Skip Segment; Segments For Controlled Cooling; Sample Firing Schedules; Cone-Fire Program Modified In Ramp-Hold - Paragon DTC 1000 Operation & Maintenance Instructions Manual

Advanced Ramp-Hold

Segments for Controlled Cooling

For controlled cooling, program a segment to a lower tem-
perature than that of the preceding segment.
If you prop the lid for a fast cooling, program a fast rate. If
you program a slow cooling rate, but lower the temperature
quickly by propping the lid, the controller will defeat your fast
cooling. It will raise the temperature again.
For instance, glass fusers sometimes flash-cool the glass at
the end of fusing. They lift the lid slightly to remove heat, then
close the lid again. This takes the glass down rapidly through
the devitrification range. To program a flash-cool, the artist
would program a lower temperature segment with a rate of
9999.
Suppose you enter a cooling rate that is faster than the
kiln's natural cooling rate? The controller will wait for the kiln
to catch up. Then it will continue its controlled cooling. The
controller, of course, cannot speed cooling beyond the kiln's
natural cooling rate.
CAUTION:
During fast cooling, do not open the lid
/door all the way. Do not force-cool the kiln with a fan.

Skip Segment

You may need to skip a segment in Ramp-Hold. For in-
stance, you are firing to cone 05 for the first time. You program
the last segment to soak for 30 minutes at 1850°F. (This is a
few degrees below cone 05.) You are not sure at what tempera-
ture the cone will bend during this first firing.
At 1850°F, the alarm beeps, alerting you to check the wit-
ness cone on the kiln shelf. You look into the peephole every
few minutes to check the cone. After a 10 minute hold, the
shelf cone 05 bends to maturity. Using "Skip Segment," the
controller begins a cool-down segment. Skip Segment stops
the current segment and starts the next segment.
Skip Segment works only during firing and only in
Ramp-Hold, not Cone-Fire. To skip a segment, press 9 .
will appear. If you change your mind and don't want to
SStP
skip that segment, do nothing and the firing will continue as it
was. If you still want to skip the segment, press ENTER .
will appear along with the segment number you just skipped
to.
Press 5 ("Present Status") if you are not sure which seg-
ment the firing has reached. Then skip the segment.

Sample Firing Schedules

We have included these firing schedules only as examples.
Each one illustrates a different way to use your DTC 1000.
When designing a firing schedule for materials you are unfa-
miliar with, or when using one of these schedules, test-fire
samples first. Firing schedule temperatures are shown in °F
for simplicity.
To fire ceramics in Ramp-Hold, set the last firing segment
to a cone temperature. If you use a temperature in the
Cone-Fire Cone Table, set the last firing segment rate to
108°F/60°C hour. (Cone temperatures in the Cone Table are
based upon a rate of 108°F/60°C during the last 1 - 2 hours.)
Cone-Fire Program Modified in
Ramp-Hold
The following firing schedule is similar to the Medium
Speed Cone-Fire program, fired to cone 04. A slow-cooling
segment was added. (Cone-Fire Medium firing schedule is
shown on page 7.)
Segment
1
2
3
4
In this schedule, the kiln will cool at 150°F/83°C per hour to
1000°F/537°C. Some ceramists use slow cooling with certain
glazes.

Sculptured Stoneware Bisque

Firing Schedule, Cone 04

This slow firing is for thick stoneware. Change the target
temperature in segment 4 when firing to a different pyromet-
ric cone. The ware should be bone dry. Test sample pieces.
Leave peephole plugs out and vent the lid. Set the alarm to
°1000 F. When the alarm sounds, close the lid from venting po-
sition. Set the alarm again, this time to 1850° F. When it
sounds, check the witness cone through the peephole. When
the cone bends to six o'clock, write down the temperature.
(Use that temperature in segment 4 on your next firing of the
same type of ware.) Then press 9 , ENTER (Skip Segment).
This will advance you to segment 5, a slow cooling segment.
Do not open the lid until the kiln has cooled to room tempera-
ture.
Segment
1
2
3
4
rA
5

Glass Fusing Firing Schedule

(See next page.) Stained glass,
fusing temperature will vary depending on the brand of glass,
and even upon the color. Set the alarm to 500°F. When the
alarm sounds, close the lid from venting position and insert
peephole plugs. Set the alarm again, this time to 1350°F. When
it sounds, check the glass through the peephole. When the
glass fuses to your satisfaction, write down the temperature
and hold time for future firings, and press 9 , ENTER (Skip
Segment).
This will advance you to segment 3, a flash cooling seg-
ment. Lift the kiln lid slightly or open the door ajar until the
temperature drops to 1050° F. Then close the door/lid. The
kiln will cool slowly through the annealing range, then turn off.
Rate Target
Per Hour Temp.
110°F 250°F
400°F 1695°F
108°F 1945°F
150°F 1000°F
Rate Target
Per Hour Temp.
60°F 200°F
80°F 700°F
80°F 1100°F
108°F 1945°F
150°F 1400°F
", 2 layers, full fuse. The
1
8
Hold
00.00
00.00
00.00
00.00
Hold
03.00
02.00
00.00
00.00
00.00
11