7 ms·

IronOS: Open-source soldering iron firmware

245 points by fanf2 3y ago

agluszak 3y ago
I would like to live in a future where you can write custom firmware for any kind of electronics
- buildsjets 3y ago
  I would go around flashing every LCD display I found to go black any time any cable news network logo was displayed.
Y_Y 3y ago
I had been thinking about hacking my pinecil into a vape pen and take advantage of the temperature control, I wonder if this OS could be a good way to do it.
- kianryan 3y ago
  Your Pinecil is already running IronOS.
  - jsheard 3y ago
    Yeah, IronOS was originally developed as a replacement firmware for Miniware irons, but then Pine64 adopted it as the official firmware for their irons.
- itomato 3y ago
  Maybe an enail.
bradley13 3y ago
Having just done some soldering yesterday, may I say: I am a bit appalled at the idea of soldering irons having (or needing) firmware. Mine, I plug it in, it gets hot, and I solder things.
- Groxx 3y ago
  Mine, I plug it in, it gets hot, I solder things. I put it down, it starts cooling immediately. I pick it up, it's hot again in ~2 seconds. I need more oomph for a bigger component, I push a button and it jumps to my second pre-set temperature. It'll go back to my main temp if I put it down again to grab the next component. I don't yet have a use for Bluetooth, but I do have a few BLE buttons laying around (they're dirt cheap and last years on a single battery), and I can see e.g. having a dedicated button per temp (or perhaps to switch calibration profiles for different tips) could be useful if I did a lot of soldering. It's minor stuff, not playing Doom while using motion controls. Hiding this kind of control in a proprietary dongle (i.e. the base) is much worse than it being programmable.
  - commandar 3y ago
    Additionally, the firmware is going to be handling temperature control, in this case with a PID loop. This results in more consistent and precise temperature at the iron tip whether you're working with a small component or a larger one which is sinking a ton of heat, which is always a good thing.
  - aloer 3y ago
    Got a link for those buttons? Background: I’ve been trying to find something like that but everything I look at is Smart Home related and bigger than needed. The smallest BLE button that I did find is part of a cheap China Gadget used to scroll tiktok/social media. Like this https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Control-Photograph-Scrolling-Android/dp/B09TST4JFS https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Control-Photograph-Scrollin... Unfortunately I couldn’t figure out if it’s hackable or not
    - Groxx 3y ago
      I've just held onto random ones I've run across, e.g. itags have been reasonably popular for a while: https://devices.esphome.io/devices/ble_itag https://devices.esphome.io/devices/ble_itag and during BLE / IoT bursts of hype random things are sometimes handed out for free at and around events (not often programmable, but that's usually fine - they broadcast a unique ID when powered / when pressed, that's all you really need). I also have one of these because I get a lot of use out of newsblur and figured I'd support the maker (I don't actually recommend it because it's pricy and not very well supported... but it's functional and flexible): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samuelclay/turn-touch-beautiful-control https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samuelclay/turn-touch-b...
commandar 3y ago
There's also an open-source firmware for STM32 based soldering irons like the T12 soldering stations that are pretty commonly cloned. https://github.com/deividAlfa/stm32_soldering_iron_controller https://github.com/deividAlfa/stm32_soldering_iron_controlle... I've had one of the KSGER units for a few years now that I absolutely love. Uses Hakko style tips, heats quickly, holds temp well.
- jsheard 3y ago
  It's been a few years since I've looked at them but those KSGER irons had a reputation for potentially being unsafe, with questionable mains isolation and no chassis grounding. There's videos around showing how to mod them to improve the safety margins, but of course you need to be aware that it's an issue before tackling that. https://www.eevblog.com/forum/dodgy-technology/dangerous-solder-station-ksger-t12/ https://www.eevblog.com/forum/dodgy-technology/dangerous-sol... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuV3LO7_PpE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuV3LO7_PpE
  - faster 3y ago
    I bought one of the KSGER stations a few years ago fully intending to apply all of the safety fixes. When I opened it up, they had all been applied from the factory. Still worth checking, but maybe not an issue for new stations?
    - commandar 3y ago
      Yeah, the downside of them is that they're widely cloned by various manufacturers, so it can be tough to know exactly what you're going to get. Mine seems fine too, but it's a good call out to check.
hvasilev 3y ago
Oh wow, that is really bad. Like 10 different technologies and at least 2 programming languages for a soldering iron firmware.
- nerdponx 3y ago
  Why is that bad? It's possible that it's sloppy or lazy, but it's also possible that the author has carefully considered their options and is using the best tools (or their preferred tools) for the job. As described elsewhere in the thread, a soldering iron does more than just get hot, and as described in the readme, the project has accumulated a lot of functionality.
  - hvasilev 3y ago
    because it is unreadable and unmaintainable with all of these dependencies. Even in the description it says that it spiraled out of control at some point "Originally conceived as an alternative firmware for the TS100, this firmware has evolved into a complex soldering iron control firmware."
    - nerdponx 3y ago
      That doesn't imply anything is out of control. How do you know it's unreadable and unmaintainable? Just browsing the repo it seems pretty under control and organized to me. Firmware projects tend to get complicated, see also QMK for keyboards.
      - hvasilev 3y ago
        Well, it is unmaintainable, because maintaining this set of dependencies is absurd for what this firmware is and it is unreadable, because I tried to read it and lost interest in a few minutes later, because of all the bullsh*t.
        k_roy 3y ago
        This seems a bit more like a "you" issue. I dug through it and even compiled it quickly without an issue. The code looks clean, and well organized, and even supports multiple languages. Just because code isn't PHP, python, or "hello world", doesn't means that it's absurd and unmaintainable. Especially when you have the attention span of a may-fly and declare it to be "bullsh*t" after a few minutes
