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Temperature Controller
Page 8-1
Section Eight: Operating the
Temperature Controller
Neutec/Rio Grande™ programs the Fuji
temperature controller in your J-2
r
to operate
well with most jewelry alloys.
Under normal circumstances, all you need to
do is set the casting temperature for the metal
you'll be using and the balance for the
temperature you’ll be using. For a detailed
guide on how to restore factory settings or
how to update the programming in your
temperature controller, refer to Appendix B.
•
Please Note: All J-2
r
controllers are
pre-set at the factory to indicate temperature in
Celsius. If you prefer the controller indicate
temperatures in Fahrenheit, see the instructions
on page 8-2 for changing the controller display.
In the J-2
r
, the pour occurs as the tempera-
ture is rising instead of on the way back down
from an over-shoot. You need not over-shoot
to ensure the correct temperature. This helps
shorten your casting cycle times.
A typical casting cycle begins when you charge
a hot crucible with metal. The temperature
rapidly drops between 150°–250°C (300°–500°F)
as the new metal cools the chamber. The
temperature then begins a steady climb toward
the casting temperature you have set for your
alloy. As the metal begins to melt, the
temperature climb slows down. This occurs
during the transition of the metal from a solid
to a liquid. This change in the metal state
requires a lot of heat energy, and is called “the
heat of transformation.” Once the alloy becomes
liquid, the temperature rises quickly toward the
set casting temperature.
Setting the Casting Temperature
Check with your alloy supplier for the
recommended casting temperature of the
metal you’ll be using.
•
Please Note: Many variables affect the
ideal casting temperatures for your particular
patterns, such as:
• flask temperature
• how the spruing is done
• the design and size of your pieces.
You may need to experiment, based on these
and other variables, to find the ideal casting
temperatures for the items you are casting. Your
Neutec
™
representative can advise you on how
to make these judgments.
1. Turn on your J-2
r
, using the on/off switch on
the lower right-hand corner of the machine.
2. Turn on the nitrogen gas to the machine and
set the flow to 7 lpm.
3. Be sure the thermocouple is plugged in.
Shortly after the temperature controller lights
go on, the crucible chamber will begin to heat. If
you do not want the crucible chamber to begin
heating at this time, unplug the thermocouple
from the machine. This will prevent the machine
from heating the crucible. When you’re ready to
begin heating, plug the thermocouple back into
the machine.
4. The temperature controller lights should
be on, the SV light illuminated and the
set-point displayed in the lower row. The
crucible temperature is displayed in the
upper row.
5. Press the up or down arrow (
∧
or
∨
) to set
the desired casting temperature.
