Heat Soak Feature?

[Powder_Coating_Pros]

Does anyone have this feature on their oven?

IF SO

Why would you use it? Does it just ramp up slow for ceramic pottery>? Do you use this for powder coating or ceramic paints?

[ed_denu]

I don't have the ramp/soak feature on my controller. I use my oven for powder coating and imo, any oven of significant size will heat up slowly regardless, especially on the initial start. I rely on an IR thermometer to measure part temperature and once at cure temperature I begin the counter for the duration.

Ramp/soak might be useful for very large, thick parts which take considerable time to get to temperature. For these, I usually do this process manually by setting the temperature lower until the part begins to heat, then raising it to the desired temp.

[CarWiz]

The ramp soak is used for kilns and heat treating metals. It's also a way to time your bake. It eliminates the necessity for additional timer in the circuit. Some of the PIDs have this feature and you can program multiple steps as well as soak times for the steps. Ceramics often need slow ramp and heating steps so they don't crack. Some metals need this as well during heat treating.

[Powder_Coating_Pros]

Originally Posted by CarWiz

The ramp soak is used for kilns and heat treating metals. It's also a way to time your bake. It eliminates the necessity for additional timer in the circuit. Some of the PIDs have this feature and you can program multiple steps as well as soak times for the steps. Ceramics often need slow ramp and heating steps so they don't crack. Some metals need this as well during heat treating.

I understand.....


Will this feature in some way shape or form help consistent temperatures?

[CarWiz]

Originally Posted by Powder_Coating_Pros

Will this feature in some way shape or form help consistent temperatures?

Temperature consistency is a function of the PID logic itself. The ramp and soak features are just a bonus. The PID parameters can be set to compensate for various oven conditions. The PID allows the user to make adjustments to logic parameters for a number of factors. It might be good for you to research the concept of PIDs and how/when to change the parameters. Most folks simply use them as thermostats and on rare occasions use the Auto Set function. In this mode, the PID "learns" and sets it's own parameters based on conditions in the oven and it's programed "fuzzy" logic. The PID is a very competent computer with some sophisticated logic programing that comes very close to artificial intelligence. Knowing how to use it can be a big benefit over just using it for a thermostat.

[Powder_Coating_Pros]

Originally Posted by CarWiz

Temperature consistency is a function of the PID logic itself. The ramp and soak features are just a bonus. The PID parameters can be set to compensate for various oven conditions. The PID allows the user to make adjustments to logic parameters for a number of factors. It might be good for you to research the concept of PIDs and how/when to change the parameters. Most folks simply use them as thermostats and on rare occasions use the Auto Set function. In this mode, the PID "learns" and sets it's own parameters based on conditions in the oven and it's programed "fuzzy" logic. The PID is a very competent computer with some sophisticated logic programing that comes very close to artificial intelligence. Knowing how to use it can be a big benefit over just using it for a thermostat.

I actually have learned about these controllers. Good information nonetheless.

I have a manual for Aubers PID's that will let me set it up for the Fuzzy Logic.

Thanks