Ppendix – Skutt KilnMaster Kilns Manufactured after March 1 2006 User Manual
Page 43
43
a
ppendix
3 —
h
eatwOrK
Heatwork is the measurement of the effects of time and temperature. In Ceramics, this
measurement is gauged through the use of Pyrometric Cones. They are composed of materials
which are carefully measured and compressed into the shape of a tetrahedron. The cones are
placed in the kiln on a shelf with your ware and, when they have received the proper amount of
heatwork, they bend over indicating that it is time to turn off the kiln.
Pyrometric Cones come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Each size and shape has a different
temperature chart associated with it. The chart below is based on a Large Self-Supporting Cone
and has become the standard for commercial clay bodies, glazes and controller software.
All clay bodies and glazes are designed to fire to a certain cone value. In a KilnMaster Kiln the
computer calculates the heatwork and shuts the kiln off at the proper heat and time combination.
This is called Cone Correlation. ConeFire Mode programs all are controlled by Cone
Correlation, Ramp and Hold Programs are not
Skutt Kilns are designed to fire a range of cone values from 022 to 10. As you can see by the chart below, the
temperature associated with each cone value gradually increases from 022 to 10. It is very important not to forget
to add the leading zero when entering a cone value (if it is required) or the kiln
will fire much hotter than you want it to.
Remember that heatwork is the combination of time and temperature. This is most
important during the last 200 °F of the firing. If the kiln is firing very slow during
this period, the controller will automatically adjust the temperature down to ensure
the ware does not receive too much heatwork. The cone values listed in the chart
are only valid if the kiln is firing at exactly 108 °F/hr. during the last 200 °F of the
firing. That is why it is very important to know the capabilities of your kiln when
writing Ramp Hold Programs or entering Hold times.
We recommend that you still use Self Supporting Witness cones on every firing
to monitor the accuracy of your kiln. Place the appropriate cone on a shelf
approximately 2 inches from the kiln wall and two inches from the tip of the
thermocouple. Make sure the space
between the thermocouple and cone is
unobstructed.
The Cone Measuring Template shown
here can be used to determine the exact
bend measured in degrees of angle. A
perfect bend is considered to be at 90
degrees.
Remember that cones can vary slightly
and are meant to be a general indicator
of the heatwork within the kiln. Bends
between 20 degrees and the tip of the
cone just above the shelf are acceptable
for most projects. If you fine your
bends are consistently low or high you
can usually fine tune the heatwork by
adjusting Hold times.
a
PPendiCes
Cone
No.
◦F
◦C
022
1087
586
021
1112
600
020
1159
626
019
1252
678
018
1319
715
017
1360
738
016
1422
772
015
1456
791
014
1485
807
013
1539
837
012
1582
861
011
1607
875
010
1657
903
09
1688
920
08
1728
942
07
1789
976
06
1828
998
051/2
1859
1015
05
1888
1031
04
1945
1063
03
1987
1086
02
2016
1102
01
2046
1119
1
2079
1137
2
2088
1142
3
2106
1152
4
2124
1162
5
2167
1186
51/2
2197
1203
6
2232
1222
7
2262
1239
8
2280
1249
9
2300
1260
10
2345
1285