[ATM] Making glass blanks.

["Timm Simpkins" <poduck@poducksworld.com>]

I have been looking for more information about actually making blanks.  I
have experience in kiln and foundry making, and some experience in making
glass.  What I need is someone who has experience in making electronic
circuits.

I figured that since ATMs are generally handy, and not afraid to tackle new
projects, maybe someone could help me figure out what I need in order to
complete what I'm trying to do.

To start out, I am not attempting this because I absolutely have to do it,
nor am I attempting this because I think it will save me money or make me
money.  I am trying this because I love to be able to say that I can do
something that most people think is impossible, or are afraid to even
attempt.  (I also love shoving it in the face of those people when I prove
them wrong<g>.)  That's why I started making telescopes in the first place.

I have already figured out how to get and maintain the right heat for
releasing the bubbles.  I have already tested the process, and until the
glass shatters from not being annealed, I get perfectly clear blanks (They
are somewhat green from the iron.).  (That is after the very tiny bubbles
are absorbed by the glass again.)
 
Anyway, the actual method or formulae for glass aren't what I need help
with.  I need help designing a circuit or mechanism to control the annealing
process.  I would love to be able to design something that is analog and can
be made from freely available materials, but I believe that this process is
probably best done with electronics.

What I need to do is control the cooling process over a period of time.  The
time needs to be over a period of days or even weeks, depending on the size
of the piece.  It needs to cool slowly at first and then can gradually cool
faster as the piece gets closer to room temperature.  My annealing kiln will
be electric, so what needs to be controlled is the voltage.  I've thought
about a high wattage dimmer switch attached via gear reduction to a small
motor with precise gear reduction would almost be perfect, but the wattage
is higher than 1000 watts, and the highest dimmer switch I can find is 1000
watts.  That dimmer also costs almost $50, and I'm hoping to keep the costs
lower than that.

Since I'm hoping to be able to help other people do this, I also want it to
be simple to control.  If someone builds this, and wants to change the
annealing time, the gearing would have to be changed, and they would have to
know the math behind it in order to get it right.  Another problem would be
speeding up the cooling process as the temperature gets lower.

A fully self contained circuit would be great, but circuit that can read the
temperature and give it to the computer, and another circuit that would be
able to lower the voltage to whatever voltage the computer tells it to would
work just as good.  I have no problem writing software.  I already have a
temperature sensing circuit, but the circuit to control voltage eludes me.
This is probably very simple for someone, and hopefully that someone
subscribes to this list. <g>

If someone could help me with this, or could help me make a fully self
contained circuit with a method to set up the annealing time and
temperatures, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,

Timm Simpkins


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