your_challenger 3y ago
Call me broke, but I didn't know that soldering irons needed firmware.
- topspin 3y ago
  These irons are expected to control large currents to maintain an operator specified temperature. These aren't simple elements that just "get hot" off mains power.
- m463 3y ago
  warning: rabbit hole. You should look up "anduril 2". Lots of things you didn't think about are great fun with open firmware.
kayson 3y ago
If you want to get into soldering, do yourself a favor and invest in a good station, iron, and tips. If you want to de-solder, good quality soldering wick is also really important (I use chemtronics). I was lucky enough to snag an old Metcal from work for free, and it's fantastic. The way they work is really cool too: it sends a high power RF signal (i.e. AC voltage) to the coil in the tip. Because of the skin effect and curie point, it will heat up until the point where the coil loses it's magnetism, resulting in a self-regulating tip temperature that doesn't need a thermo couple! [1] It responds very quickly to thermal loads, too. It's an expensive system to be sure, but totally worth it especially if you can find it used. They're also great about support even for older units, and you can get the entire schematics online if you need to make any repairs. 1. https://www.metcal.com/hand-soldering/how-smartheat-technology-works-a-tutorial-2/ https://www.metcal.com/hand-soldering/how-smartheat-technolo...
- nerdponx 3y ago
  For hobby work, the TS100 is good enough. I enjoyed mine for building keyboards, until I found a used Hakko FX-888D and have been a very very happy user of it for years.
  - onlypositive 3y ago
    TS80p and maybe even the ts1c should be outperforming fx888d. If you're looking for hakko, I'd check the fx950 if you're in region, or the 951 for NA.
- hypercube33 3y ago
  I'd argue that a good quality iron is important over the station, such as a TS80p or (I haven't personally used, but looks to be a good clone) the PinePencil over any cheap station or soldering iron or knock-off station in midrange ($100-150) pricing would be ideal for most people starting out. These irons are far superior to many good quality stations I've used and are more flexible in use than them as well. I do agree though that you should really look into good solder, flux and desolder wick at the least too since when you're starting or experimenting mistakes happen and rework is just much more manageable.
eschneider 3y ago
So now there's firmware for the soldering iron that I need to fix my hardware to run my firmware. Apparently it's firmware all the way down. My head hurts now.
petabytes 3y ago
Lol I got a soldering iron just to play with this firmware. Only used it a few times though.
jwr 3y ago
The TS-100 is an amazing little device and this firmware makes it much more useful. I never thought I'd be upgrading firmware on my soldering iron on screwdriver, but here we are, and I'd much rather use this than the crap that manufacturers ship.
- tjoff 3y ago
  I'm sure IronOS is great but not sure I agree TS-100 stock firmware is crap. And reading through all the listed features I get no urge to upgrade my TS80P. And though the features specific for TS-100 seems nice they feel quite niche.
15155 3y ago
I own a brand new Metcal, dozens of tips, the hot tweezers, the desoldering tool, etc.. I would've went JBC if I had to do it all over again due to the compactness, user friendliness, etc. (conductive ring shuts heat off when you place the pen in the holder.) I also have a $109 AliExpress Sugon A9 JBC clone. This is an absolutely excellent soldering iron and is compatible with JBC handpieces and tips: there's no reason to go Pinecil, FX888, etc. with these on the market.
billsmithaustin 3y ago
Even better would be closed source firmware with an annual license fee.
trklausss 3y ago
Dumb question: do we need an OS on an soldering iron? I understand that several tasks/threads may need to be developed, but a full-fledged operating system sounds like too much. Your thoughts?
- rex_lupi 3y ago
  Make sure its written in rust
- midoridensha 3y ago
  When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.
Havoc 3y ago
Also if you’ve got an older laptop brick that might be compatible with the pinecil. Some of the asus ROG ones definitely are. Ended up being the best bang per buck for me
- zer0w1re 3y ago
  That's a good cheap option, but for me the most convenient way to power it is with USB-C. I just use the same 60W USB-C PD power block and beefy USB-C cable that I carry in my bag anyways. The cable is also much more flexible than the ones with the barrel jack I've used before, so it is easier to hold and control while soldering.
  - Havoc 3y ago
    Yes there is much to be said for PD. I mention it purely to facilitate budget conscious entry: Pinecil + existing brick: 26 USD Pinecil + Gan charger: 50ish on a good day Plus headroom - the old charger I've got is 120W rated. For most people your suggestion makes more sense, but I'd like to spread awareness of the alternative too. Saves money. Saves ewaste.
hvasilev 3y ago
Number of different languages used in the repo: 16 Lines of code in the repo: 276969 https://pastebin.com/Fi97jHFB https://pastebin.com/Fi97jHFB (as displayed by cloc on the repo)
sacnoradhq 3y ago
I can see the need for firmware in oscilloscopes, like a Siglent, but why would I need or want the complexity of firmware in a soldering iron that could possibly go awry and self-destruct? I picked up a JBC clone soldering station for cheap from overseas and never looked back. It takes all of the regular tips. It gets almost as hot as fast as the real thing, but it's not quite as accurate or as powerful as a real JBC. For home use, it's good enough for me. I JB welded on a JBC tip quick change stand on the top of the station. Home lab protips: 0. Save money by buying most equipment used, including taking an occasional risk on repairing nonfunctional items. 1. If you enjoy your health, don't risk it. Don't solder indoors near living areas, get a serious vacuum canister-style fume extractor, ventilate with outside air, and always wash your hands after handling electronics or soldering. 2. A bi/trinocular microscope with a polarized light source. Your eyes will thank you. 3. Regardless of the route you go for soldering, get a temperature tester. It's good to know the accuracy (skew) and precision of selected vs. actual.
- ben-schaaf 3y ago
  As far as I can tell all the JBC stuff is also electronically controlled, so complaining about firmware here seems pretty odd.

