YOU CAN BUILD A SOLDERING STATION THAT RUNS OFF A USB-C LAPTOP CHARGER
A board that drives professional JBC cartridges off a laptop charger, with the schematic and the gerbers published.
by AxxAxx
WorkshopOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE1,640 stars
●●●●○ · a weekend-plus · GPL-3.0 · 1,640 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
- Electronic parts — full list with part numbers in the repo BOM
- Dev board / microcontroller — runs the project firmware
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is a proper soldering station controller that takes JBC C115, C210 and C245 cartridges and runs them off USB-C Power Delivery or a bench supply. The reason JBC tips are different is that the heater and the thermocouple are inside the cartridge itself, not back in the handle, so the controller regulates the actual working end with a PID loop. The board reads what a USB-PD source can deliver during negotiation and limits its output to match — on a 65 watt 20 volt supply the NT115 and T210 handles run at full power and the T245 runs limited. For the bench the author recommends a Meanwell LRS-150-24, which runs every compatible iron flat out. The repository publishes two builds around the same board and firmware: a station on the JBC ADS stand and a portable unit. The hard part is not the design, which is published and tested, but the assembly. The board is four layers with 0603 passives, a QFN STM32, and a handful of through-hole connectors. If you have never reflowed a QFN or ordered a stencil, this is not the first project to try it on. The single most common mistake is ordering the wrong JBC handle or cartridge — the C115, C210 and C245 are the compatible series and the T115, T210 and T245 are the handles that take them. If you already solder with JBC tips and want to build your own controller, or if you want USB-PD on the bench and are prepared to assemble a four-layer board, this is a complete, working design. If you have never soldered SMD and are wondering whether to start here, the answer is no.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Schematic, PCB gerbers, STM32 firmware, priced BOM and 3D-printed enclosures for both bench and portable builds are all in the repository.
- —The firmware is ready to flash; no configuration or tuning required.
- —The licence is GPL version 3, which permits commercial use with source disclosure.
- —No video build guide exists — the photos and the PCB renders are the documentation.
- —The repository assumes you know how to order a board from gerbers and how to reflow or hand-solder 0603 passives.
- —The author sells assembled boards and complete kits — those are not open hardware and are excluded from this page.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the repository README and verify which JBC handle and cartridge series you need (C115, C210 and C245 are the cartridge series; T115, T210 and T245 are the handles. Ordering the wrong series is the most common mistake.)
- 2.Order the PCB from the gerbers in the Hardware folder(Four-layer board; most fabs will quote it in minutes. A stencil is strongly recommended for the 0603 passives and the QFN.)
- 3.Order components per the BOM spreadsheet(The BOM includes per-component LCSC part numbers and prices. Total is around 40-60 USD for the board alone, not including the handle or cartridges.)
- 4.Assemble the board and flash the firmware with ST-Link(Precompiled binary is in the Firmware folder. No tuning required; it works out of the box once flashed.)
- 5.Print the enclosure for your chosen build(Separate STLs for bench and portable versions. Bench version requires a JBC ADS stand, which is not included.)
KNOWN ISSUES
- Ordering the wrong JBC handle or cartridge series. The compatible series are C115, C210 and C245; the handles that take them are T115, T210 and T245. If you order a different series, nothing will work.
- Attempting this as a first SMD project. The QFN STM32 and the 0603 passives require reflow or very steady hands with hot air. If you have never soldered SMD before, build something simpler first.
- Ordering the PCB without a stencil. Hand-pasting 0603s and a QFN is possible but slow and error-prone. Most fabs will add a stencil for 10-15 USD.
- Using a USB-C supply without checking its PD voltage and wattage. The board negotiates power automatically, but if your supply only does 5V or 9V, the iron will not reach full power. A 20V 65W supply is the practical minimum for most handles.
- Expecting a plug-and-play kit. This is a PCB design with firmware, not a boxed product. You will order the board, source every component, assemble it yourself, and flash the firmware with an ST-Link.
- Skipping the safety ground on the DC supply. If you use a bench supply instead of USB-PD, connect the ground properly. A floating supply with a mains-connected iron is a shock hazard.
Can I use a USB-C phone charger?
Only if it supports USB Power Delivery at 20V and at least 45W. Most phone chargers top out at 9V or 12V, which will not deliver enough power. Check the supply's label before ordering parts.
Do I need to buy a JBC stand?
Only if you are building the bench version. The portable build uses a 3D-printed case with no stand. The bench version is designed around the JBC ADS stand, which is sold separately.
Can I hand-solder the board instead of reflowing it?
The QFN STM32 is difficult to hand-solder without a hot air station, and the 0603 passives are tedious but possible. If you have hot air and flux, hand-soldering is viable but slower than reflow.
Is the firmware configurable?
The source is published, so you can modify it, but the precompiled binary works out of the box with no configuration. Temperature is set with the rotary encoder, and PID tuning is handled automatically.
How much do the JBC handle and cartridges cost?
A T210 or T245 handle is typically 60-80 USD, and cartridges start around 20-30 USD each. That is the largest cost in the build. The board and components add another 40-60 USD.
Community builds
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Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The board reads what a USB-PD supply can deliver during negotiation and limits its output to match automatically. What is the lowest-wattage USB-C supply you would actually try this with?
AxxAxx
AxxAxx designed this controller to drive JBC cartridges from USB-C Power Delivery, because professional tips exist and laptop chargers are everywhere. The repository was published in 2021 and has been maintained with firmware updates and component substitutions as parts go out of stock.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM8d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is clean and actively maintained, with the last firmware update in November 2024. The BOM spreadsheet includes LCSC part numbers and individual component prices, which is rare and saves hours. The hard truth is that the author also sells assembled boards and complete kits on a separate site, but those are not open hardware and are not documented in the repository — this page covers only what is published under GPL. The single largest trap is ordering the wrong JBC handle or cartridge series, because the naming is confusing and the mistake is not obvious until you try to plug it in. If you have never assembled a four-layer board with a QFN microcontroller, this is not the project to learn on — but if you have, the design is solid and the firmware works.