Is the temperature variation only on the high side, or is the range actually 520-680 for a 600 degree tip? Also, how is the temperature measured? It is my understanding that unless a thermocouple is embedded into the tip, temperature measurements are not very accurate due to air currents, the quality of the contact between tip and measurement device, etc. ========================= Bob Barr Manufacturing Engineering Formation, Inc. Voice: 856-234-5020 x3035 Fax: 856-234-6679 ========================= -----Original Message----- From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 1:57 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [TN] Metcal SP200 soldering Iron In a message dated 6/18/2002 4:06:29 PM US Eastern Standard Time, [log in to unmask] writes: << My only gripe with the Metcals is the cost of tips vs. their life expectancy. >> I also have a problem with their temp control. They have quite a wide range for each cartridge. Five tips of identical part number may range as much as 80 degrees, and Metcal will acknowledge that as within their acceptance criteria. So when you plug in a "600 degree" tip, you might get anything between 600-680 degrees, with no way of telling one from the next. Jon Moore ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Technet Mail List provided as a free service by IPC using LISTSERV 1.8d To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet To temporarily halt delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/html/forum.htm for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-509-9700 ext.5315 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------