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Before February 2019, Paragon used three programmers: a Sentry Xpress 4.0 3-key or a Sentry 2.0 12-key developed by the Orton Ceramic Foundation and Paragon, or a Sentinel SmartTouch touch-screen programmer developed by Bartlett and Paragon.
In February 2019, two were modified, leading to the Sentry Xpress 5.0 3-key and the Sentry 3.0 12-key. The modifications had 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 it to cone-fire ramp-hold. If the kiln's front panel is large enough, you can upgrade from a Sentry Xpress 3-key to a Sentry 12-key or a Sentinel SmartTouch.
Generally, the programmers on kilns for bead annealing, enamelling, glass, jewellery, knife-making, and metal clays have one firing mode: ramp-hold. And the programmers on kilns for ceramics, earthenware, porcelain, and stoneware have two firing modes: cone-fire and ramp-hold.
Unlike calculators, programmers aren't made 10 million at a time. Although they look like simple circuit boards, they include sophisticated feature-rich embedded software that has taken years to develop and refine.
| RAMP HOLD |
The programmer runs a sequence that you have set, or one that's in its memory from a previous firing. A sequence usually has a mix of ramp and hold segments, for example: it could heat to 800°C at full speed then hold for 30 minutes. When the sequence ends, the programmer beeps, and the kiln cools in it's own time.
A ramp segment of a sequence can control the rate of heating or cooling, for example: the kiln could heat up at 200°C per hour from 200°C to 800°C, which would take three hours. Or, the kiln could cool down at 100°C per hour from 600°C to 200°C, which would take four hours.
The heating rate cannot exceed the rate at which the kiln would heat up if it was full on. The cooling rate cannot exceed the rate at which the kiln would cool if it was turned off. At full speed the elements are on all the time. During set ramps and holds they turn on and off repeatedly to maintain the heating rate, hold temperature, or cooling rate.
Cherry Heaven TV provides on-line programmes on the Cherry Heaven TV Player. To use the player, click the controls or drag the time-line slider or volume slider to a new position.
If the kiln you've chosen has a Sentry 12-key programmer, or you're considering an upgrade, here's a Cherry Heaven TV programme about setting a ramp-hold sequence.
| CONE FIRE |
Cone-fire is simple: just enter the cone number. Although they're a great time-saver, you'll learn more about firing if you sometimes use ramp-hold: each segment of a sequence can have a heating rate, target temperature, and hold time. It's easier to adjust sequences, add segments, experiment, and copy published sequences for materials that may need stepped heating or cooling.
The programmer is easy to use: far easier than a central heating programmer. Here's a Cherry Heaven TV programme about setting a cone-fire sequence. Setting a cone number means that the programmer will run a sequence of segments automatically. Of course, UK-EU programmers will be in degrees Celsius.
Cherry Heaven TV provides on-line radio and television programmes using the Cherry Heaven Player. To play, pause, or stop the player, or adjust the volume, click the controls or, whilst it's playing, drag the time-line slider to a new position.
| THE SENTRY XPRESS 3-KEY DIGITAL CONTROLLER: RAMP-HOLD |
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Generally, this ramp-hold programmer is used on smaller kilns, such as the BlueBird and SC-2, or on glass kilns like the CS and Fusion. You can set up, and re-use, four sequences of up to eight heating, holding, and cooling segments: and do something else whilst the sequence is running. Ramp-hold also allows you to programme slow cooling: useful, for example, for annealing or controlling the colours of ceramic glazes.
Paragon programmers do not have pre-set ramp-hold programmes: you can easily set up and re-use your own. Pre-set fixed programmes might seem to be an advantage. However, having experimented and diversified, many people fire materials, or combinations of materials, at different temperatures and for different times than are recommended.
Some of its features are:
Skip Segment skips past a segment during Ramp-Hold firing.
Hold maintains the temperature for a set time.
Program Review lets you check that the program you are about to fire is correct.
Temperature Display throughout firing and cooling can be set to °F or °C.
Error Messages report problems such as a disconnected thermocouple, stuck relay, or broken element.
Delay starts a count-down timer which sets a delayed start time.
It stores four sequences.
Three LEDs show whether you are in programme, review, or firing mode.
The programmer beeps when the set firing sequence comes to an end.
Your kiln will come with a comprehensive instruction manual. Drying and firing metal clays is consistently easy whereas when working with glass you'll probably need to experiment.
| SENTRY XPRESS 3-KEY DIGITAL CONTROLLER: CONE-FIRE OR RAMP-HOLD |
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Generally, this programmer is used on high-temperature kilns, such as the Caldera and Xpress. You can set up your own sequences using up to eight segments. There are two firing modes:
Ramp-Hold, generally used for enamelling metal clays, glass fusing, and glass slumping, allows you to customize the firing using multiple times and temperatures in eight different segments.
