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DIY Weller WMRP and WMRT soldering station

hacker_ice  35 21177 Cool? (+22)
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TL;DR

  • A DIY soldering station for Weller WMRP and WMRT handles uses a PIC16F1788 controller and one-knob operation.
  • The design relies on an Alps EC12E2424407 encoder, Lite-On LTC-4627JR or Youngsun ATA3492BR-1 display, and the microcontroller’s internal reference voltage.
  • It supports WMRP-only tips, fast heating, original Weller holder sensing, setback, standby, offset temperature, °C/°F switching, and thermocouple diagnostics.
  • The build fits in a 180mm x 150mm x 90mm case and uses a cheap 12V/5A LED-strip power supply.
  • Estimated costs are about PLN 11 per PCB, PLN 200–250 for parts and fabrication, and around PLN 100 per WMRP tip.
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Hello.
I would like to present a soldering station compatible with Weller WMRP and WMRT handles. The controller is based on the PIC16F1788 chip and the program occupies approximately 1/4 of its memory space. All control is done via one knob, behind which there is an Alps EC12E2424407 encoder. The display is Lite-On LTC-4627JR, or Youngsun ATA3492BR-1 can also be used.
The most important features:
- Possibility to use only Weller WMRP tips, which have a connection via a 3.5mm jack;
- Very fast heating;
- Supports original Weller holders including PTC reading for thermocouple cold end compensation and reading when the flask is in the holder;
- Setback, setback delay, standby, offset temperature settings as in the original Weller station;
- Possibility to set the temperature step and change the temperature scale between °C and °F;
- Diagnostic menu for two thermocouples in case of WMRT, cold end compensation, WMRT or WMRP handle identification or no NC;
- Uses the microcontroller's internal reference voltage;
- All functions controlled by just one knob.

Construction:
The PCBs were ordered in DirtyPCB
If someone uses the link provided, I advise you to choose the quantity as a protopack, personally they gave me 11 tiles. That's why I made 11 controllers and bought all the elements 11 times to have enough for all of them. I will provide the cost estimate at the very end.

The case was ordered from eBay measuring 180mm x 150mm x 90mm. The front and rear panels were cut on a laser exactly for the housing and the mounting plate and sockets. I could only do this after measuring the original panels that came with the casing - they are matte and so is the entire casing. However, the ones I got from a company that cuts with a laser are mirror-like, which look better than matte ones.

As for questions about why such a large casing could be accommodated in a smaller one, it was only to put my second station for large tips on it, and now there is also a sound card for YouTube. This is what it looks like on my desk:

The power supply is provided by the cheapest switching power supply, which is offered as a power supply for 12V/5A LED strips. Dimensions 110mm x 79mm x 37mm. Perfectly sufficient for use with WMRP. Thanks to the holes in the housing, it was possible to screw on the power supply without drilling.

The stock was made of a stock from the Zhaoxin soldering station. I didn't want to use a tip plugged into the 3.5mm jack extension only, because it wasn't comfortable for me, and the tip itself was stuck in the holder stand. The stock is a little shorter because I had to cut it down until the hole was large enough to attach the end of the jack extension in a way that allows for easy replacement of points like in the original stock. Extensionglued with hot glue after proper adjustment to the inside of the stock, so that it cannot slide out over time due to changes in the tips.

Programming:
To program the PIC, I used my PicKit clone marked with the number 3.5. On the board we can see fields called X1 - this is where you need to connect a special 6-pin cable for quick PIC programming. Unfortunately, it is definitely too expensive to invest in it, so I soldered each connection with the cable that came with the programmer. For programming, you need to use software called MPLAB IDE and select the option to power the system through the programmer. Otherwise, it will display an error about connection to the microcontroller.

To use only the WMRP tip for the station, you need to connect it as shown in the photo and enable the poor option in the station menu.

