David Woodin on mon 31 jan 00
Some questions. Are the controllers used as designed? Are the software
tables for cones correct as far as the Orton tables dtd 1996? In the case of
Skutt kilnmaster controller that is hung on the wall about 7 cones are not
close to the cone tables. How do people get around this? Are potters using
the cone in the sitter to shut of the kiln or are they using the controller?
In the case of the Skutt kilnmaster error 9 usually means that a cone in the
sitter shut the kiln off before the controller could complete its program.
If potters are using the cone in the sitter to shut off the kiln then why
spend all that money for a controller when something like a firemate would
suffice?
David
Barney Adams on tue 1 feb 00
Hi,
Skutt told me that if you have the cones and a chart that orton publishes
you can call the skutt tech support and they have a way to re-calibrate?
your cone firings.
Barney
David Woodin wrote:
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Some questions. Are the controllers used as designed? Are the software
> tables for cones correct as far as the Orton tables dtd 1996? In the case of
> Skutt kilnmaster controller that is hung on the wall about 7 cones are not
> close to the cone tables. How do people get around this? Are potters using
> the cone in the sitter to shut of the kiln or are they using the controller?
> In the case of the Skutt kilnmaster error 9 usually means that a cone in the
> sitter shut the kiln off before the controller could complete its program.
> If potters are using the cone in the sitter to shut off the kiln then why
> spend all that money for a controller when something like a firemate would
> suffice?
> David
GSM_ENT on tue 1 feb 00
Hi David:
How are You?
Kiln controllers do have the correct Orton cone equivalency tables. Firing,
being a function of time and temperature or "heatwork", it means that when
you fire a load to a given cone, the display window not necessarily will
read the "cone temperature" of the equivalency tables. Firing heatwork will
also be dependent of the load being fired.
Even when the controllers have the correct cone equivalency tables the kiln
itself has to be calibrated. There are so many factors affecting the firing
such as the power or voltage available, the insulation properties of the
firebrick of THAT particular kiln, the speed at which the firing is being
made, moisture in the air and in the piece, room temperature, etc.
Controllers have two adjustment functions: 1) the adjustment for their
thermocouple reading which is made through software changes to the
controller itself 2) The hold function which allows you to control the
temperature at any given point of temperature up to 99 hrs and 99 minutes,
of course we would never need that excessive hold time on anything we fire
but the board is capable of doing it.
Every kiln behave differently, that is why it is said that you must get to
know your own kiln and how it behaves at different cone ranges. By the way,
adjustments must be done FOR the particular cone you are firing to. There is
no universal adjustment.
The firing cone inserted in the Kiln Sitter of manual kilns converted to
computerized kilns by means of the addition of a controller module is used
as a safety only. The value of the firing cone should be 1 to 2 cones hotter
than the cone value being fired. The purpose is that if something goes wrong
with the controller board the kiln sitted will then turn off the kiln and
prevent damage to it. If you buy a computerized kiln it will not have a kiln
sitter and you will not need to use firing cones, only the witness cones.
Controller modules are expensive. Only is you a kiln in near perfect
conditions would I ever consider recommending their use. They are expensive.
The controller will not increase or improve the condition of your heating
elements. You would be better off to sell your manual kiln and purchase a
new kiln with a computer or controller. You still need to calibrate your
kiln and fire using witness cones.
The Cress kilns model Firemate do have a controller board also. The overall
power management system is slightly different than the traditional
computerized kilns in that they do not have a display window, they have a
"Thumbweel" switch and a "speed control" switch. Both of these are stepless
or infinite control type, but are not the same and not interchangeable.
These type kilns also have a "switch" that you set the temperature to which
you want the kiln to fire to.
For more information of this topic I recommend to become a member of the
Orton Firing Foundation or Institute. Their annual membership fee is only
$20 and you will receive their regularly printed Firing Topics, their
quarterly magazine The Firing Line, you will be given access to their
problem solving 1-800 number too. Next I recommend the purchase of the
Firing Institute Firing Seminar video Keys to Successful Firing. It sell for
around $40.00 to nonmembers and $20.00 to members. I teach that seminar and
have most handouts, as well as, other information on how to calibrate the
Kiln Sitter, Base Test Firing Procedures to calibrate the kiln, instructions
for the first firing of every kiln, and more. The information is free, I
only ask for $5.00 for postage and handling.
I hope this sheds a little light on the subject. Remember, take this advise
of information as a grain of salt, do more research, attend seminars, watch
videos, read books and magazines, and then make an educated decision. Be
sure all your references are dated no earlier than 3 years ago. That's when
EPA forced manufacturers to change their formulas which restricted the
firing range of all products.
Happy Firing!
Regards,
Manuel R A "Tony" Diaz Rodriguez
MAJ., US Army (Ret.)
Master Kiln Repair Technician
Multi-Company Factory Qualified
Multi-Company Product Qualified Teacher
----- Original Message -----
From: David Woodin
To:
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2000 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: computer kiln controller
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Some questions. Are the controllers used as designed? Are the software
> tables for cones correct as far as the Orton tables dtd 1996? In the case
of
> Skutt kilnmaster controller that is hung on the wall about 7 cones are not
> close to the cone tables. How do people get around this? Are potters
using
> the cone in the sitter to shut of the kiln or are they using the
controller?
> In the case of the Skutt kilnmaster error 9 usually means that a cone in
the
> sitter shut the kiln off before the controller could complete its program.
> If potters are using the cone in the sitter to shut off the kiln then why
> spend all that money for a controller when something like a firemate would
> suffice?
> David
Cameron on wed 2 feb 00
David,
Great questions. Normally I charge folks for answers to particular
questions, but when the subject is one everyone has an interest in
I can dig up the info and get it to you. The answers to your
questions would be helpful to a lot of people, so if you will bear
with me I will dig up correct answers for you and get back to you.
Cameron
--
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Cameron G. Harman, Jr. 215-245-4040 fax 215-638-1812
e-mail kilns@kilnman.com
Ceramic Services, Inc 1060 Park Ave. Bensalem, PA 19020
get your free ezine: http://www.kilnman.com/ezine/ezine.html
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