PARAGON CONTROLLER
RAMP PROGRAM
BACK
This
is an explanation of
how I have it programmed my Paragon Controller. I wrote it up for another beadmaker who
asked for some help with their Paragon. I am posting it in case
it might be useful to someone else. I do not know if it will
work with any other Paragon model.
THE PROGRAM
Program #1
Ramp Up - Anneal - Ramp Down Slow Med Fast
|
|
Segment
|
Description
|
Rate Of
Cooling rA1
|
Target
Temperature F
|
Hold
Time Hld1
|
|
1
|
Heat as
Fast as Possible
|
9999
(+)
|
950
|
9:00
|
|
2
|
Heat to
Annealing Temp
|
9999
(+)
|
960
|
1:00
|
|
3
|
Slow
Cool
|
400
(-)
|
650
|
0:00
|
|
4
|
Med
Cool
|
500
(-)
|
500
|
0:00
|
|
5
|
Fast
Cool
|
9999
(-)
|
350
|
0:00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EXPLANATION
OF PROGRAM:
In this
program, (which is the one I use)
the kiln is heated as quickly as possible to 950F and then
stays at 950F for up to 9 hours because that is about the longest I
will sit and make beads
When I get
done making beads, I skip to the next segment by pressing key #9.
The kiln then
heats to the final annealing temperature 960F and holds it for an
hour. I anneal for an
hour based on the size of the beads I make.
The hold time could be 2 hours or whatever.
After an
hour, the controller starts a very slow cool down at a rate of 400
degrees an hour until it reaches 650 which is past the strain point.
I think I selected this slow cool rate based on James
Kervin’s Book "More that you ever wanted to know about
Glass Beadmaking" .
When the kiln
reaches 650, then the Medium Cool down starts at a rate of 500 degrees
an hour until the kiln reaches 500 degrees.
Then I go to
fast cool – 9999 means it cools as fast as possible.
When it reaches 350 it shuts itself off.
You could
probably create 2 programs – one to ramp up and one to ramp down –
I just find this easier. Also
since I always use the same program, it is very easy to start it.
ENTERING THE PROGRAM
This
may help you if you are trying to enter the program described
above. If you do not own a Paragon controller, this will make no
sense at all so just go to the bottom of the page to continue on the
Studio Tour.
|
You
Do
|
It
Does
|
What
is going on
|
|
Apply
Power
|
ErrP
|
Controller
Speak – that’s what it says. I don't know why
|
|
Press
Enter
|
Idle
|
Controller
Speak – that’s what it says I
dont know why.
|
|
Press
Enter
|
--------
|
Controller
Happy Speak the
line means it is ready to go
|
|
Press
Key #4
|
USEr/1
|
You
press 4 to tell it you
want to enter a Ramp Hold program
|
|
Press 1
|
1
|
You
press 1 if you want to call this program 1. If
you wanted to call it 2, you press 2.
It displays the program number you have entered
|
|
Press
Enter
|
SEG
|
It
wants the number of segments in the program
|
|
Press 5
|
5
|
The
program I gave you above has 5 segments
|
|
Press
Enter
|
RA1
|
It
wants the ramp rate for Segment 1
|
|
Press
9999
|
9999
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
F1
|
It
wants the target temperature for Segment 1
|
|
Press
950
|
950
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
HLd1
|
It
wants the hold time for Segment 1
|
|
Press
900
|
9:00
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
RA2
|
It
wants the ramp rate for Segment 2
|
|
Press
9999
|
9999
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
F2
|
It
wants the target temperature for Segment 2
|
|
Press
960
|
960
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
HLd2
|
It
wants the hold time for Segment 2
|
|
Press
100
|
1:00
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
RA3
|
It
wants the ramp rate for Segment 3
|
|
Press
400
|
400
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
F3
|
It
wants the target temperature for Segment 3
|
|
Press
650
|
650
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
HLd3
|
It
wants the hold time for Segment 3
|
|
Press 0
|
0:00
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
RA4
|
It
wants the ramp rate for Segment 4
|
|
Press
500
|
500
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
F4
|
It
wants the target temperature for Segment 4
|
|
Press
500
|
500
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
HLd4
|
It
wants the hold time for Segment 4
|
|
Press 0
|
0:00
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
RA5
|
It
wants the ramp rate for Segment 5
|
|
Press
999
|
999
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
F4
|
It
wants the target temperature for Segment 5
|
|
Press
350
|
350
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
HLd4
|
It
wants the hold time for Segment 5
|
|
Press 0
|
0:00
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
ALAr
|
It
wants the temperature to set off an alarm
|
|
Press
1000
|
1000
|
I think
this sets alarm to go off if tem reaches 1000
|
|
Press
Enter
|
Cpl
IDLE Temp
|
It
flashes the temperature in the kiln which should be room temp
|
|
Press
Enter
|
-------
|
|
|
Press
Enter
|
-On_
|
Only
press enter if you want to turn the kiln
on.
|
|