245 points by fanf2 3y ago

agluszak 3y ago

I would like to live in a future where you can write custom firmware for any kind of electronics

buildsjets 3y ago
I would go around flashing every LCD display I found to go black any time any cable news network logo was displayed.

Y_Y 3y ago

I had been thinking about hacking my pinecil into a vape pen and take advantage of the temperature control, I wonder if this OS could be a good way to do it.

kianryan 3y ago
Your Pinecil is already running IronOS.
- jsheard 3y ago
  Yeah, IronOS was originally developed as a replacement firmware for Miniware irons, but then Pine64 adopted it as the official firmware for their irons.
itomato 3y ago
Maybe an enail.

bradley13 3y ago

Having just done some soldering yesterday, may I say: I am a bit appalled at the idea of soldering irons having (or needing) firmware. Mine, I plug it in, it gets hot, and I solder things.

Groxx 3y ago
Mine, I plug it in, it gets hot, I solder things. I put it down, it starts cooling immediately. I pick it up, it's hot again in ~2 seconds. I need more oomph for a bigger component, I push a button and it jumps to my second pre-set temperature. It'll go back to my main temp if I put it down again to grab the next component. I don't yet have a use for Bluetooth, but I do have a few BLE buttons laying around (they're dirt cheap and last years on a single battery), and I can see e.g. having a dedicated button per temp (or perhaps to switch calibration profiles for different tips) could be useful if I did a lot of soldering. It's minor stuff, not playing Doom while using motion controls. Hiding this kind of control in a proprietary dongle (i.e. the base) is much worse than it being programmable.
- commandar 3y ago
  Additionally, the firmware is going to be handling temperature control, in this case with a PID loop. This results in more consistent and precise temperature at the iron tip whether you're working with a small component or a larger one which is sinking a ton of heat, which is always a good thing.
- aloer 3y ago
  Got a link for those buttons? Background: I’ve been trying to find something like that but everything I look at is Smart Home related and bigger than needed. The smallest BLE button that I did find is part of a cheap China Gadget used to scroll tiktok/social media. Like this https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Control-Photograph-Scrolling-Android/dp/B09TST4JFS https://www.amazon.com/Bluetooth-Control-Photograph-Scrollin... Unfortunately I couldn’t figure out if it’s hackable or not
  - Groxx 3y ago
    I've just held onto random ones I've run across, e.g. itags have been reasonably popular for a while: https://devices.esphome.io/devices/ble_itag https://devices.esphome.io/devices/ble_itag and during BLE / IoT bursts of hype random things are sometimes handed out for free at and around events (not often programmable, but that's usually fine - they broadcast a unique ID when powered / when pressed, that's all you really need). I also have one of these because I get a lot of use out of newsblur and figured I'd support the maker (I don't actually recommend it because it's pricy and not very well supported... but it's functional and flexible): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samuelclay/turn-touch-beautiful-control https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samuelclay/turn-touch-b...

