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General Guidelines
Thermocouple Inspection
The small rod protruding into the firing chamber is the
temperature sensor, or thermocouple.
Caution: Bumping the thermocouple can push it
out of the firing chamber. This could cause an
overfire! The controller does not contain an alarm to
detect this type of failure.
■
A 1/8" diameter thermocouple should extend into the fir-
ing chamber ½" - 5/8".
■
A ¼" diameter thermocouple should extend into the fir-
ing chamber 1" or more.
■
Keep shelves, posts and ware 1" - 1 ½" away from the
thermocouple.
How to Get IdLE to Display
Operations begin from
IdLE
appears in the display window.
■
If
,
, or other message appears instead of
CPLt
SToP
when the kiln is first turned on, press the
IdLE
START/STOP key (the key with the circular arrow).
will appear.
IdLE
■
If you press START/STOP during a firing,
pear. To get back to
■
If the display shows an error message such as
stead of
IdLE
, see page 6.
■
(firing completed) appears at the end of a firing.
CPLt
appear, press START/STOP.
To make
IdLE
Firing Modes: Single Segment
and Ramp-Hold
There are two ways to fire the Sentry Xpress:
Single Segment Choose one of five firing speeds.
■
Then enter the temperature you are firing to.
Ramp-Hold This method includes four "segments."
■
Use the Single Segment firing method for simple firings.
Reasons to use the more complex Ramp-Hold mode:
■
To use more than one firing rate. An example: firing at a
fast rate and then slowing down near the end to avoid a
temperature over-shoot.
■
To hold, or maintain, a temperature for a period of time,
at some point below the target temperature.
■
To cool at a controlled rate.
Program Review
With Program Review, you can check that the correct rate,
temperature, etc. are entered. It is a good habit to do this be-
fore every firing. See "How to Repeat a Firing," next page.
■
Program Review during firing: press the Down ar-
row key. The rate, temperature, hold, etc. will display one
after the other. Firing will continue.
Program Review from IdLE: press the Down arrow
■
key. After rate, temperature, hold, etc.,
Press the Down arrow again.
. You can't fire the kiln until
IdLE
SToP
, press START/STOP again.
IdLE
will appear.
Strt
IdLE
will appear.
Definition of a Segment
A segment is the most basic part of a firing. A segment in-
cludes a target temperature and a heating rate to reach that
temperature. Shown in diagram A is a segment with a target
temperature of 750°.
Diagram A: a single segment.
Firing rate is figured in degrees of temperature per hour.
Since the temperature above takes two hours to reach 750°,
the rate is 750 ÷2 = 375° per hour.
Diagram B below shows three rates. A rate of 1000° will
reach 1000° in 1 hour. A rate of 500° will reach 1000° in 2
will ap-
hours. A rate of 333° will reach 1000° in 3 hours.
in-
FAIL
Diagram B: Rate is degrees per hour. This diagram shows 3 rates.
Diagram C: a single segment with hold.
3
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