Any opinions on the AiXun T3A?

[c0d3z3r0]

That's not related to the tips but probably that ADC GPIO failed. Check the thread for that problem

[Dracarris]

That's not related to the tips but probably that ADC GPIO failed. Check the thread for that problem

Hm, I see. So I'd have to change the MCU (somehow reprogram it over JTAG/SWIO?) and then implement the protection changes you presentend in https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/any-opinions-on-the-aixun-t3a/msg4412704/?topicseen#msg4412704?

Edit: Can confirm that standby still works with both JBC and Aixun tips - if I connect the outermost shell (basically all the metal up until the tip) with the standby input. However, connecting the metal ring at the holder which makes contact with the stand does nothing. How??

Out of curiosity: What the heck does the "Shake" input do? This thing detects if I shake it?

Curiosity 2: Why do you need to switch the station off before connecting the USB port to a computer? Do they somehow force a voltage between PE/Neutral and the GND net? This would mean the station isn't isolated from mains at all? No transformer whatsoever?

[c0d3z3r0]

Edit: Can confirm that standby still works with both JBC and Aixun tips - if I connect the outermost shell (basically all the metal up until the tip) with the standby input. However, connecting the metal ring at the holder which makes contact with the stand does nothing. How??

Oh, lucky you! Then it's NOT the ADC problem. Just to be sure, it doesn't work if it's in the stand but it does work if you directly connect the standby input on the unit with the outer shell, right?
Then you have that problem, where the connection in the cradle is loose. I think there was a post from dreamcat4 on that issue. You need to open the stand and fix that connection.

Out of curiosity: What the heck does the "Shake" input do? This thing detects if I shake it?

It's a option for handles without that standby detection via the outer connector. It works with a shake sensor in the handle, detecting if it's being used or not.

Curiosity 2: Why do you need to switch the station off before connecting the USB port to a computer? Do they somehow force a voltage between PE/Neutral and the GND net? This would mean the station isn't isolated from mains at all? No transformer whatsoever?

In early versions there was no diode (D8) protecting the USB VCC from the +24V. (added in v1.1 IIRC)
Thus, you need to turn off the supply.

[Dracarris]

Oh, lucky you! Then it's NOT the ADC problem. Just to be sure, it doesn't work if it's in the stand but it does work if you directly connect the standby input on the unit with the outer shell, right?
Then you have that problem, where the connection in the cradle is loose. I think there was a post from dreamcat4 on that issue. You need to open the stand and fix that connection.

I think I narrowed down my problem: I took the standby (PORT1) wire and directly held it to the tip -> standby. Then pressed it against the metal ring at the end of the handpiece, which makes contact with the stand and where the tip inserts -> No reaction.

Looked at it, thought: Hold on, when I insert the tip, these two metal bodies should make contact, thus it shouldn't matter which part connects..? Right, if I bend the inserted tip ever so slightly, it does put the unit into standby. So, there is actually a tiny circular gap between my tips and the handpiece which keeps them from making contact.. How the heck did that happen and how the heck do I fix it?

Regarding the stand: In my version of the T3A, the stand is simply a solid piece of metal with a round plug in the back for the standby wire, so when that is plugged in, the whole stand is connected. Also tried it with the stand connected, put the iron in the stand -> No reaction. Bend the tip a bit -> into standby it goes.. JFC

Thanks for all your help!

[floobydust]

I don't like how there is conflicting information about what the pinout of the C245 cartridge is. [...]

See also Jaume Benet Canals, President and CEO of JBC Tools his patent EP1086772A2

[c0d3z3r0]

Oops, ok, third try Try cleaning the tips and the handles metal ring with IPA. If that doesn't help, you might need to get a new handle

[ndarjo21]

Is aixun havent make c245 tips before? https://www.aixuntech.com/product/c245-customized-replacement-soldering-cartridge-iron-tip-for-soldering-rework/

[c0d3z3r0]

Yes, but only these three types... https://www.aixuntech.com/product/c245-soldering-iron-tips-/
Now they cloned all (?) of them \o/ That could be the reason for their recent weird change in T3A firmware v1.34, breaking (proper) support for genuine JBC tips 

[ndarjo21]

It seems aixun also clone the c115 and c210 cartridge. But why we havent hear anything from user of T3B? Perhaps they not update the firmware?

[Dracarris]

That could be the reason for their recent weird change in T3A firmware v1.34, breaking (proper) support for genuine JBC tips 

What does that exactly mean? And is there a way to use the latest firmware before the one that broke stuff?

[c0d3z3r0]

Well, a few pages back jumping temperature and massive overshoot was reported.
Initial post:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/any-opinions-on-the-aixun-t3a/msg4971133/#msg4971133

There was a response from Aixun saying that everything is fine (with their tips?)
This and following posts: https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/any-opinions-on-the-aixun-t3a/msg5058061/#msg5058061

[DarkKing202]

Hopefully, the folks who made all the mod contributions are still here. Looking to get a finalized item list for things to check/do on the Aixun when I get it.

Check for splattered solder

Check for broken inductor

Swap capacitors: are they the same across the v1.1 and v1.2 boards? Any difference between the caps on these two boards and the new combo wombo T3A + T3B that they made? Or would that be classified as the v1.3 board? EDIT just dug through the posts, the T3A + T3B is a separate board with a v1.0 designation.

