# US 8,569,657 B2 · Soldering iron with replaceable tip > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,569,657 B2 - Document ID: US8569657B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/430,373 - Filed: 2012-03-26 - Published: 2012-11-29 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2002-11-26 - Assignees: Hakko Corporation - Applicants: Kayoko Yoshimura; Takashi Uetani; Takashi Nagase; Hiroyuki Masaki - Inventors: Kayoko Yoshimura; Takashi Uetani; Takashi Nagase; Hiroyuki Masaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8569657B2 ## CPC - B23K 3/0369: {Couplings between the heating element housing and the bit or tip} - B23K 3/0361: {Couplings between the handle and the heating element housing} - B23K: SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; WELDING; CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM ## Abstract A soldering iron (and a desoldering iron) with a replaceable tip, which is releasably securable on the forward heat-conducting end of a soldering (or desoldering) iron heat assembly. The tip has a heat conducting core in a tip cap. Methods of manufacturing and using the tip are also disclosed. A method of manufacturing a replaceable soldering or desoldering iron tip can comprise preparing a cap having a base opening and at least substantially filling the cap through the base opening with a heat conducting material so that a tip core is formed in the cap, the tip core having a core face at the base opening. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of manufacturing a replaceable soldering or desoldering iron tip, comprising: preparing a cap having a base opening, including forming the cap by metal injection molding; and at least substantially filling the cap through the base opening with a heat conducting material so that a tip core is formed in the cap, the tip core having a core face at the base opening. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the core face is planar. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the core face lies in the same plane as the base opening of the cap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the core face has a depression for receiving a similarly configured protuberance of a soldering iron heating assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4 wherein the depression is conically shaped or defines a slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the heat conducting material is a metal powder or a metal powder and binder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6 wherein the cap is a cap-shaped green compact. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising after the filling, sintering the cap-shaped green compact and the powder together. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7 further comprising after the sintering, forming the core face by at least one of forging, machining and grinding. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising after the filling, coating a working tip end of the cap with tin or solder and the rest of the outer surface of the tip or cap with chromium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the filling includes filling the cap with the heat conducting material in a melted state. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the filling includes casting the heat conducting material. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the filling includes the heat conducting material being in the form of a rod or a block. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the heat conducting material is copper, copper alloy, silver, or silver alloy. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the preparing includes sintering the cap, and the filling includes the heat conducting material being a powder, and further comprising after the filling, sintering the filled sintered cap. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising the cap being a sintered cap, the heat conducting material being in rod or block form, and melting the heat conducting material within the sintered cap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the filling includes pressing the heat conducting material into the cap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 wherein the pressing forms the face. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17 further comprising after the pressing, forming the face. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein the cap has an inner solder-suction sleeve and the tip thereby defines a desoldering iron tip. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein preparing the cap includes sintering the cap after the metal injection molding.