Ramp-Hold also allows you to programme slow cooling: useful, for example, for controlling the colours of ceramic glazes. However, plainly, the kiln cannot cool any quicker than it would do if the power was turned off.
Cone-Fire, generally used for ceramics, pottery, stoneware, glazes, china painting, and decals, fires to a set pyrometric cone number listed in the Orton cone tables. It's not designed for Art Clay, heat treating, glass work, and enameling.
Cone-Fire will only be successful if you understand how cones and cone numbers work. Unlike a programmer, a cone is a visual indicator that your work has been fired for the correct combination of kiln temperature, kiln atmosphere, and time.
Some of its features are:
Skip Segment skips past a segment during Ramp-Hold firing.
Hold maintains the temperature for a set time.
Program Review lets you check that the program you are about to fire is correct.
Temperature Display throughout firing and cooling can be set to °F or °C.
Error Messages report problems such as a disconnected thermocouple, stuck relay, or broken element.
Delay starts a count-down timer which sets a delayed start time.
It stores four sequences.
Three LEDs show whether you are in programme, review, or firing mode.
The programmer beeps when the set firing sequence comes to an end.
Your kiln will come with a comprehensive instruction manual. Drying and firing metal clays is consistently easy whereas, working with ceramics, you'll probably need to experiment.
| SENTRY XPRESS 12-KEY DIGITAL CONTROLLER |
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Generally, this programmer is used on the larger kilns where it's extra features are important. There are two configurations: ramp-hold and cone-fire ramp-hold.
Ramp-Hold, generally used for enamelling, glass work and metal clays allows you to customize the firing using multiple times and temperatures in up to twenty different segments.
Ramp-Hold also allows you to programme slow cooling: useful, for example, for controlling the colours of ceramic glazes. However, plainly, the kiln cannot cool any quicker than it would do if the power was turned off.
Cone-Fire, generally used for ceramics, pottery, stoneware, glazes, china painting, and decals, fires to a set pyrometric cone number listed in the Orton cone tables.
Cone-Fire will only be successful if you understand how cones and cone numbers work. Unlike a programmer, a cone is a visual indicator that your work has been fired for the correct combination of kiln temperature, kiln atmosphere, and time. To learn more about cone numbers and cone-firing, go to cone-fire using the link below the menu bar.
Some of its features are:
Nine ramp-hold programmes, one with twenty segments, the others with ten.
Stop/Back goes back one step at a time to correct programming errors.
Add Time adds five minutes to a hold.
Delay starts a count-down timer which sets a delayed start time.
Present Status shows the segment that is currently running.
Program Review lets you check that the programme you are about to fire is correct.
Temperature Display throughout firing and cooling can be set to °F or °C.
Options to set up aspects of the sequence.
Error Messages report problems such as a disconnected thermocouple, stuck relay, or broken element.
Three LEDs show whether you are in programme, review, or firing mode.
The programmer beeps when the set firing sequence comes to an end.
It connects to a computer via an RS232 interface to monitor the sequence and produce grahical data.
It can control a kiln vent.
It can control a gas flow meter.
Your kiln will come with a comprehensive instruction manual. Drying and firing metal clays is consistently easy whereas, working with ceramics, you'll probably need to experiment.
| SENTINEL SMART TOUCH DIGITAL CONTROLLER |
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The Sentinel is a direct replacement for the Sentry 12-key. It fits in the same space and uses the same wiring harness, so it takes just a few minutes to change.
Generally, this programmer is used on the larger kilns where it's extra features are important. There are two configurations: ramp-hold and cone-fire ramp-hold.
Ramp-Hold, generally used for enamelling, glass work and metal clays allows you to customize the firing using multiple times and temperatures in up to twenty different segments.
Ramp-Hold also allows you to programme slow cooling: useful, for example, for controlling the colours of ceramic glazes. However, plainly, the kiln cannot cool any quicker than it would do if the power was turned off.
Cone-Fire, generally used for ceramics, pottery, stoneware, glazes, china painting, and decals, fires to a set pyrometric cone number listed in the Orton cone tables.
Cone-Fire will only be successful if you understand how cones and cone numbers work. Unlike a programmer, a cone is a visual indicator that your work has been fired for the correct combination of kiln temperature, kiln atmosphere, and time. To learn more about cone numbers and cone-firing, go to cone-fire using the link below the menu bar.
Here's a Cherry Heaven TV programme about using the Sentinel. Of course, UK-EU programmers will be in degrees Celsius.
Cherry Heaven TV provides on-line radio and television programmes using the Cherry Heaven Player. To play, pause, or stop the player, or adjust the volume, click the controls or, whilst it's playing, drag the time-line slider to a new position.
Some of its features are:
Easy-clean touch screen.
Wi-Fi enabled for updates.
Continuous display of the voltage, in case there are any issues during firing.
