Theory Of Operation; Programming; The Stop/Back Key; Correcting Entries - Orton Sentry 2.0 Operating Instructions Manual

If you are using a portable, separate controller, you will
need to install the thermocouple onto the kiln. See the sep-
arate TnF 2 installation instructions.

Theory of Operation

The temperature you are firing to is called the target
temperature. After the Sentry reaches the target tempera-
ture, it can also hold that temperature.
The Sentry fires at a controlled heating rate. The rate is
figured in degrees per hour. If you selected a rate of 100°
per hour, it would take 10 hours for the furnace to reach
1000°. Rate is similar to "miles per hour."
In summary, the Sentry does three basic tasks:
1) It fires at a controlled heating rate, or speed, mea-
sured in degrees of temperature change per hour.
2) It fires to a target temperature.
3) It can hold the target temperature.
The Sentry fires in segments, or stages. A segment is a
given heating rate to a target temperature. Shown above is a
segment with a target temperature of 1250° and a rate of
625°, with a hold of one hour.
Heating rate is figured in degrees per hour. The recom-
mended heating rate for the material you are firing is usu-
ally available from your supplier. It also varies depending
on the thickness of the material.
To figure how long a firing segment will take, subtract
the current temperature from the target temperature and
divide the resultant temperature by the heating rate. In the
diagram above, the firing time is 1250° - 80° (room tempera-
ture) = 1170 ÷625 = 1.87 hours.
The Sentry can fire up to 18 segments per firing. One
segment is often all that is needed, though.
After the Sentry has finished firing the last segment, it
will turn off power to the kiln.
6
Chapter 2

Programming

Instructions
Before using your Sentry, read all of this
chapter. Have your controller in front of
you so that you can try out the keys as you
read.

The Stop/Back Key

You can stop a firing by pressing
. (The only time the
not work during a firing is when the alarm
sounds. Press any key besides
If you enter Options, you do not have to go through all
the prompts to get back out. Press
During programming, the
back one step with each key press, so it is easy to make cor-
rections.

Correcting Entries

If you enter the wrong temperature, rate, etc., while pro-
gramming, enter 0000. Then enter the correct numbers be-
fore pressing .

Storing User Programs

To program the control-
ler, must appear.
From press . The
first message you will see is
, meaning "Choose
one of your programs or en-
ter a new one." The seg-
ments you enter will be
stored in memory. Segments
stored in memory are called
a firing schedule, or pro-
gram.
The controller can hold
four "user" programs in
memory. They stay in memory even when the power is
turned off. User programs are numbered from 1 through 4.
User program #1 can have up to 18 segments. User pro-
grams #2 - #4 can have ten segments each. You don't have
to use all the segments available—only the number needed
per firing. Often one segment is all you will need.
When entering a program for the first time, press when
appears. Your first firing will be stored as User Pro-
gram #1.
key does
to turn off the alarm.)
to go to .
key will take you
When USER ap-
pears, the con-
troller is asking
you to select a
stored program.
If you have none
in memory, press
1 and enter your
first program.