Help with Fuji controller on a Glasshive kiln

[terryl]

Okay, I got my Glasshive today and what a beautiful kiln! Perfect for beadmaking. Construction is stellar. Can't wait to try it, but I have just about had a nervous breakdown trying to program this controller. I find the instructions from Fuji useless tech jargon that I can't wrap my mind around. I know somebody uses this kiln on a daily basis. Could you please let me know what the secret is and how to change the program.? I am trying to figure out what ramp time is when it is set at 0.05. How long is this? Also while I am trying to program this the kiln is heating up and I am trying to make it stop long enough for me to reprogram the thing. I guess I am just stupid or something....but my hubby couldn't figure it out either.


T

[Hayley]

Here you go:

FUJI PXV3

Set Point
Set point is turned on automatically when you turn the kiln on. This is your garaging temperature. If you batch anneal, this should be set at room temperature.

To program Set Point:
Press SEL once
Press UP ARROW until it shows your garaging temp (I garage 20 degrees lower than annealing temp)
Wait 20 sec and your kiln will ramp up as fast as it can

You can store two programs in the PXV3. SV1-SV4 is Program 1 and SV5-SV6 is Program 2. You may re-program your kiln while the set point is ramping up.

To program Program 1:
Press & Hold SEL until you see P
Press DOWN ARROW (a couple of times) until you see SV1
Press SEL
Press UP or DOWN ARROW to select the temperature (e.g.960F)
Press SEL
Press DOWN ARROW once to 7N1R (length of time to Ramp up to 960F)
Press SEL
Press UP or DOWN ARROW to select the length of time to Ramp up (0:10 – 10 mins)
Press SEL
Press DOWN ARROW once to 7N1S (length of time to Soak at this temperature)
Press SEL
Press UP or Down ARROW to select the length of time to soak at 960F

Press SEL
Press Down ARROW to SV2
Press SEL
Press UP or DOWN ARROW to select temperature you will ramp down to (750F)
Press SEL
Press DOWN ARROW once to 7N2R (length of time to Ramp down to 750F)
Press SEL
Press UP or DOWN ARROW to select the length of time to Ramp down to 750F (2:30)
Press SEL
Press DOWN ARROW once to 7N2S (length of time to Soak at this temperature)
Press SEL
Press UP or Down ARROW to select the length of time to soak at 750F (0:15)

You may leave the rest of the segments – SV3, SV4 of this program – at 0 so your kiln will just turn off after 750F. MAKE SURE YOU SELECT PROGRAM 1.


If you want to have a program for, say, boro or batch annealing – do the same thing for SV5 to SV8 which is Program 2.

If you don’t know how to select Program 1 vs. Program 2, let me know!

Hope this helps.

[terryl]

Thanks Haley,
We thought we finally had it programed but it keeps reverting back to what Mike has stored in program 1. Why I don't know. We are about to try this thing again. It does help if one person reads the instructions while the other is programing the thing. I just can't figure out why it is still storing what Mike has programmed and not what we just put in the kiln.


Theresa

[terryl]

Another question about this kiln controller is can I advance forward? I usually set my kiln to hold all day at a set temperature for hours and when I was done I would hit a skip forward button which would go ahead and go through the annealing cycle. I haven't figured out if this can be done with this controller. My husband says if the paperwork from Fuji is any indication this thing out to launch a rocket.


Terryl

[Hayley]

Your set point is your garaging temp. As soon as you turn on the kiln, it will ramp to the set point temperature.

Make sure that you have set up your Program 1 and selected before you start making beads.

When you are done, just start the kiln . . . let me know if you need me to walk you through that.

Don't know why it reverted back . . . did you just program it and wait for 20 seconds for it to go back to current temperature? You may need to call Mike on that one.

Hope this helps.

[Puddy Tat Glass]

Sounds like you got the same instructions I got when I bought my AIM kiln with the Fuji controller...I couldn't make heads-nor-tails out of those directions. It was a book of stuff I couldn't understand so I searched the web till I found instructions I could follow. I've still got to figure out how to program it so it will automatically ramp down after soaking. Maybe someone will give us a clue.

Another question about this kiln controller is can I advance forward? I usually set my kiln to hold all day at a set temperature for hours and when I was done I would hit a skip forward button which would go ahead and go through the annealing cycle. I haven't figured out if this can be done with this controller. My husband says if the paperwork from Fuji is any indication this thing out to launch a rocket.


Terryl

[terryl]

I think the lights finally came on thanks to Hayley. I was so used to Orton and Bartlett controllers I didn't get the concept at all. Mike sent simplified instructions but I was not used to the idea of a set point. I am too tired to try to deal with this anymore tonight. I am gonna reprogram it again in the morning and see how it goes. The kiln is so nice and well made. I hope I can get used to the controller.


Terryl

[simvet02]

Boy am I with you, the instructions made me crazy, thanks for the simplification Hayley I printed them out. I'm still using Mike's program 1 as it seems to be working fine for what I do. I think it's the fact that program 1 and 2 use the same SV numbers that threw me. I have a Hot Start Pro from Skutt and it was so easy to use that this one really threw me.

[simvet02]

Hayley, I'm going to do program 2 for boro, can you tell me how to choose program 2 when I want to start it after garaging at set point.

thanks,

[Hayley]

Jan,

I put all the info up on my blog. . . link in my siggy. Hope it helps.

[terryl]

A round of applause please......I got my kiln programmed.!!!!!Yippee.



T

[Hayley]

=D>=D>=D>=D>=D>

[terryl]

Thank you Hayley. You went out of your way and I appreciate it.


Terryl

[barbaracollins]

This information is great. My glass hive just arrived and I am waiting to Saturday for my son to arrive and move kilns around.:fireblob:

[simvet02]

Thanks so much Hayley, those are perfect.

[Hayley]

You are all very welcome. Glad to help!

[WildBird]

Hayley,
Can you also tell me what the instructions say for how to 'recalabrate' the controller/
I left my book at Frantz one time when Jed was explaining some stuff about the controller to me, and I never got it back.

Every once in a while I need to recalabrate it because it doesn't stay at it's set point like it should.

Thanks,
WildBird

[Hayley]

Do you mean Auto Tune? I have only done it once . . . so perhaps it's better if you email/pm Mike Crowley at theglasshive? GlassFreek is his LE name.

[AVC-Ed]

If you are going to use the autotune feature (and I recommend it for anyone using the Fuji controllers), set your kiln to your normal garaging temp (if you anneal at the end of your session) or your annealing temp if you batch anneal.

What the autotune feature does is change the PID settings of the controller to match the construction of the kiln - how much heat it loses to the environment, how fast it recovers, etc. I'm pretty sure that Mike has some preset numbers based on previous autotune cycles, but it never hurts to run it every six months or so as the elements and insulation ages. The numbers may change slightly, but by doing this from time to time you will be sure that the controller keeps your kiln the proper temperature without major over or under run of temperature.