Hello, I am trying to make a arduino controlled burn-out furnace for casting jewelry. It needs to have ramp and soak capability. I would like to know if its possible to do this using a arduino uno, max31855, k-type thermocouple, a SSR, a couple of buttons and the 16x2 lcd display without the shield or 4 pin output. My lcd doesn't have the 4 pins on the side like some ive seen. The SSR I have is operated with a 4-32vdc input so Im hoping the arduino can put that out.
It would be nice if someone had a wiring diagram and a link to where I can get the code and all id have to do is modify it to fit my needs.
You probably have a parallel controlled LCD. It will need quite a number of pins. Maybe not a problem, let us first find out how many you need.
Have you got some module that can read the thermocouple?
What should be controlled by the SSR?
What are the risks involved in this project? Is there a fail safe option? What if the sketch stalls for some reason? Would that cause a fire or injury hazard? Or burnt jewellery? What are you casting? Lead, tin, bronze, titanium, Wolfram?
Arduino cannot output 32vdc. So you would need some amplification from 0-5V to 0-32V. Do you have a datasheet of your SSR? Or a type number?
Why would you need PID? What is your control target (a target temperature????).
Is it an electrical oven? Have you got specs? Can you add a picture?
What would be soak capability?
I guess that is enough homework for now...
You can buy such controllers quite cheaply - some with coms so you can upload temperature profiles etc.
I would have a look at those, prob work out cheaper too ( after packaging etc etc )
It's plausible, although a bit ambitious for your first project. You might search the forum for work on pottery or glass kilns - I recall seeing a few.
However, since you're apparently looking for plug and play, I suggest that you take @hammy's advice and just buy a commercial product.
yes I have a max31855 and a k-type, the SSR is a SSR-40 DA. it will trigger with a input as low as 4vdc. failsafe is a 15amp inline fuse that I have installed. I am casting silver and gold and NiTi. I need this to do my investment burnout and needs to ramp up slowly and then maintain 1400 degrees F for 5 hours. I have built the oven using 2.5in firebrick and 1in ceramic fire blanket and then incased in a steel skin and is outside away from anything flammable. Its a small oven not even 0.5cf. I designed it to pull 10amps and had no problem getting to target temp using a cheap pid i got on amazon but the one i have just holds temp. I would like not to have to go out in the middle of the night to turn up my oven.
Does the cheap pid have a something to set the temperature? Can you access that?
If you want to do this, I recommend to start reading the temperature first. I guess you may find a library. Connect things and run an example from the library.
Check 2 points where you know the temperature (cooking water and .. ) to check.
Fail safe may include a bi metal switch or a melt switch for 1500 fahrenheit in or close to your oven. And a commercial fire alarm would be good (the thing will run at night).
You could also start with the lcd 'hello world' example from a lcd library.
Maybe start first with blink sketch to be sure you can properly upload a program from your pc.