|
Posted by Mike Firth on May 9, 2007, 1:28 pm
Please log in for more thread options Well, Mark, while I understand your desire to keep an eye on the kiln, if
you are doing anything moderately thick, it must be really boring and
interupting to your life to change the settings for annealling, that is
where most of the automation efforts in kiln or annealler activity have
gone, especially since, once you get over about 3/4 inch annealing takes
more than overnight.
Mike
--
Mike Firth
Furnace Glassblowing Website
http://users.ticnet.com/mikefirth/
>> Byrd wrote:
>> > I am trying to get started doing some glass and pottery crafting. I am
>> > having to do it on my own and with the aid of some books. I live 150
>> > mi
>> > from the nearest school with any similar art programs and probably
>> > couldn't
>> > afford the tuition if it was next store, we're barely affording keeping
>> > the
>> > daughter in.
>>
>> > I was interested in a large Bell style kiln but there's no way in hell
>> > I can
>> > afford to buy one, unless maybe someone knows of a benefactor with deep
>> > pockets who would take pity on 50 something, gimpy old man (chuckle).
>> > Has
>> > anyone built their own and how hard is it?
>>
>> > I have ordered a book by Halem, there is supposed to be some good
>> > information in it.
>>
>> > I need my kiln to be wheelchair friendly and was wanting to have two
>> > rolling
>> > tables (also wheelchair accessible) so I could be loading / unloading
>> > one
>> > while the other was firing. I was thinking about a convertible kiln,
>> > ie; a
>> > 3' x 6' x 2' but I had the idea to maybe section it so I could isolate
>> > half
>> > of it for smaller firings. and also lower it down a little farther if I
>> > don't need the depth/height.
>>
>> > I was given an 18" old (50's maybe) ceramic kiln that I would like to
>> > use
>> > for some glass and pottery as well. It just basically a 3 position
>> > switch
>> > which controls the 2 elements. I can't find any info on it. but I was
>> > wondering what was available as far as kiln programmers are available.
>>
>> > I have 3 old dos and win98 machines and was wondering if anyone ever
>> > tried
>> > to use a PC as a kiln controller? ...... and what else would be
>> > needed.
>> > Are there any resources (websites, books, etc) that tackle this sort of
>> > thing?
>>
>> > Thanks,
>> > Byrd
>>
>> A PC is not reliable for controlling a kiln. An industrial grade
>> temperature controller with ramp/soak functions is what you need. Add a
>> solid state relay, a thermocouple, a mechanical contactor, and some wire
>> and you have a good controller. $300.
>>
>> I built my own 3'x5'x1' bell kiln for $2200 including the controller.
>>
>> http://tinyurl.com/29bdav
>>
>> The best website for glass kiln working iswww.warmglass.com
>>
>
> nJB, what you really mean is that a computer is incomplete. It's
> perfectly suitable for controlling temperature change over time. You
> just need the ancillary hardware you mention and some software. Which
> is exactly what you get when you buy an off the shelf kiln computer.
>
> Jack, I built my own electric kiln. Very different from what you're
> interested in, but doubtless you'll still find some usefull
> information. I diarized the entire project here:
> http://www.m2crafts.ca/kiln.html
> As for controlling it. I power pairs of serial wired elements with
> infinite switches similar to electric range switches. The switches
> have stops at seven intervals. I wrote myself a very simple computer
> program that allows me to enter the current temperature of the kiln
> and plots the change against a desired curve. It allows me to know
> how/when to change the power to the elements. Since I'm unwilling to
> leave the kiln alone for an entire firing I don't see the point in
> having the computer do more than that.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Mark.
>
| 
XML site map