rickyjar
Member level 2
User “jacusm” made a hot air soldering station with a grip.
The greatest problem in making such a station is an immersion heater with a grip and blower.
For security reasons, a 56V heater was made instead of a 220V.
It was adapted from a 2x28V 300W toroidal transformer. Such an immersion heater is also easier to be wound.
The frame of the heater consists of a 0.5mm mica plate with the measurements adjusted to the size of the metal tube.
After cutting, 1mm grooves were filed away in the frame every 2.5mm, resistant wire is fixed therein, thanks to the grooves, the wire does not move and is separated from the metal tube.
Additionally, the immersion heater is isolated from the tube with a Teflon plastic sheet (a thin mica plate from an old hair dryer can be used).
The immersion heater is wound with a 0.4mm double-twisted resistant wire with the resistance of 10.7Ω/m.
The resistance of the immersion heater is about 9 Ω
A K-type temperature sensor is mounted in the frame of the heater.
The resistant wire was connected to the cord with clamping bush.
The tube was adapted from a part of a curtain rod. The grip was adapted from a basic unit leg.
It is important for the tube to be ground and neutral in order to collect electrostatic loads. Additionally, the ground and neutral cord is isolated within the whole length of the hose.
After winding the immersion heater and fixing it in the tube, it is time to deal with the blower.
At the beginning, a fan from an old hair dryer fixe in the body of a 3-phase plug.
As a trial, the tube was assembled directly on the 3-phase socket, first tests under a load were successful.
The temperature gained was also satisfactory.
In the second version of the blower, a Pepsi bottle was used
However, after fixing in it in the casing and connecting the immersion heater with a grip and the air-supplying hose, the reverse was true.
There was too big drop in pressure.
Therefore, a compressor to the Chinese soldering station Hot Air Auye had to be bought.
In this case, the pressure gained was very good (about 10kPa compared to only 500Pa in the case of the blower)
However, vibrations produced by the compressor posed the problem and the vibrations could not be stifled. The second problem was the lack of the possibility to regulate the efficiency of the compressor 220V).
Therefore, a fan adapted from a car vacuum cleaner was used by fixing it in a helium cylinder. The motor fastenings and turbine cover were made
This turbine meets all the expectations. It is noiseless and efficient. Vibrations are minimal. There is the possibility to regulate airflow.
An additional function is a vacuum grip. It is perfect to work with a small SMD elements.
The vacuum pump is a little compressor taken out of an old pressure meter.
The grip has a “valve” to operate it. Covering the hole in the grip enables to grab an element, whereas discovering enables to drop it.
The electronic appliances are based on a PIC16f876 processor.
Temperature regulation takes place through regulating phase by the TCA785 system.
A change of rotations of the turbines is made by a typical regulation system PWM on 555.
Making such a station can be inexpensive because many elements can be adapter from old devices.
The immersion heater is 300W. It is the minima power to operate a Hot Air station comfortably. 500W power would be much better.
Heating time to 350 °C is about 25 sec.
Some photos of the station:
Link to original thread - Stacja lutownicza na gorące powietrze (Hot Air) z chwytakiem
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