If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#18
|
|||
|
|||
Anyone building their own kilns?
"nJb" wrote in message ... DKat wrote: "nJb" wrote in message ... Rob Morley wrote: In article , nJb says... You still haven't dealt with the power bumps and freeze ups. A UPS will deal with an unreliable power supply, but the right software will recover gracefully from a power failure anyway. Only Windows users think that machines lock up regularly. DOS would work fine for this sort of application, and has been used for process control in science and industry for many years. The open-source UNIX derivatives are also used for critical real-time control. The PC hardware required to run this sort of thing is minimal: I have some old 486 machines that would be more than adequate, and have proved their reliability over many years, NASA still uses Intel 386 based hardware because it works - but you can bet it doesn't run Windows. You may not be interested in using a PC to control your kiln, and I wouldn't try to persuade you otherwise, but you said "A PC is not reliable for controlling a kiln" and that's just not true. It's probably only going to appeal to people who have an interest in programming and DIY electronics, but it's potentially a very workable solution. Go for it. I prefer to spend my time melting glass, which I do everyday. You sound like your expertise is in computers. Mine is in glass, kilns, and building controllers that are inexpensive and the least computer literate person can use. Jack http://www.glasterpiece.com http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/xmissionbobo/ Beautiful work. Why so judgmental about others using computers as a controller? The population of potters is large enough that you are going to have plenty of potters who are computer literate. We soon won't have computers that are easily adaptable to run kilns but right now you still have old computers that are probably far more stable than the new ones and when run on DOS are the perfect kiln controller. Why pottery is such a great 'job' is that there are so many dimensions to it. It isn't standing at the conveyor belt packing widgets. There are as many ways to do the trade as there are individuals to do it. Thank you. Not judgmental at all. Somebody asked a question about building kilns and controllers and I answered to the best of my knowledge. A few people took it as if I said they "can't" use a PC. I pointed out some of the pitfalls. What I didn't point out is that the part I use instead of a PC is 2"x2"x4". There are many ways to get any job done. Hey, I don't own an electric mixer. Jack You beat your egg whites by hand? For some reason the 2X4 brings to mind a very unPC story my Dad used to tell about the mule that was told once, twice and then.... well we will leave it at that. Thanks for sharing your work. As I said, very beautiful. Donna |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Anyone building their own kilns? | Byrd | Glass | 27 | May 15th 07 02:51 PM |
kilns | Romayne Naylor | Glass | 11 | August 1st 05 07:09 AM |
kilns | mrbonaparte | Glass | 6 | November 8th 04 04:45 PM |
kilns | Bonnie | Glass | 25 | September 14th 04 12:13 AM |
Kilns anyone? | Marlene DeLugish | Glass | 18 | December 16th 03 08:10 AM |