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
Built withSTM323D printing
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a weekend-plus
- license
- GPL-3.0
- repo
- repo ACTIVE1,692 stars
●●●●○ · a weekend-plus · GPL-3.0 · 1,692 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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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 9-24 V DC supply. JBC cartridges put the heater and thermocouple in the tip itself, so the controller regulates the working end directly 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 at full power. 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 the assembly, not the design: 0603 passives, a fine-pitch LQFP-48 STM32, a no-lead WSON-8 op-amp and a handful of through-hole connectors, and the author recommends a stencil and reflow. The most common mistake is the handle: the compatible handles are NT115, T210 and T245, and the handle type is detected through bridged pins in the connector, which some clones wire differently. If you already solder with JBC tips and want your own controller, this is a complete, working design. If you have never soldered SMD, start somewhere else.
IN THE REPO
GOOD TO KNOW
- —KiCad schematic and PCB, STM32 firmware with prebuilt releases, a priced BOM with interactive BOM and Mouser cart, and 3D-printed enclosures for station and portable builds are all in the repository.
- —Precompiled firmware (AxxSolder.bin) is on the Releases page; the README walks through first start-up checks, settings and optional temperature calibration.
- —The licence is GPL version 3, which permits commercial use with source disclosure.
- —There is no step-by-step assembly video, but the author's demo video and a detailed README (flashing, settings, PID, calibration) are the documentation; build questions go to the project Discord.
- —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.
Parts to buy
6 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
Can I build this?
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Videos
The creator's own demo of AxxSolder 3: the station, the portable unit and how they run on DC and USB-PD. Not an assembly tutorial — the README covers the build.
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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; NT115, T210 and T245 are the handles. Check the handle identification section before you power up.)
- 2.Order the PCB from the gerbers in the Hardware folder(The board is designed in KiCad and the author recommends PCBWay (which sponsored the project). A stencil and reflow are recommended for the fine-pitch LQFP-48 STM32 and the no-lead WSON-8 op-amp.)
- 3.Order components per the BOM spreadsheet(The BOM spreadsheet lists individual component prices; there is also an interactive BOM and a link to a ready Mouser shopping cart. JBC handle and cartridges are extra.)
- 4.Assemble the board and flash the firmware with ST-Link(Download the latest AxxSolder.bin from the repository Releases and flash it over SWD or USB DFU. Default PID parameters per cartridge type are built in.)
- 5.Print the enclosure for your chosen build(Enclosure design files for both versions are in the /CAD folder (STEP and SolidWorks). Bench version requires a JBC ADS stand, which is not included.)
KNOWN ISSUES
- Getting the handle wrong. The compatible cartridges are C115, C210 and C245, used in NT115, T210 and T245 handles. The handle type is detected by bridged pins in the connector: the NT115 needs a modified connector and some clone handles bridge different pins. A wrong detection can permanently damage a cartridge, so check the detected type on the display before fitting a tip.
- Attempting this as a first SMD project. The 0.5 mm pitch LQFP-48 STM32, the no-lead WSON-8 op-amp and the 0603 passives need a stencil and 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. The author recommends a stencil and reflow (oven or hot-plate) because of the 0.5 mm pitch STM32 and the leadless WSON-8 op-amp, plus a microscope for inspection.
- Using a weak USB-C supply and expecting full power. The board limits the iron to what the charger offers. A 65 W, 20 V supply runs NT115 and T210 handles at full power; the T245 needs more (up to 130 W), which the 24 V Meanwell supply provides.
- 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.
- Using the wrong kind of power supply. The author warns never to use a supply whose DC output is tied to mains earth (PELV): with C245 tips that can short through the tip. Use a floating-output (SELV) supply such as the Meanwell LRS-150-24, connect protective earth to the AxxSolder ground terminal, and do not share that supply with other devices. The same applies to USB-C chargers that connect the USB-C shell to mains earth.
Can I use a USB-C phone charger?
Yes, if it supports USB Power Delivery. The board negotiates the highest power the charger offers and limits the iron to match. On a 65 W, 20 V charger the NT115 and T210 handles run at full power and the T245 at reduced power. Do not use a charger that connects the USB-C shell to mains earth.
Do I need to buy a JBC stand?
No. The portable version needs no stand: you rest the iron on an aluminium tab. The station version is designed around the JBC ADS stand (a modification is needed if you want NT115 detection), but the community has enclosures for cheaper stands such as the GEEBOON SDC02 and some AiXun stands.
Can I hand-solder the board instead of reflowing it?
The 0.5 mm pitch LQFP-48 STM32 is doable with a fine tip and flux, but the WSON-8 op-amp has a bottom thermal pad that really wants hot air or reflow. The 0603 passives are tedious but possible. Hand-soldering is viable, just slower than reflow.
Is the firmware configurable?
Yes. The source is GPL-3.0, and the precompiled AxxSolder.bin from Releases has a settings menu (startup and standby temperatures, presets, profiles, display, sound, system), PID parameters stored per cartridge profile and up to six user temperature calibration points.
How much do the JBC handle and cartridges cost?
The repository does not price JBC handles or cartridges; check current prices from JBC or your supplier. The BOM spreadsheet lists individual prices for the board components.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
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 (Axel Johansson) designed this controller to drive JBC C115, C210 and C245 cartridges from a 9-24 V DC supply or USB-C Power Delivery. The repository went public in 2023 and is still actively maintained, with firmware releases and hardware revisions up to version 3.
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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.
CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository is clean and actively maintained, with firmware release v3.8.1 published in June 2026. The BOM spreadsheet lists individual component prices, and the repo also includes an interactive BOM and a link to a ready Mouser shopping cart, which saves hours. The author also sells assembled and tested AxxSolder 3.2 boards on his own site, 5Dimensions, so you can choose between building from the GPL-licensed files and buying one. The single largest trap is ordering the wrong JBC handle or cartridge series: the board supports NT115, T210 and T245 handles, and the naming is confusing enough that a mistake is not obvious until you try to plug it in. Soldering is the other hurdle: the STM32G431 is an LQFP-48 with 0.5 mm pitch, and the OPA2387 op-amp comes in a leadless WSON-8 with a thermal pad, so a stencil is recommended. If you have assembled fine-pitch boards before, the design is solid and the firmware works; questions go to the project's Discord. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.