How about the PACE MBT301 with PS-90 & SX-100 - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Rat_Patrol
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2020, 04:26:19 pm
content: Looking at this system, will be using it for production assembly and re-work.Opinions?https://paceworldwide.com/mbt301-ps-90-sx-100

author: WattsThat
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2020, 05:12:46 pm
content: IMO, the best you can buy. Excellent design and comfortable for all day use.For the desoldering side, I prefer the glass tube reservoir rather than the replaceable cartridge system. I’m not sure what the operational cost difference is, might be worthwhile to ask Pace up front the pros and cons.I have the analog version of that station, 20 years old and still as good as the day I bought it. It’s the older Sensatemp system. I had to replace the desoldering side heater just once after ten years of use that was 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Consumables are still widely available. I use Techni-Tool as they are a 15 minute drive away and they offer will-call pick up so no shipping costs. They’re probably not the cheapest but everything is in stock.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2020, 07:53:56 pm
content: You are reworking a lot of through hole components?Get the ADS200 instead for production, this thing looks ancient.Then maybe a hot air station or the tweezers for rework, depending on what components are being used. Need way more information.

author: Rat_Patrol
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2020, 09:56:57 pm
content: I do some THT rework (currently use a Hakko FR-301 for solder removal), LOTS of THT assembly, but I need to remove a lot of large ICs for salvage and later use. The vacuum IC removers they have for that station look very nice.Kind of work like this:Proper sized "tip" for the package reflows the all the contacts' solder, simultaneously. You then hit the vacuum, which goes through a silicone suction cup, which grips the IC for removal. Looks pretty sweet. Fast, efficient, and looks as easy as possible on the ICs I need to salvage.But I am always open to other opinions!ETA: This is the IC removal tool:https://paceworldwide.com/tp-100-thermo-pik-kit-tip-tool-stand-intelliheat

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2020, 10:07:29 pm
content: If its SMD ICs then yeah that vacuum setup looks nice. Assuming you have a handful of SMD packages to remove and can buy the tips for each type.If its through hole ICs then I would think the hot tweezers should have enough force on their own to hold the chip while removing from the board.

author: Rat_Patrol
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 29, 2020, 10:16:53 pm
content: Yes, all SMD ICs for removal. Total of 5 different sizes, so yay for more $$$ for tips, but it looks like it should work excellent.Really the only reason I'm looking at a new setup

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2020, 04:18:14 am
content: I have the Pace ADS200 (Accudrive) which is Paces newer single channel station and the MBT350 (Intelliheat) station which is their current three channel station.For those stations I have both the Pace TD200 (Accudrive) and the TD100A (Intelliheat) cartridge based irons. They are new designs with aluminum bodies, ergonomic and cool and comfortable to work with and specially suited to both fine smd, through hole and rework. Note that Accudrive and Intelliheat tools work only on their respective stations.I don't have a PS90, but it's more an older style heavy duty iron which takes solid tips that are held in with a setscrew. Not impossible to use for smd but not as good for fine smd work as the TD200/TD100A or as fast for swapping tips.For my MBT350 I have the SX100 vaccum desoldering iron which I highly recommend for through hole desoldering. I suggest getting 6993-0288-P1 which is a selection of 8 tips and 6000-0212-P1 which has two extra reusable glass traps which means you can go for a while without cleaning your traps out. Filters are 1309-0027-P10 and 1309-0018-P50. If you want convenience with less maintenance you can use the cardboard traps, but the glass traps work out to below 30 cents each, which is a quarter the cost.On the SX100 you can also get "Pik tips" which work similar to the TP100 for smd removal. I've only got one one of them so not tried these out extensively, but the vacuum desoldering tips take slightly longer to change over so you will have to consider this along with the tip range and benefits of have two tools vs a dedicated tool. In the SX100 video it shows briefly a Pik tip being used towards the end.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 30, 2020, 04:28:44 am
content: Here are the videos for the new Pace ADS200 single channel station with TD200 and MT200 as well as the updated TD100A for the Intelliheat series. If you decide you might prefer the MT301 with SX100 and TD100A (over the PS90) the part number is 8007-0478 for the 120V station. Check out Ebay for prices as you can pick up a new MBT350 for close to the price of a MBT301 (caveat emptor and make sure it has the TD100A). Otherwise Eevblog members can get thetequipment.net 6% discount.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2020, 11:56:00 am
content: Quote from: Shock on May 30, 2020, 04:18:14 amHow do the two cartridge systems compare in practice? Accudrive is newer, but does it actually perform anybetter? The only real difference I could find is that the Intelliheat cartridges aren't calibration-free, hence the cal pot on the front panel.I ask because I recently got a used Intelliheat ST-75 with SX-90, and so in theory I could buy a TD100A for it at much lower cost than a whole ADS200.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 11, 2020, 03:51:17 pm
content: I think the TD100A is approx 90W on the MBT and ST stations and if you have a WJS100 station which was their high performance model it will be around 120W with the special WJS high mass tips.The Pace ADS200 is slightly faster heating, more accurate and 120W. It's sort of the result of combining the Intelliheat ST and WJS stations together, to take both standard and high mass tips on the one station at full power.TD100A on the MBT and SX stations still seems quick, I think faster than the Hakko FX951. This video is a TD100 which is the older handpiece with the same carts to give you an idea.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 06:25:48 pm
content: So really, if you want the newest soldering tool (ADS200 with TD200), then you'd be better off buying an ADS200 soldering station, plus the ST115 (digital) or ST75 (analog) desoldering station with SX-100 handpiece. The total price comes to slightlylessthan the MBT301.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 21, 2020, 08:52:30 pm
content: Depends if you want tweezers or not. I place tweezers behind the vacuum desoldering tool for time savers, but if you are doing a lot of prototyping or repair of component smd tweezers are it.Worth mentioning the PS90 is still a good iron and there are a ton of them out there, it's just older tech and changing tips is slightly longer. Pace are still pumping out the PRC2000 systems so the PS90 should be around another decade minimum.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2020, 09:06:48 am
content: Why does it depend on tweezers? Pace sells AccuDrive tweezers for the ADS200, and they sell IntelliHeat tweezers that work with the MBT301, ST115, ST75, etc.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 22, 2020, 11:10:14 am
content: I mean the best station choice is what you intend running on it and if you need them all plugged in at once.