commandar 3y ago

There's also an open-source firmware for STM32 based soldering irons like the T12 soldering stations that are pretty commonly cloned. https://github.com/deividAlfa/stm32_soldering_iron_controller https://github.com/deividAlfa/stm32_soldering_iron_controlle... I've had one of the KSGER units for a few years now that I absolutely love. Uses Hakko style tips, heats quickly, holds temp well.

jsheard 3y ago
It's been a few years since I've looked at them but those KSGER irons had a reputation for potentially being unsafe, with questionable mains isolation and no chassis grounding. There's videos around showing how to mod them to improve the safety margins, but of course you need to be aware that it's an issue before tackling that. https://www.eevblog.com/forum/dodgy-technology/dangerous-solder-station-ksger-t12/ https://www.eevblog.com/forum/dodgy-technology/dangerous-sol... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuV3LO7_PpE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuV3LO7_PpE
- faster 3y ago
  I bought one of the KSGER stations a few years ago fully intending to apply all of the safety fixes. When I opened it up, they had all been applied from the factory. Still worth checking, but maybe not an issue for new stations?
  - commandar 3y ago
    Yeah, the downside of them is that they're widely cloned by various manufacturers, so it can be tough to know exactly what you're going to get. Mine seems fine too, but it's a good call out to check.

hvasilev 3y ago

Oh wow, that is really bad. Like 10 different technologies and at least 2 programming languages for a soldering iron firmware.

nerdponx 3y ago
Why is that bad? It's possible that it's sloppy or lazy, but it's also possible that the author has carefully considered their options and is using the best tools (or their preferred tools) for the job. As described elsewhere in the thread, a soldering iron does more than just get hot, and as described in the readme, the project has accumulated a lot of functionality.
- hvasilev 3y ago
  because it is unreadable and unmaintainable with all of these dependencies. Even in the description it says that it spiraled out of control at some point "Originally conceived as an alternative firmware for the TS100, this firmware has evolved into a complex soldering iron control firmware."
  - nerdponx 3y ago
    That doesn't imply anything is out of control. How do you know it's unreadable and unmaintainable? Just browsing the repo it seems pretty under control and organized to me. Firmware projects tend to get complicated, see also QMK for keyboards.
    - hvasilev 3y ago
      Well, it is unmaintainable, because maintaining this set of dependencies is absurd for what this firmware is and it is unreadable, because I tried to read it and lost interest in a few minutes later, because of all the bullsh*t.
      - k_roy 3y ago
        This seems a bit more like a "you" issue. I dug through it and even compiled it quickly without an issue. The code looks clean, and well organized, and even supports multiple languages. Just because code isn't PHP, python, or "hello world", doesn't means that it's absurd and unmaintainable. Especially when you have the attention span of a may-fly and declare it to be "bullsh*t" after a few minutes

your_challenger 3y ago

Call me broke, but I didn't know that soldering irons needed firmware.

topspin 3y ago
These irons are expected to control large currents to maintain an operator specified temperature. These aren't simple elements that just "get hot" off mains power.
m463 3y ago
warning: rabbit hole. You should look up "anduril 2". Lots of things you didn't think about are great fun with open firmware.

kayson 3y ago

If you want to get into soldering, do yourself a favor and invest in a good station, iron, and tips. If you want to de-solder, good quality soldering wick is also really important (I use chemtronics). I was lucky enough to snag an old Metcal from work for free, and it's fantastic. The way they work is really cool too: it sends a high power RF signal (i.e. AC voltage) to the coil in the tip. Because of the skin effect and curie point, it will heat up until the point where the coil loses it's magnetism, resulting in a self-regulating tip temperature that doesn't need a thermo couple! [1] It responds very quickly to thermal loads, too. It's an expensive system to be sure, but totally worth it especially if you can find it used. They're also great about support even for older units, and you can get the entire schematics online if you need to make any repairs. 1. https://www.metcal.com/hand-soldering/how-smartheat-technology-works-a-tutorial-2/ https://www.metcal.com/hand-soldering/how-smartheat-technolo...

