On Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 6:16:45 AM UTC-8, N_Cook wrote:
The problem with soldering iron control is putting a temp sensor in the
heater block , if you can get away with simple heater and replaceable
tips only, keeps the costs down (and swapping-out universality up , for
hacker types).
Ah so no manufacturer would want that. Another thing to try out sometime
as a proving exercise.

Check out a Metcal. The heater element IS the temperature sensor. I've been using one for 15 years and wouldn't have anything else.

G²