Pace MT-200 Accudrive MiniTweez hot tweezers for ADS-200 - Experiences? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: ransonjd
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 02:53:25 am
content: Has anyone used these yet?I've ordered the tweezers, stand and a couple cartridges. I like my ADS200 station, but I admit some consternation that I'm shelling out JBC money for the tweezers. At least Pace sells cartridge pairs for the same price as JBC single cartridges. Being able to stack the power units is the major reason I didn't seriously consider looking at some other competitors.I've got a Rev 1-4 firmware PLCC in my ADS200. Will this be compatible with the tweezers?

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 20, 2020, 10:16:47 am
content: Pace had the prototype MT200 done before the ADS200 station was released so I expect firmware not to be an issue at least for core functionality. If they have an update though we'll soon find out.When it comes to competitors I don't think the JBC CD stations even run tweezers or the Hakko FX951 for that matter. I have the Pace MT100 and TT65 tweezers, so not hurting for tweezers but I admit they look great and the aluminum cartridge housing, rotation and gap adjustment, additional power are all upgrades on the MT100. You might end up being the first to own a pair of MT200 on the forums.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2020, 09:55:27 pm
content: Quote from: Shock on March 20, 2020, 10:16:47 amFor the high end tweezers you need FM-202 or 203 as normal FX951 is rated for 75W and tweezers require 140W. Also more pins for the dual heater connections. I think under normal conditions though it would do fine with 75W as the tips used for 0603 say are so small.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/controller-for-hakko-fm-2023-tweezers/Price looks to be the same for all of them: hakko, pace, and metcal $300.Some low end hakko ones exist as well for FX888:https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/american-hakko-products-inc/FX8804-02/1691-1082-ND/6228838

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 24, 2020, 11:52:05 pm
content: The new Pace TD200 and MT200 handpieces are far superior to anything Hakko has. I own several pieces of Hakko and Weller gear and I wouldn't encourage anyone to buy a system based on the FM2027/FM2028 irons anymore, plus the Hakko FM202 is discontinued. The Hakko tweezers for the FX-888 system don't cut it for precision work.

author: wr4t
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: March 26, 2020, 06:07:57 pm
content: I just received a MT-200 has a birthday gift from my wife, now I need tips. I mostly work with 1206, 0805, and occasionally 0603's, with decent clearance between parts, are the 1 mm tips (0.04") (P/N1130-1003-P1). The best place to start for these size devices?Best,Ted WR4T

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2020, 02:53:51 am
content: Congrats and happy birthday. I think I would pick the same tip in that situation going smaller or larger wouldn't be as flexible across the three sizes.

author: wr4t
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: April 03, 2020, 06:05:21 pm
content: The 1mm tips arrived. First impression, the seem to be about right for the 1206, 0805, 0603. They work on smaller parts as well as long as there is clearance. The next size up would might be more optimal for the 1206, I had to bump the set temp up from 600F to 625F for the 1206's that were connected to the ground plane.Ted WR4T

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 24, 2023, 11:19:51 pm
content: How does the MT-200 handpiece work when the ADS200 station is one channel only? There aretwo soldering cartridgeswith two thermocouples and two heating elements. Aretheyconnected in parallel??

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2023, 12:36:46 am
content: Quote from: Hydrawerk on November 24, 2023, 11:19:51 pmThere are only 4 pins so yes they would just run them in parallel. Some others do the same, though most premium stuff is usually dual channel.If you have two thermocouples in parallel they will read the average temperature between the two.

author: Hydrawerk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 25, 2023, 01:41:58 pm
content: Ok, so it probably works just fine.