Tryint to reverse engineer this T12 sodewring iron. - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: xchg.ca
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2022, 02:10:14 pm
content: Trying to reverse engineer this T12 soldering iron.Got stuck with the microcontroller, see photo.It is 32 pin micro, can be ATMEGA328? or may be something like STM32F03 ?What would be your thought process ?See attached high res photoMay be someone already did reverse-engineering of such productThank you.

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2022, 09:57:59 pm
content: There are plenty of schematics on gitlab of T12 clones, although most of them have a separate PCB for the electronics and a much larger (often OLED) display. and a rotary encoder, and a lot of those projects have open sourced software for them.STM32 (and clones) are popular, but some use other chips. Maybe it's pin compatible with STM8.But with Chippageddon in these last few years it's quite possible that some other chip is put on it. Manufacturers have to resort with putting in any uC they can get their hands on.Quite often checking the GND and Vcc pins together with the location of the reset and crystal pins (if you can identify them) is enough. Are there pads for a programming connection?The picture you've posted also looks a lot like a clone of the TS100. I think that one also has schematics and firmware available.But in the end it probably does not matter much.Just grab the source code from one of the open sourced projects and continue from there.

author: pigrew
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 26, 2022, 10:30:32 pm
content: My guess would be a clone of a STM32.You might be able to apply some alcohol or toothpaste or heat-sink compound to it and read the marking (it's sometimes not completely scrubbed away).It's not definitive, but you can look at the circles on the package, and try to match that up to other manufacturers. Some clones (like CH32F103) look have a similar pattern casting marks. If it is STM32-like, you may be able to use a ST/Link to ask it what it is.Make a list of which pins are grounded and which pins are Vdd (and perhaps programming pins) and that should narrow things down much more.

author: xchg.ca
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2022, 01:47:51 am
content: Quote from: pigrew on April 26, 2022, 10:30:32 pmThank you for all suggestion, this is very useful !

author: xchg.ca
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2022, 01:51:27 am
content: I saw already multiple open source project, they all similar but not close enough to this one.Everything can be traced but I stuck with this micro.Great idea about VDD and GNDI can try pinpoint some other pins like data etc to see how they match up with MCU pinouts to see what make sense.Thank you

author: darkspr1te
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: April 27, 2022, 07:26:52 am
content: I have both the atmega328 and stm8 on my desk and I would say you chip looks more atmega than STM, the two compelling factors are the legs "squareness" and the Pin 1 marker style match the atmega more. but do let us know when you find out, this is a fun gamedarkspr1te

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 29, 2022, 05:49:53 pm
content: How much time do you want to spend into reverse-engineering an EUR20 soldering iron?I'd rather throw the thing in the bin, give the seller a negative review for rubbing of serial numbers and buy something that comes with some documentation.

author: xchg.ca
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2022, 02:55:32 am
content: Quote from: Doctorandus_P on April 29, 2022, 05:49:53 pmHaha good one! But why those guys on github developed its own?It is just pure interestAnd also attempt to improve it

author: Doctorandus_P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 30, 2022, 10:39:08 pm
content: Some people do it just for fun or out of curiousity (Isn't that the same?)Others want to add special functions such as auto -power off when not used, presets, or other things.Sometimes it's also the other way around. Take for example the ubiquitous transistor tester.This is an open source project from the beginning, and the Chinese picked it up and started making the hardware en masse for cheap.

author: xchg.ca
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2023, 11:50:12 am
content: After using it for a while I have noticed some inconvenience and certainly would be nice to address those. Understanding hardware and may be able to hack software would be nice option.But even with some issues ( like error on low temps <190C and rare but random turn offs ) it is my main soldering iron right now

author: xchg.ca
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 16, 2023, 05:06:25 pm
content: And here we are! Apparently not long ago someone done hackinghttps://github.com/atc1441/ATC_stc_solder_ironApparently this is running 8051 core soc STC8H3K64S2I was hoping for Arduino compatible device, but still this 8051 device can be played with using Platformio.Will see what will come out of this