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Precise firing is critical to production artists working with sensitive materials or anyone who must achieve consistent results when firing unbalanced loads, either because of configuration of their ware, or because of deadline demands.
Electric kilns naturally fire hotter at the center. Skutt elements are balanced to counteract this tendency. In addition, uneven loads absorb heat at different rates, depending on the mass of each section of the kiln. For example, if you fire a load of tiles in racks at the bottom of the kiln, topped by slender vases, it is likely that the tiles at the bottom of the kiln will be under fired.
At one time, the only answer to controlling specific heat zones of a kiln was a combination of multiple thermocouples and very costly industrial electronic controllers. Today advanced technology has made multiple thermocouple controllers feasible and affordable in Skutt Kilnmaster Zone Control Kilns, which are ideal for bisque manufacturers, production porcelain artists, production glass artists and production tile artists.
Skutt Zone Control Kilns have a thermocouple in each section. As the kiln temperature increases, they sense any temperature variation, or lag within as little as 5 degrees F. The controller then processes the information for each section and determines whether the section is following the firing program. If the section is firing cool, it will send a signal to the relay to energize the element in the cool section.
The result is precise firing accuracy throughout the kiln, usually combined with a modest increase in firing times. You can fire any load with increased confidence.
Zone Control turns off the warmer section and fires the cooler section until they catch up. Then all sections resume firing as usual, ensuring uniformity throughout the entire load.
Please e-mail us for zone control prices added to your kiln order.
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