New Metcal Station "CV-5200 Connection Validation™ Soldering Station"

[LaurentR]

With the new branding, Metcal also showed the attached picture and they have the text in the press release. I am assuming they correspond to the same product.



Also in their branding video at 1:40
http://blog.okinternational.com/metcal/we-are-metcal-brand-video

http://blog.okinternational.com/metcal/metcal-press-release-rebranding-on-35th-anniversary

The recent investments in R&D are already paying off, according to Metcal’s Chief Technology Officer, Hoa Nguyen. “Metcal has a deep product development pipeline for 2017 and several years beyond. At the IPC APEX Show in mid-February, we’ll introduce another product breakthrough: our patented CV-5200 Connection Validation™ Soldering Station. It’s the world’s first soldering station capable of evaluating the quality of the solder joint by calculating the intermetallic compound formation and providing real-time, closed loop feedback to the operator.”

 “Like SmartHeat®, Connection Validation™ sets the stage for a major advancement in machine intelligence,” added Mr. Larocca.  “It fundamentally mitigates the risk of product failures, imperiled user safety, recalls, and unrecoverable costs—which can result in significant damage to a company and its brand. Manufacturers can now confidently develop faster, more advanced devices, while boosting performance and cost efficiency.”

[mmagin]

Don't want to let Hakko be the only company with soldering stations that look like brightly colored toys!  Fascinating feature though, I wonder what it's actually doing.  Some kind of application of thermocouple effects?

[GreyWoolfe]

I like the color.  I'm going to paint my MX-500.

[connectionvalidationman]

NO thermocouples in a Metcal.

CV is all about power and power management.

oh, and it works like a champ.

[mmagin]

Dear Mr. connectionvalidationman, do you have some affiliation wtih OKI/Metcal?

[connectionvalidationman]

Yes, I have worked for Metcal for nearly 30 years. I like to read these posts and provide the answers that are correct and not just speculation.
Honestly, I am a tinkerer at heart and I love to fix tings that break.

[neslekkim]

Whem checking Farnell (atleast the norwegian site), it looks like the mx5000 series are gone?, or out of production?
I guess that the CV series uses totally different handles and tips, that is not compatible with the old?

[connectionvalidationman]

The MX-5000 systems were replaced several years ago by the MX-5200. The only real difference is the dual simultaneous mode of the MX-5200. All the handpieces and tips are the same.

The CV-5200 does use a new handpiece. It could be used on the older MX series, but Metcal still makes the MX-RM3 as well as the full range of MX handpieces.

THe NEW CVC cartridges are fully compatable with ALL the existing MX platform soldering stations going back 30 years.

Metcal is continuing to produce the STTC cartridges as well.

You have lots of choices.

[LaurentR]

Thanks connectionvalidationman.
What is not clear from the Metcal literature is which functions of the new CV station do you keep vs. lose if using on old school cartridge (say a STTC). Any information on that?
Power curves, temperature (esp. if there is no temp sensor in the new cartridges)...?

Laurent

[likesoldering]

Go to YouTube and type CV-5200, there are two videos for CV-5200
1) Green and Red lights on Sponge (Sponge has no intermetallic layer)
2) Tip temperature is pre-programmed into each tip which is worse than Thermocouple one, or just stay with Curie heat nature...not pre-programmed temperature

these are not good technology, but something not right to customers as not telling

[mikeselectricstuff]

The MX-5000 systems were replaced several years ago by the MX-5200. The only real difference is the dual simultaneous mode of the MX-5200. All the handpieces and tips are the same.

The CV-5200 does use a new handpiece. It could be used on the older MX series, but Metcal still makes the MX-RM3 as well as the full range of MX handpieces.

THe NEW CVC cartridges are fully compatable with ALL the existing MX platform soldering stations going back 30 years.

Metcal is continuing to produce the STTC cartridges as well.

You have lots of choices.

..as well as Thermaltronics   

[Evodad]

Yes this is a old thread but...

The MX-5000 systems were replaced several years ago by the MX-5200. The only real difference is the dual simultaneous mode of the MX-5200. All the handpieces and tips are the same.

The CV-5200 does use a new handpiece. It could be used on the older MX series, but Metcal still makes the MX-RM3 as well as the full range of MX handpieces.

