14 Sep
2011
14 Sep
'11
8:08 a.m.
On Tue, 2011-09-13 at 21:21 +0100, Tony Duell wrote:
That is not the 'level' I meant, as I am sure
you know :-). I was
thinking avout things like heating elemetns (on their own), pumps (or ven
parts for said pumps) for a decoldering or hot-air station, componets for
the control system, and so on.
For a Metcal MFR, you don't have a heater. It's in the tip module AIUI
(or possibly in the handpiece in the form of an RF coil). Inductive
heating in other words.
As far as my Aoyue kit goes, I can get any part I need from the UK
distributor, but the system controller PCB is classed as "probably
cheaper to replace the soldering station and keep the old one for
parts". Heaters are easily available and cheap (?10 and change each),
and a piece of cake to swap out.
Pray to whatever deity you believe in (if any) if you have to replace
the handle or hose though. The connection between handle and base
station is a rubber air hose with a power cable running through the
centre... UGH. I doubt the Hakko machines are any better, though (the
Aoyue is a clone of an old Hakko design).
--
Phil.
philpem at philpem.me.uk
http://www.philpem.me.uk/