The Orton-Paragon Sentry Xpress 4.0 Digital Programmer.

Before February 2019, Paragon used three programmers: a 3-key Sentry Xpress 4.0 or a 12-key Sentry 2.0 programmer developed by the Orton Ceramic Foundation and Paragon, or a Sentinel SmartTouch touch-screen programmer developed by Bartlett and Paragon.

In February 2019, two of the programmers were modified, leading to the 3-key Sentry Xpress 5.0 and the 12-key Sentry 3.0 programmer. The modifications have little effect on the basic functionality so kilns might ship with the older programmers for some time.

All three are made as ramp-hold, or cone-fire and ramp-hold. Your kiln will have the appropriate programmer although, if it has a Sentry Xpress ramp-hold, you can upgrade to a cone-fire and ramp-hold. If the case is large enough, you can upgrade from a Sentry Xpress 3-key to a Sentry 12-key or a Sentinel touch-screen.

Generally, the programmers on bead annealing, enamelling, glass, jewellery, knife-making, and metal clay kilns have one firing mode: ramp-hold. And the programmers on ceramics, earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware kilns have two firing modes: cone-fire and ramp-hold.

Unlike calculators, programmers aren't made 10 million at a time. Although they look like fairly simple circuit boards, they have embedded sophisticated pre-loaded software that has taken years to develop and refine.

Don't work on your kiln on any surface that might get scratched. Unplug the kiln. In the factory, screws are put in tightly with an electric screwdriver. When removing them, use the correct-size screwdriver. As with any screw, the wrong size screwdriver can damage the head, making it difficult to remove. And, when refitting them, don't over-tighten them in case the thread strips.

Paragon Kilns, Furnaces, and Ovens For Annealing, Beads, Ceramics, Enamels, Glass, Jewellery, Knife Making, Lost Wax, Silver Clays, Heat Treating, Lampwork, Porcelain, And Vitrigraph.