20120815

Custom Metcal Soldering Iron Stand

We recently picked up a Metcal MX-500 Soldering Station. If you've never seen these, they are pretty much the BMW 7-series of soldering and rework stations. They have a fascinating principle of operation - the thing is basically a 50W 13.56Mhz radio transmitter and uses inductive heating, like a steel foundry. These things have an amazing heat capacity, and use a clever mechanism based on the Curie point to regulate the temperature very accurately.

Anyway, once you have one of these, you rapidly acquire a big collection of cartridges. The cartridge/tip sets the temperature and will allow the same iron to do everything from 0402 SMT parts to #12 house wire. In my OCD quest to organize and make my board manufacturing side business more efficient, I decided to build a tip rack that would bolt on to the stand.  Here it is:


I started with a block of scrap Aluminum, cut it out with the band saw and milled it out our 1955 Bridgeport M-series.

There's room for about a dozen tips, and best of all, they are permanently attached to the base with a couple of 8-32 screws.

Since there are some spare holes now, this probably just means that I'll fill it up.

There's a rather extensive catalog of accessories at the OKI site, including some bizarre SMT rework tips and lots more. These units are $600+ new, but they can be had on the usual auction sites for around 1/2 that in good condition.

Arclight









by

22 comments:

  1. Samoa leeOctober 19, 2013 at 2:23 AM

    It turned into the standard engineering throughout the industrialization period. Important http://www.brockmoor.co.uk/about-us.html steel can now be made at shabbier expenses, as streamlined progressions are effectively achievable.

    ReplyDelete
  2. James FederOctober 30, 2017 at 4:07 AM

    I needed to thank you for this awesome read!! I certainly getting a charge out of each and every piece of it I have you bookmarked to look at new stuff you post. steel foundry

    ReplyDelete
  3. S JadenApril 19, 2018 at 3:54 AM

    You can browse remote fastening instruments like Butane Solder Irons, Solder Torches and Rechargeable Solder Irons or possibly an Instant Cool Solder Iron is on you list. Obviously don't
    best oscilloscope

    ReplyDelete
  4. Matthew E. HaddockApril 27, 2018 at 10:37 PM

    Lovely post

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sam P. HamiltonApril 30, 2018 at 10:47 PM

    With regards to trusted patching frameworks, there is just a single name that rings a bell - Metcal. Why Metcal? Since Metcal knows binding frameworks. Its items, from Metcal patching iron to fastening tips, are very much designed, with security and administrator profitability as the primary concerns. I find this very good website for the craftsman scroll saw, If you want you can visit this site.

    ReplyDelete
  6. ArianaJune 20, 2018 at 10:34 AM

    These electronic contraptions have gradually sneaked in as basics to our every day living and are changing the way we experience our ways of life.look at this site

    ReplyDelete
  7. royJuly 9, 2018 at 2:58 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. John smithAugust 13, 2018 at 3:34 AM

    If you would like to purchase any electronic gadget it will cost you pretty much unless you know of ways to close that deal conveniently with confidence.
    Wearable Tech Blogs

    ReplyDelete
  9. roySeptember 22, 2018 at 4:31 AM

    If someone wants to purchase a latest model of certain electronic gadget it might come pretty expensive unless you know how to bag the deal comfortably and conveniently.Bobsweep

    ReplyDelete
  10. petersonOctober 6, 2018 at 2:02 AM

    In the event that somebody needs to buy a most recent model of certain electronic device it may come entirely costly except if you know how to sack the arrangement easily and advantageously. best notch display phone under 15000

    ReplyDelete
  11. ZackOctober 18, 2018 at 2:28 AM

    Anything that is good with an utilitarian PC has been popular for as long as decade and the thumb drive has been one of these awesome PC frill. Bobsweep robotic vacuum

    ReplyDelete
  12. petersonNovember 11, 2018 at 9:30 AM

    These few factors unquestionably show a blasting future for the customer electronics industry in China.Bobsweep pethair plus review

    ReplyDelete
  13. Adam ThomsonNovember 24, 2018 at 8:34 AM

    """It was really insightful.
    Thanks for the info.
    Wanna have more contents from you.
    Cheers”"""

    Learn More Tining soldering iron

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sean PaulDecember 10, 2018 at 2:40 AM

    The open and worldwide nature of web based business is probably going to expand showcase size and change advertise structure, both as far as the number and size of players and the manner by which players contend on universal markets. learn it here

    ReplyDelete
  15. Zaubee IndiaDecember 12, 2018 at 10:41 AM

    Thanks for this review. The new model is much better. I had one for soldering Televisions. Television Price in India

    ReplyDelete
  16. saadJanuary 3, 2019 at 10:03 AM

    I am happy to find this post Very useful for me, as it contains lot of information. I Always prefer to read The Quality and glad I found this thing in you post. Thanks best soldering iron

    ReplyDelete
  17. MarryJanuary 27, 2019 at 5:47 AM

    They may frequently be camouflaged or covered to maintain a strategic distance from recognition, and despite the fact that there might be worries about protection and infringement of social equality, some amazing stuff

    ReplyDelete
  18. S JadenFebruary 11, 2019 at 9:33 AM

    . Never again peopled need to sit through endless long periods of review clear tape just to discover nothing memorable was caught that day. Bob

    ReplyDelete
  19. James jonesFebruary 22, 2019 at 4:23 AM

    This is a good subject to talk about. Generally when I come across these sort of things I like to post them on Digg. This article probably wont do well with that crowd. Ill take a look around your site though and submit something else. Display Stand

    ReplyDelete
  20. YousufzaiMarch 14, 2019 at 6:55 AM

    This article is dedicated to all those who know what is billiard table; to all those who do not know what is pool table; to all those who want to know what is billiards; Floor standing easel

    ReplyDelete
  21. UserhopesApril 10, 2019 at 10:19 AM

    There are a great deal of ways you can do to keep your business running and one route is to keep yourself refreshed with the most recent data and get a dependable colleague.
    private car sales

    ReplyDelete
  22. JosephJune 3, 2019 at 4:33 AM


    The Mitsubishi I-MiEV anyway offers out and about costs of £24,045. The bundle is extra to the Plug-In Car Grant, which is a store given by the legislature to help purchasers of vehicles which produce low emanations.car dealerships near me
    car dealerships near me

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)