Continuous display of the current, in case the elements are wearing.
Novice Mode with on-screen prompts.
Twelve ramp-hold programmes, each one with thirty two segments.
Skip Step will delete the current segment.
Add Segments adds extra segment to the whole programme.
Add Temperature increases the temperature of the current segment
Add Time adds time to a hold.
Delay starts a count-down timer which sets a delayed start time.
Present Status shows the segment that is currently running.
Program Review lets you check that the programme you are about to fire is correct.
Temperature Display throughout firing and cooling can be set to °F or °C.
Options to set up aspects of the sequence.
Error Messages report problems such as a disconnected thermocouple, stuck relay, or broken element.
The programmer beeps when the set firing sequence comes to an end.
It can control a kiln vent.
It can control a gas flow meter.
Your kiln will come with a comprehensive instruction manual. Drying and firing metal calys is consistently easy whereas, with heat treating, you'll probably need to experiment.
| FUSING GLASS |
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If you've worked with with Art Clay, PMC, enamels, or glass, you'll probably know how a ramp-hold programmer works but, if you want to fuse properly, it'll help if you understand a multipart sequence. Here's a typical full fuse programme for pieces up to about 500mm square.
Segment 1. Ramp at 222°C per hour to 677°C and hold for 30 minutes
Segment 2. Ramp at 333°C per hour to 804°C and hold for 10 minutes
Segment 3. Ramp at 999°C per hour to 482°C and hold for 60 minutes
Segment 4. Ramp at 083°C per hour to 371°C and let it cool naturally
This is only a suggestion, so you'll need to buy a book, go to classes, experiment, or research on line. Generally, if you get cracks or bubbles, slow down the ramp rate.
| CONE-FIRE |
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If you've worked with with Art Clay, PMC, enamels, or glass, you'll probably know how a ramp-hold programmer works but, if you want to work with ceramics, it'll help if you understand pyrometric cones. Although you don't have to use pre-set cone programmes: if you prefer, just set your own.
Pyrometric cones are slender pyramids, made from about 100 carefully controlled compositions, that measure the effect of time and temperature. As the cone nears its maturing range, it softens and the tip begins to bend down under it's own weight. Ceramics are usually sold with firing instructions, which include the cone number.
Cone-Fire, generally used for ceramics, pottery, stoneware, glazes, china painting, and decals, fires to a set pyrometric cone number listed in the Orton cone tables. It isn't used for Art Clay, heat treating, glass work, and enameling.
Cone-Fire will only be successful if you understand how cones and cone numbers work. Unlike a programmer, a cone is a visual indicator that your work has been fired for the correct combination of kiln temperature, kiln atmosphere, and time.
If you bought a ceramics kiln with a cone-fire programmer, you can fire using cones because the programmer is set up to use cone numbers. If you have a ramp-hold programmer, you'll need to be able to convert cone numbers to temperature and time. Of course, you can't use a cone that matures at a higher temperature than your kiln can maintain.
Cone numbers were originally set from 1 to 10, 1 being the coolest but cooler cones were then introduced from 022 to 01. To fire faster or slower than the segments listed, change the rates by 10 - 20%. However, the last segment should always be 108. The list below starts with the coolest, and is in degrees Fahrenheit.
Cone 022
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 0979
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1087
Cone 021
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1004
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1112
Cone 020
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1051
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1159
Cone 019
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1144
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1252
Cone 018
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1211
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1319
Cone 017
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1252
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1360
Cone 016
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1314
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1422
Cone 015
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1348
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1456
Cone 014
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1377
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1485
Cone 013
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1431
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1539
Cone 012
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1474
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1582
Cone 011
Segment 1 Rate: 396 Temperature: 1499
Segment 2 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1607
Cone 010
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1549
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1657
Cone 09
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1580
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1688
Cone 08
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1620
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1728
Cone 07
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1681
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1789
Cone 06
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1720
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1828
Cone 05
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1780
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1888
Cone 04
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1837
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1945
Cone 03
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1879
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 1987
Cone 02
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1908
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2016
Cone 01
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 180 Temperature: 1938
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2046
Cone 1
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 1863
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2079
Cone 2
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 1872
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2088
Cone 3
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 1890
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2106
Cone 4
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 1908
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2124
Cone 5
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 1951
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2167
Cone 6
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 2016
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2232
Cone 7
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 2046
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2262
Cone 8
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 2064
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2280
Cone 9
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 2084
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2300
Cone 10
Segment 1 Rate: 324 Temperature: 1022
Segment 2 Rate: 153 Temperature: 1112
Segment 3 Rate: 162 Temperature: 2129
Segment 4 Rate: 108 Temperature: 2345
As with so many things, there isn't a set of definitive rules about how to fire materials. Although you can be guided by friends, teachers, books, and the internet, part of the enjoyment and satisfaction comes from experiment.