THe NEW CVC cartridges are fully compatable with ALL the existing MX platform soldering stations going back 30 years.

Metcal is continuing to produce the STTC cartridges as well.

You have lots of choices.

I have an old MX-500P that woks well but wanted to upgrade the hand-piece. Should have ordered an MX-UK1 but ordered a CV-UK1 (KIT, hand-pieces with Stands).
The strange thing is that the F-connector on the new CV hand-piece looks very much the same but is not compatible as it is slightly larger !?
Can't make it work on the MX-500P. Now not even sure the MX-UK1 would have worked ?

)) Per
https://store.metcal.com/en-us/shop/soldering-desoldering/hand-pieces/CV-UK1
https://store.metcal.com/en-us/shop/soldering-desoldering/hand-pieces/CV-H1-AV
https://store.metcal.com/en-us/shop/soldering-desoldering/hand-pieces/MX-UK1
https://store.metcal.com/en-us/shop/soldering-desoldering/hand-pieces/MX-H1-AV

[SteveyG]

I don't think the F-connector is any different on any of these. The MX-500P works just fine with the MX-UK1.

I'll have a CV system soon to compare.

[Evodad]

Thank you for confirming the MX-UK1 should work.
I think I have read and had it confirmed in some datasheet somewhere that the CV-hand-piece
should work with the MX500 but I can't find it anymore.

I find this very stange that the F-connectors are not the same.
When will you have the CV-station in your posession ?

I am concidering the same thing, i.e. if I should buy a CV-station as well.
Would like to be able to use the even smaller hand-piece.

)) Per

[SteveyG]

I expect to have it in the next week or two, just waiting to hear back on an exact date from the UK sales manager.

What you may have read is that the CV bits/cartridges are compatible with the MX system, but not the other way around. I see no technical reason why the CV handpiece wouldn't work though, you just wouldn't be able to plug in the mini-DIN connector. The RF connector still powers the heater as it would do on any other system.

I'll review the CV system when it arrives.

[SteveyG]

By the way the MX Ultrafine handpiece works on the MX500P.

I use the MX500P for the Ultrafine and the MX5200 for the desolder gun and the advanced handpiece. With the tweezers I have to unplug something as the MX500P struggles a bit with either the tweezers or the desolder gun.

[SteveyG]

Thanks connectionvalidationman.
What is not clear from the Metcal literature is which functions of the new CV station do you keep vs. lose if using on old school cartridge (say a STTC). Any information on that?
Power curves, temperature (esp. if there is no temp sensor in the new cartridges)...?

Laurent

The CV system will not power up a standard cartridge.

[Evodad]

What you may have read is that the CV bits/cartridges are compatible with the MX system, but not the other way around. I see no technical reason why the CV handpiece wouldn't work though, you just wouldn't be able to plug in the mini-DIN connector. The RF connector still powers the heater as it would do on any other system.

Yes I have read that too I have come to the same conclusion as you that F-connector should be the same and the CV-stuff should work on an MX-PSU. As you say the difference is only the DIN-connector.
The "connectionvalidationman" in this thread seems to in some way indicate the same thing.

I have bougth from: https://www.distrelec.de/en/soldering-station-80w-240v-metcal-cv-5210/p/30109159?queryFromSuggest=true
They seem to have good prices om Metcal in general. (Thinking of buying that one)

Thank you for the advice ! Do you like the Ultrafine. Is the cable a bit thinner and lighter than on the other handpieces ?
Yes, that is one thing I don't like about Metcal, the cables are a bit too long and heavy.

)) Per

[SteveyG]

The cable is the same, but it's very lightweight overall. Definitely comfortable to use for long periods.

It depends on your set-up but with the soldering station either at the back of the bench or under on a little table, the cable length seems to work OK.

[Evodad]

Just measured the F-connectors. The old one for the MX-500P has a centre pin of 1 mm, the new CV has 1.2 mm.
Open connectors, inner diameter on old is 8.9 mm, on CV-version is 9.2 mm. By closing the connectors you can get both
to abot 8.3 mm inner diameter. The problem is if you want to get the CV-version to 8.3 mm you have to screw the outer
shell so it protrudes 4-5 mm in front of the actual connector.

Whatever I try I can't make the CV-hand-piece run on my MX-500P.
Returning it. Will wait for your findings 

)) Per