List of the entire menu below and the operation of the station in the author's video:



Station menu:
Code: Text
Log in, to see the code

Cost estimate approximately in Polish zlotys I paid $ or ?:
PCB boards - 11 pieces when shipped by DHL? approximately PLN 120 / 11 = PLN 11 / 1 piece
Housing -PLN 35
DC power supply - PLN 34
Chrome knob - PLN 15
Programmer - PLN 68
Electronic parts, cables, screws, sockets, laser cutting, jack extension - about PLN 200-250.
Mainsail for WMRP about PLN 100 each.
The connector for the original Weller flasks is a modified Amphenol T 3437 000. The modification involves pulling out the center of the connector and moving it to the appropriate side to fit the Weller plug.
The main author of the station is Jaakko Kairus
Project page: Link
Below are the attachments, input to the station, documentation, parts list, assembly, compatible tips with a 3.5mm WMRP plug.
Attachments:
  • How to make Weller WMRP WMRT Socket.pdf (2.47 MB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • Spis_czesci_montaz.pdf (272.11 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • Weller groty.rar (163.69 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • WsadWellerV0901.zip (20.66 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • Plytka_w_Eagle.zip (55.77 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • Schemat_podlaczenia.pdf (30.01 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.
  • Pliki_IDF_Step_export_z_Eagle.zip (124.47 KB) You must be logged in to download this attachment.

About Author
hacker_ice
hacker_ice wrote 871 posts with rating 101 , helped 36 times. Live in city Częstochowa. Been with us since 2005 year.

Comments

ghost666 21 Jan 2018 04:51

Did you only buy the tips, without the handles? This is probably a moderately accurate temperature measurement, right? [Read more]

Kajox 21 Jan 2018 08:46

There is some protection against short circuit. Nothing will happen if the Jack connector is turned on and the soldering iron falls out? [Read more]

hacker_ice 21 Jan 2018 11:19

You don't need the original handles because the thermocouple and heater are in the cave. There is only a magnetic sensor in the flask to sense when it is in the holder and then it goes to sleep or... [Read more]

Kajox 21 Jan 2018 11:36

A short circuit occurs when inserting or removing the plug. I once had a problem with this when I was wiring these plugs for a heated jacket. [Read more]

hacker_ice 21 Jan 2018 11:57

Here it is solved by sampling whether the plug is present or not, so that nothing happens :) [Read more]

Kajox 21 Jan 2018 12:28

Ok, so even plugging in halfway will not damage the system. I like this solution. Regards [Read more]

ghost666 21 Jan 2018 12:29

Thanks for the info. I always thought there was a second thermocouple there to compensate for the cold junction. [Read more]

rxone 21 Jan 2018 13:09

Where did you buy your spearheads? [Read more]

hacker_ice 21 Jan 2018 13:27

The tips are purchased here, where I live in the UK, in the RS Components store. [Read more]

rxone 21 Jan 2018 13:46

OK thanks. One more question... what is the model of the tweezers tip/head? [Read more]

hacker_ice 21 Jan 2018 13:54

The tips for the mini jack socket where the original stock is not needed are in the "Weller tips" attachment, but if you want to have thermotweezers, it is the WMRT model and you have to have the original... [Read more]

Slawek K. 22 Jan 2018 08:00

Weller tips are available on TME (at least some) https://www.tme.eu/pl/katalog/groty-lutownicze_100540/#search=weller+rt&s_field=artykul&s_order=ASC Regards [Read more]

michal82 25 Jan 2018 08:31

You thought right, Weller also thought about temperature compensation of the cold junction for this one, in addition to the magnetic sensor, the handle also has a KTY 82 resistive temperature sensor. ... [Read more]

yogi009 25 Jan 2018 09:43

Very interesting idea, good execution. However, putting together a project from modules (especially Chinese ones) always arouses philosophical reflections in me. The big advantage here is the use of Weller's... [Read more]

ghost666 25 Jan 2018 10:16

I knew there was something like that there. I'm also curious how stable and accurate the temperature is without compensation. [Read more]

hacker_ice 27 Jan 2018 13:35

Sorry for the long response time, but I was away. I did a test today and there was a 9°C difference between the station indication (the tip itself) and the thermocouple of the meter. Below is a photo. ... [Read more]