nerdponx 3y ago
For hobby work, the TS100 is good enough. I enjoyed mine for building keyboards, until I found a used Hakko FX-888D and have been a very very happy user of it for years.
- onlypositive 3y ago
  TS80p and maybe even the ts1c should be outperforming fx888d. If you're looking for hakko, I'd check the fx950 if you're in region, or the 951 for NA.
hypercube33 3y ago
I'd argue that a good quality iron is important over the station, such as a TS80p or (I haven't personally used, but looks to be a good clone) the PinePencil over any cheap station or soldering iron or knock-off station in midrange ($100-150) pricing would be ideal for most people starting out. These irons are far superior to many good quality stations I've used and are more flexible in use than them as well. I do agree though that you should really look into good solder, flux and desolder wick at the least too since when you're starting or experimenting mistakes happen and rework is just much more manageable.

eschneider 3y ago

So now there's firmware for the soldering iron that I need to fix my hardware to run my firmware. Apparently it's firmware all the way down. My head hurts now.

petabytes 3y ago

Lol I got a soldering iron just to play with this firmware. Only used it a few times though.

jwr 3y ago

The TS-100 is an amazing little device and this firmware makes it much more useful. I never thought I'd be upgrading firmware on my soldering iron on screwdriver, but here we are, and I'd much rather use this than the crap that manufacturers ship.

tjoff 3y ago
I'm sure IronOS is great but not sure I agree TS-100 stock firmware is crap. And reading through all the listed features I get no urge to upgrade my TS80P. And though the features specific for TS-100 seems nice they feel quite niche.

15155 3y ago

I own a brand new Metcal, dozens of tips, the hot tweezers, the desoldering tool, etc.. I would've went JBC if I had to do it all over again due to the compactness, user friendliness, etc. (conductive ring shuts heat off when you place the pen in the holder.) I also have a $109 AliExpress Sugon A9 JBC clone. This is an absolutely excellent soldering iron and is compatible with JBC handpieces and tips: there's no reason to go Pinecil, FX888, etc. with these on the market.

billsmithaustin 3y ago

Even better would be closed source firmware with an annual license fee.

trklausss 3y ago

Dumb question: do we need an OS on an soldering iron? I understand that several tasks/threads may need to be developed, but a full-fledged operating system sounds like too much. Your thoughts?

rex_lupi 3y ago
Make sure its written in rust
midoridensha 3y ago
When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.

Havoc 3y ago

Also if you’ve got an older laptop brick that might be compatible with the pinecil. Some of the asus ROG ones definitely are. Ended up being the best bang per buck for me

zer0w1re 3y ago
That's a good cheap option, but for me the most convenient way to power it is with USB-C. I just use the same 60W USB-C PD power block and beefy USB-C cable that I carry in my bag anyways. The cable is also much more flexible than the ones with the barrel jack I've used before, so it is easier to hold and control while soldering.
- Havoc 3y ago
  Yes there is much to be said for PD. I mention it purely to facilitate budget conscious entry: Pinecil + existing brick: 26 USD Pinecil + Gan charger: 50ish on a good day Plus headroom - the old charger I've got is 120W rated. For most people your suggestion makes more sense, but I'd like to spread awareness of the alternative too. Saves money. Saves ewaste.

hvasilev 3y ago

Number of different languages used in the repo: 16 Lines of code in the repo: 276969 https://pastebin.com/Fi97jHFB https://pastebin.com/Fi97jHFB (as displayed by cloc on the repo)

sacnoradhq 3y ago

I can see the need for firmware in oscilloscopes, like a Siglent, but why would I need or want the complexity of firmware in a soldering iron that could possibly go awry and self-destruct? I picked up a JBC clone soldering station for cheap from overseas and never looked back. It takes all of the regular tips. It gets almost as hot as fast as the real thing, but it's not quite as accurate or as powerful as a real JBC. For home use, it's good enough for me. I JB welded on a JBC tip quick change stand on the top of the station. Home lab protips: 0. Save money by buying most equipment used, including taking an occasional risk on repairing nonfunctional items. 1. If you enjoy your health, don't risk it. Don't solder indoors near living areas, get a serious vacuum canister-style fume extractor, ventilate with outside air, and always wash your hands after handling electronics or soldering. 2. A bi/trinocular microscope with a polarized light source. Your eyes will thank you. 3. Regardless of the route you go for soldering, get a temperature tester. It's good to know the accuracy (skew) and precision of selected vs. actual.

ben-schaaf 3y ago
As far as I can tell all the JBC stuff is also electronically controlled, so complaining about firmware here seems pretty odd.