How do you operate the Quick 856AD hot air rework station? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Joebeazelman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2023, 04:24:17 pm
content: I purchased a used Quick 856AD as an upgrade to my Aoyue 968+ hot air station. Despite its large, brightly lit display with several buttons, the user interface is astoundingly counterintuitive. To say it's easier to program a VCR from the 80s is a major understatement. For the life of me, I cannot change the temperature or the flow rate of the machine. The supplied manual is completely useless. It was written by someone who failed English as a second language and technical writing. Any instructions or resources would be greatly welcomed.Specifically, I want to know:1. How do you change the temperature and flow rate during soldering?2. Conceptually what is a channel and what are the three channel buttons for?3. I can cycle through settings and see CH0 through CH9 displayed, what are these channels? Are these misnomers for preset programs?Once I figure out how to operate it, I plan on writing a review with a full teardown. I will also discuss its differences with my Aoyue 968A+ and a Weller WTHA1N hot air station, which is in disrepair. I'm sure you will find it very interesting.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 17, 2023, 05:18:06 pm
content: 1. If it's similar to Quick 861, then you just need to press air and temp buttons to change temperature and airflow.2. CH buttons apply settings from saved profile.QuoteYes

author: Joebeazelman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2023, 05:40:04 pm
content: First, it's my first time using a Quick. The buttons don't work when it's running a preset. Does the wand have to be in the stand? I have one on order from China in a couple of weeks.I did get the airflow and temperature to change and save it as a preset, but it was after various pressing button combinations I saw in the manual. There's no rhythm, rhyme or reason to its horrible UI.Oddly enough, occasionally a symbol that looks like an upside down A or anarchy symbol (∀) will show up after pressing button. I haven't seen this symbol in the manual. It's similar to a common witchcraft symbol. Maybe it's possessed? I may not any holy water, but I got some IPA to blind whatever demon lurks inside.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 17, 2023, 07:23:34 pm
content: Quote from: Joebeazelman on September 17, 2023, 05:40:04 pmI only have experience with 861. On it buttons work all of the time except while cooling down. But it does not have reflow programs, only set temperature/airflow. If program is running, it would not be surprising that controls get locked.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 17, 2023, 07:30:39 pm
content: I checked the manualhttp://www5.biall.com.pl/BAZA_PRODUKTOW_SMB/202382/202382.INSTRUKCJA_EN..2013-12-11.1.pdfLooks like machine translation from Chinese.I guess you could try pressing CH2 and info or CH3 and info simultaneously and see if controls by air/temp buttons get unlocked.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 17, 2023, 07:38:45 pm
content: I found Russian manual which is written in proper sensible languagehttps://micromir-nn.ru/Soldering/Quick/QUICK856AD.pdfYou'd have way better experience google translating that rather than trying to understand Chinglish garbage.

author: Joebeazelman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2023, 02:14:30 pm
content: LOL! Thanks! This is one of those why didn't I think of that moments! I should have downloaded the Chinese version and used Google translate.Apparently, Quick didn't think about that either. When I translate from English to another language, I use Google translate as a first pass, but I always edit it to ensure it's correct and idiomatic. In this case, Google translate alone would have done a better job. The lack of care for the customer is appalling and unacceptable. Not a good look on the part of Quick. I'll be sure to mention this in my review.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 18, 2023, 03:27:07 pm
content: Quote from: Joebeazelman on September 18, 2023, 02:14:30 pmMachine translation works very poorly with logographic languages such as Chinese and Japanese. Therefore I suggested Russian which usually translates well enough.