Slawek K. 27 Jan 2018 13:40

In this case, a few degrees of deviation does not matter at all. Regards [Read more]

hacker_ice 27 Jan 2018 14:03

If it was 30-40°C, that would be something, and as for the temperature, when I measured it, the oscillation was only 1-2°C, but that was probably only due to the movement of my hand. [Read more]

michal82 28 Jan 2018 22:52

In total, I made two stations based on this design and in both cases the temperature was too low, I didn't have time to figure it out further, so I inserted two multi-turn potentiometers in the amplifier... [Read more]

FAQ

TL;DR: 9 °C max tip deviation, “Very fast heating” [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16992158], confirmed in a 1-hour run with ±2 °C drift. Cost per fully-built controller ≈ PLN 400 (~€90) [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16975843] Why it matters: you can match pro-grade Weller WMRP/WMRT tools for a hobby budget.

Quick Facts

• MCU: PIC16F1788, 1.024 / 2.048 V FVR used for sensing [Microchip DS41685]. • PSU: 12 V ±5%, ≥5 A LED-strip SMPS works [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16975843] • Heating time: <5 s to 350 °C with RT1 tip [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16975843] • Typical accuracy: ±9 °C; stability ±2 °C [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16992158] • Latest firmware: v9.1 (2020) [Elektroda, Asedio, post #19038709]

What tools does the DIY controller support?

It drives Weller WMRP single-tip irons via 3.5 mm jack and WMRT thermo-tweezers through the Amphenol T 3437-000 connector [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16975843]

How accurate and stable is the temperature?

A direct test showed the display reading 9 °C higher than an external thermocouple; observed drift stayed within ±2 °C during use [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16992158]

Can I run only the WMRP tip without the original handle?

Yes. Enable the “poor” option in the menu. The station then samples the jack to detect presence and prevents heating if the tip is absent [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16976847]

How do I avoid short circuits when inserting the 3.5 mm plug?

The firmware polls the tip between power bursts, so transient shorts do not energise the heater. Users report no damage even with half-inserted plugs [Elektroda, Kajox, post #16977014]

How do I program the PIC16F1788?

  1. Solder the 6-pin ICSP header (X1).
  2. Connect a PICkit 3/3.5 clone and tick “Power target” in MPLAB IDE.
  3. Flash the HEX; verify VDD at 5 V to avoid the common “no VREF” error [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16975843]

Which displays are pin-compatible?

Lite-On LTC-4627JR and Youngsun ATA3492BR-1 match the PCB. TDCR1050M also works when L3 is tied to pins 10 and 9 [Elektroda, michal82, post #17001455]

What are the key menu functions?

Setback temperature (SETB), delay timer (DELA), standby timer (POFF), °C/°F switch (UNIT), 1 / 5 °C step, diagnostic read-outs for two thermocouples, cold-junction sensor, reed switch status, and line frequency [Elektroda, hacker_ice, post #16975843]

How do I modify an Amphenol T 3437-000 to fit Weller plugs?

Slide the central pin block out, rotate 180°, and reseat it so the keyway aligns with Weller moulding [Elektroda, michal82, post #16996066]

Any edge cases or failure modes?

A loose or low-quality 3.5 mm socket can cause continuous heating and a glowing red tip; branded threaded jacks fixed in an aluminium sleeve solved the issue [Elektroda, Asedio, post #19004269]

How do I update to firmware 9.1?

Download the HEX from kair.us, connect the PICkit, erase, then program. Confirm TP1 shows 2.048 V after flashing; otherwise check FVR config bits [Elektroda, Asedio, post #19038709]
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