- Orton AutoFire Express:  Up to 20 amps  (For test kilns)
   AutoFire Express

AutoFire3000®Controllers

What do AutoFire®Controllers Do?
Controllers are used to automatically fire a kiln or furnace. They use a signal from a thermocouple (temperature sensor) located in the kiln and convert this signal into a temperature. The sensed temperature is then compare with the firing sequence programmed in to the controller. Based on this comparison, the controller decides whether to turn relays on/off (sending electricity through the heating elements) to achieve the desired temperature. AutoFire® controllers are available with cone firing programs that make it very easy to fire a kiln to a cone number. 

For cone firings, AutoFire® controllers use Orton's patented method for calculating the right amount of heat needed to properly bend the cone. This feature allows calibration using a self-supporting cone set near the thermocouple and it allows for a temperature correction to be entered into the controller to adjust the firing temperature, if needed.

Orton's Multizone controllers provide improved top to bottom temperature uniformity inside a kiln during firing.  The controller uses 2 or 3 thermocouples and special software to regulate the power to individual heating elements (or heating zones).  The controller adds more heat where it is needed to maintain temperature uniformity while still following the set firing sequence.  This maintains temperatures at the thermocouples to within a few degrees of each other (typically less than 3°C), a significant improvement over single sensor control systems.

AutoFire® controllers also allow for the firing of temperature "ramp and hold" sequences.

The Orton Advantage
What makes Orton AutoFire® controllers different?

• "Smart" Software – Orton controllers employ sophisticated fuzzy logic algorithms to manage your kiln's firings. What this means is that the software constantly adapts to the way your kiln is firing. It compensates for the different ways you load your kiln – based on temperature responses from the thermocouples. The AutoFire® controller "learns" how your kiln behaves and adjusts its control of the kiln's heating elements accordingly.

• Easy-To-Use Keypad – Basic programs, such as firing to Cone 06, require only a few steps to start a firing

• Reliable Electronics – The electronics are designed to insulate themselves from electrical noise and are designed to last. Orton provides a 2-year warranty on AutoFire controller (1-year on AutoFire Express)

• Cone-Fire: Allows you to select a preset program for a specific Cone number from Cone 022 to Cone 12. These programs are designed specifically for ceramic firings.

• User Program: Allows you to program and store up to 4 separate firing schedules with your own heating and cooling rates, target temperatures and hold times. This method can be used for ceramics, heat treating, glass fusing, enameling or jewelry applications. The controller will accept programs as long as 20 segments long: That's 20 separate heating rates, target temperatures and hold times for a single firing.  And you don't have to enter them in each time. Simply call up the stored program you want to run and press "Start."

• Computer Interface – Up to 9 AutoFire® controllers can be connected directly to your PC with standard serial cables. ControlMaster software is available to program and monitor your kilns from a remote location. 

• Orton Support – For more than 100 years Orton has been there to help the ceramic community with cones, quality products and information. We have technical staff dedicated to answer your questions. You can count on Orton.

AutoFire 3000:  Single zone controllers

Easy to install.  Insert the thermocouple into your kiln.  Plug your kiln into the controller, and the controller into the wall receptacle... and you are ready to go.

It is available in a variety of configurations for standard amperages and plug/receptacle types.  A K-Type  thermocouples is standard with an 8ft cord.  (S-Type is an option. ) 

Choose the controller you need by...

1- Identifying your kilns voltage and maximum amperage requirement (not the breaker size).  This information is normally noted on a stamped manufacturing plate on the kiln.  Select the controller which is rated for the indicated voltage, and meets/exceeds the indicated amperage.

2- Select the plug type your kiln uses, comparing with those shown below.

There are other controller sizes available, including 3 phase.  We can get a custom controller made for almost any kiln.  Got questions?  Let us know.

(20 amp controllers have mechanical relays.  30 -100 amp controllers have mercury relays.)

AutoFire 3000: Multi-Zone Controllers

Same basic functionality as the single zone controllers (above) but with Multi-zone temperature sensing capability.   The advantage with Multi-zone controllers is improved top-to-bottom temperature uniformity inside the kiln.  Multi-zone controllers are more complicated to install because you must hardwire the controller outputs into individual heating elements (or heating zones).  You have to be relatively comfortable working with electricity and wiring to complete the installation.  It's worth the effort if top- to- bottom uniformity is critical for your firing, however the vast majority of stand-alone controllers we sell are single zone, and customers are very happy with their performance.  (Per the standard design, each zone in the multi-zone controller is limited to 20 amps.)

Options

The standard controller with keypad is wall mounted and fixed in place.  With any AutoFire3000 controller, you can get the keypad as a hand held unit (shown right) that detaches from the wall unit.  The benefit of the hand held controls are...

1. It can be removed from the wall unit to prevent unauthorized firing of the kiln. 
2. It allow flexibility in the location of the keypad, making it easier to access the if the wall box is installed in a cramped space.  The handheld unit has an 8 foot cord. 
3. It's interchangeable with multiple wall units.  If you have more than one kiln, but do not need to fire them simultaneously, you can save the expense of equipping each kiln with a complete controller system.  Each kiln would require it's own relay wall unit, but a single hand held controller can be shared between them.
   
   The cost of a relay wall unit (with no keypad) is approximately $200 less than the full units listed above.  To make an example, if you wanted to share a handheld unit between two 50 amp kilns, you would save about $150 over two full control units.  With three kilns, you'd save about $350.  If you need to purchase only a relay wall mounted unit, email us for a price quote.