tip, with good solder.

 

Good soldering requires first, understanding what is happening, next, practice, third a good magnifier, and fourth, patience. But patience is not the same as being slow. AND a good soldering iron tip helps a whole lot.

 

Good soldering requires firs, understanding what is happening, next, practice, third a good magnifier, and fourth, patience. But patience is not the same as being slow. AND a good soldering iron tip helps a whole lot.

I'm fast and very good at soldering. I had professional training and lots of experience.
https://paceworldwide.com/prc2000-m...aRPlPMvONxfXO7O02AzjreV6wwWwq1V8Xzy8bF7MPsgHI

Picked up a new hand-piece. Much heftier than the other ones.
https://store.metcal.com/en-us/shop/soldering-desoldering/hand-pieces/MX-RM3E
On the top.

And a few extra tips.

I'll just keep the TMT hand-piece in reserve.

https://store.metcal.com/en-us/shop/cartridges-tips/?SearchParameter=&@QueryTerm=*&ContextCategoryUUID=A7IKqwMVJm8AAAF33j98yeyl&OnlineFlag=1&System=MX&@Sort.name=0&PageSize=12&SortingAttribute=name-asc

 

My new Metcal MX-H2-UF UltraFine hand-piece and tips.

Had to remove a broken GLCD screen on a JLC board what was dropped at work. JLC boards are soft and easy to screw-up during a rework. I have never has issues with OSHPark boards.

Let's build a board with it the new soldering station and UF tip.

Lights, camera, action with the new DAQ boards.




A little close inspection and hot gun remelt.


Nice.


Using Linux Guvcview for the camera app. It gives full control, remotely from the computer via USB. Time to drop in what's needed to get the controller to program and test the PCB before add the rest of the parts.

 

Use the tip to make solder bumps for the controller OSC chip.

Flux and solder with the hot air gun.



Camera zoom at a tilt on the solder pads.

 

Time to get to serious work.

 

Just about done with the solder job on the board. Mainly used the UF tip and the air gun for soldering.

Two monitor Linux machine for schematic and camera views.


Flux us the EP for the I/O chips heat sinking solder to the PCB ground plane on the bottom of the board.


Heat the chip with the air gun to solder the E pad, then solder the pins with the UF iron.

Not bad after cleanup.

Used the Fluke needle probes for testing. Fluke TL910 Electronic Test Probes

Always buy quality and only cry once.

https://www.fluke.com/en-us/product/accessories/test-leads/tl910


Found a solder bridge.


Fixed


Overall evaluation, very good.