Anything else?

[ma_ko]

Hey, did anyone have a problem where it does not want to exit sleep/dormancy mode? All of sudden after turning it on it stays in dormancy mode and won't exit even if i remove the handle from the stand. Is it something inside making short circuit? For now i've done a factory reset but it changed the language to chinese. It didn't help though

EDIT: Updated from 1.26 to 1.34 and nothing

EDIT2: Here's the video if anyone's interested: https://youtu.be/mr_ccOohBA4

[ndarjo21]

Hey, did anyone have a problem where it does not want to exit sleep/dormancy mode? All of sudden after turning it on it stays in dormancy mode and won't exit even if i remove the handle from the stand. Is it something inside making short circuit? For now i've done a factory reset but it changed the language to chinese. It didn't help though

EDIT: Updated from 1.26 to 1.34 and nothing

EDIT2: Here's the video if anyone's interested: https://youtu.be/mr_ccOohBA4

try change any of this?

[tony359]

Hey, did anyone have a problem where it does not want to exit sleep/dormancy mode? All of sudden after turning it on it stays in dormancy mode and won't exit even if i remove the handle from the stand. Is it something inside making short circuit? For now i've done a factory reset but it changed the language to chinese. It didn't help though

Did you check if the wire going from the cradle to the station is wired in the correct hole at the back?
As @ndarjo21 said, try disabling standby altogether (there are two menus, one is the standby temp, one is "dormancy" when the tip is completely turned off).

I don't know what happens if the cradle wire is unplugged, I suppose the station would not sense that the handle is in the cradle so it might be a test to do.

[ma_ko]

I tried with a cradle wire unplugged but the station show that it's unplaugged and won't let me do anything. I fiddled a bit with dormancy setting and set it to 380C in dormancy mode, and actually it works. It still shows dormancy all the time and it's hardcoded for that temperature after turning on but at least I can solder now. Now i think whether to order new cpu and reflash it (i heard it's the problem) or save money for a new station. For now I'll keep using it like this

[ndarjo21]

I tried with a cradle wire unplugged but the station show that it's unplaugged and won't let me do anything. I fiddled a bit with dormancy setting and set it to 380C in dormancy mode, and actually it works. It still shows dormancy all the time and it's hardcoded for that temperature after turning on but at least I can solder now. Now i think whether to order new cpu and reflash it (i heard it's the problem) or save money for a new station. For now I'll keep using it like this

easy way to troubleshoot is try check continuity between the handle and the jack (if the handle easy to disassemble). or just try another handle.

[tony359]

I tried with a cradle wire unplugged but the station show that it's unplaugged and won't let me do anything. I fiddled a bit with dormancy setting and set it to 380C in dormancy mode, and actually it works. It still shows dormancy all the time and it's hardcoded for that temperature after turning on but at least I can solder now. Now i think whether to order new cpu and reflash it (i heard it's the problem) or save money for a new station. For now I'll keep using it like this

I tested on mine, the iron works with the cradle disconnected as I suspected. It just never goes into standby as it never senses the iron in the cradle. You can also disable all the standby and "eco" (this is how it's called in latest SW) so it never goes to sleep.
The fact that yours shows in the cradle all the time seems to indicate an issue with the main PCB I believe.

[McCarthy]

I just returned the new Weller Smart station, was a huge mess, and now I have to start over with my research. Seeing that JBC is screwing people over with the controller / firmware / features on the DDE station, I may just cheap out and get this AiXun T3A.

At first I was glad to find this thread, but if I have to read all those 40 some pages, my head will explode.

Maybe somebody can give me a short summary on this unit.

Is is good after all? Is the overshoot a real issue for board level repairs on GPUs? And lastly, will genuine JBC handles work on the AiXun T3A?

[tony359]

Not trying to advertise my own video but I found the T3A pretty bad at a few things, I'm not sure I would recommend it - unless you are aware of the issue I found when working with ground.

After using it extensively, I wouldn't buy it again.

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/aixun-t3a-misbehaving-on-grounded-pcbs/msg5146788/#msg5146788

[tony359]

Aixun has released software 1.35.

Any feedback on that?

[c0d3z3r0]

Aixun has released software 1.35.

Any feedback on that?

Looks like they modified C245 heating again. Maybe they fixed the weird behaviour introduced in v1.34?

Code: [Select]

1. Optimize 245 control heating;
2. Optimize the "automatic temperature compensation" function of 245;


[tony359]

well, my JBC tip reads 420 when set to 360 (I have reset the unit after the update) and if I cool it down with a sponge momentarily, the temp drops to 380 and then spikes back to 420.
And the display of course doesn't reflect that.

With ground nearby, I see the same power spikes and - again - the display doesn't reflect that.

It's the same rubbish as before. I'll go back to 1.33.

I'm also noticing that 1.34 has disappeared from the list.

[c0d3z3r0]

  Looks like it was a good plan to not upgrade after v1.26

[tony359]

I wish I could, when I downgraded before 1.33 I think, the display is unreadable, they must have changed something there and only latest FW is supporting it.