L&L Kiln Controllers

L&L features customized versions of Bartlett Controller on their kilns.  The electronic controllers shown here can fire both Ceramics (cone fire) and Glass (ramp-hold/vary-fire).  

 - The Dynatrol is intended for artists who want to have detailed control of the firing.  

 - The One-Touch is intended for classrooms where the same basic firings are repeated. 

Dynatrol         One-Touch (4-Key)      KilnSitter (AutoCone) with Timer 

Dynatrol   24-Key Controller

 - 4 Easy Programs
 - 6 User-Defined Programs
 - Delay Time lets you control when kiln 
   starts and stops
 -  Preheat lets you completely dry out ceramic work
 - Hold lets you control end of firing
 - Offsets let you fine tune your firings

WITH DYNAMIC ZONE CONTROL...
The DynaTrol features Dynamic Zone Control.  It separately measures temperatures in the bottom, middle and top of the kiln and automatically adjusts the heat output of three separate heating zones as the kiln is heating up.  Kiln temperatures are automatically evened out to within 1/2 cone or better top to bottom.  

There are separate thermocouples (heat sensors) and contactors (power controls) for each of the three zones.  You have the ability to adjust the “lag” or differential between zones, (anywhere from 5 degrees to 99 degrees).  

Another important control feature is automatic tuning within the DynaTrol to eliminate temperature over-shoot. This is a true industrial type PID control (with Proportional, Integral, and Derivative mathematical calculations). There are adjustable offsets for each thermocouple as well as the ability to match control performance with actual witness cones. All this adds up to the very best automatic control on the market

Four "Easy-Fire" Preset Firing Profiles  (Cone Fire)
This makes it easy to fire ceramics.  Slow Bisque, Fast Bisque, Slow Glaze and Fast Glaze all have time proven profiles for the vast majority of ceramic firing.  Just enter cone number and optional delay time, soak time, candling time and alarm.


Six User-Defined "Vary-Fire" Profiles  (Ramp-Hold)
Allows you to have 6 separate repeatable stored programs with up to 8 segments (cooling or heating ramps, temperature set point and an optional hold time per segment).  The DynaTrol allows you to soak at a low temperature for a long time (i.e. you can have an automatic drying period) and then automatically ramp up to your high fire at different rates.  You can ramp slowly through critical periods or soak at end point temperatures for more consistent maturing of work.  It also allows a controlled cool-down to avoid heat shock.  You can link two of these profiles to make one 16 segment program.

Additional features include

Optional Features

Monitor DynaTrol from a Computer
KISS Software package, 25 foot cable and RS485/232 converter that plugs into a Windows based computer are available for only $500 and $85 per each additional kiln. Monitor up to 10 kilns. Download profiles, chart/graph actual firing, monitor kiln temperatures all in Windows.

TYPE-S Thermocouples
The standard thermocouple used on the DynaTrol is a Type-K 8 Gauge thermocouple with industrial mullite protection tubes.  For constant high fire applications, a Type S platinum thermocouple with an alumina sheath is available

One-Touch 4-Key Controller

Four-Key Control that Redefines Simplicity 
"Perfect for Schools & Hobbyists"

The new One-Touch™ Intuitive Kiln Control was designed for busy school teachers, contemporary studios, and hobbyists.  One touch and you are ready to fire the bisque and glaze programs.  No programming is necessary, simple adjustments are easy, yet sophisticated programming is possible.

One-Touch:   (Cone Fire)
Press one of two buttons marked BISQUE and GLAZE.

- You will then see either bISC or GLA
- Press ENTER and the kiln fires a slow Cone 04 Bisque or a 06 Glaze.
- You can add a Delay time to the program by pressing the DOWN arrow when you see 
  FIRE and before you press ENTER
- Press the REVIEW button to review the program. You can do this when you see the 
  FIRE display or while firing 

It's easy to change simple parameters to customize your program.  When the user presses BISQUE or GLAZE and then holds the button for 5 seconds then a series of options will appear:

- CndL Candle at a low temperature to dry out the work 
   (expressed in hours and minutes)
- COnE Choose the cone that the program fires to 
- HLd Add a soak time at the end of the firing
- COOL Cool the kiln ? Fast, Medium or Slow for special effects or thick work
- HEAT Speed of firing ? Fast, Medium or Slow
- rStr Restore the original default settings

The UP and DOWN button will allow adjustment of these values

The internal program ramps are transparent to the user

CUSTOM:    (Ramp-Hold)
Press CUSTOM and you have four regular Ramp/Soak programs open for custom programming.  Each program has eight segments with a ramp, set point and hold for each segment.

School-Master Kilns that have this controller have a 5 year warranty instead of the normal 3 year!

Orton AUTO-CONE (for manual kilns)

(Same function as the Dawson KilnSitter)

The AUTO-CONE is not as flexible in firing or programming as either of the electronic controllers on this page.  However the AUTO-CONE is a good low-cost alternative for ceramic firing.  

For Ceramics 
The AUTO-CONE® is designed to stop the firing process once your kiln has achieved the desired amount of heat work. Heat work is defined as the combined effect of both time and temperature related to the firing of ceramic ware. Utilizing a small standard Orton cone or bar, the AUTO-CONE® switch will disengage and break the power supply to the kilns heating elements when the cone reaches its equivalent heat work temperature.

The AUTO-CONE® Model AC-20 is supplied with an electrically powered synchronous timer that the operator sets to the estimated time (hours) needed to complete the desired firing. If a malfunction were to occur with the cone or bar the timer will shut the kiln off when it times out without regard for the cone or bar. The timer is provided as a backup to reduce the likelihood of damage to your kiln from over firing.  

The AUTO-CONE® requires very little maintenance but may need an occasional adjustment. With proper care and maintenance your AUTO-CONE® should provide you with many years of trouble free service. Replacement parts such as the tube assembly, cone supports or sensing rod are available to extend the operating life of your AUTOCONE®. Frequency of replacement depends on the type of firing, type of clay used, proper venting and the moisture content of the pieces being fired.

3-Key Controller

Has the same major functions as the Dyantrol (above).   More repetitive programming method required (pressing/holding arrow key to change a setting, instead of directly typing in a number).  Lacks a few features (such as zone control, Type S TC, offset features).  Smaller, lower cost package. 

Features of the Model 3K (3-Key) 

 - Cone Fire Programming
 - 8 Step Ramp-Hold Programming
 - Combined Jewelry Burn-Out / 4 Segment 
 - 5-Speed 1 Segment 
 - 4 Segment Vary Fire 
 - Combined 5-Speed / 4 Segment 

Other Features:
 - Delay Start 
 - View Segment 
 - Review 
 - Review to Redi-to-Fire 
 - Skip Step 
 - Add Time 
 - Add Temperature