Mike W1
Active Member
My goal the last couple days has been to find a setting on my PID controlled hot plate that will get the DC 452374 at it's preferred operating temperature when the pot is up to temp and also to maintain the mold temperature when it's resting on the hot plate when doing something else for a few minutes. I had always run the plate at 400° and being I got good bullets right out of the chute I "assumed" the mold was at temp. This mold likes to be around 310° but it definitely releases them better when around 320°.
After some fooling around yesterday with the hot plate settings and considerable time letting the PID autotune I started today with the plate set at 455° and the pot at 365° C where I always cast this alloy. In 21 minutes the Lee 10# was at 365° C and the mold was reading 257° F. Around 10-11 casting cycles the mold was up to temp that I wanted. That isn't quite what I have in mind though the 455° plate setting will actually maintain the already hot mold at around 340° if it's just resting there.
Think what I'll try next is reset the hot plate to 450° but for the initial warmup just kick the hot plate setting to 480°. It'll stay close enough with the 450° PID parameters for that chore and then I'll set the plate PID back down to 450° and retime things to see if I'm close to my goal.
Well at least I'm not in the house with the TV on. There's something I can only be around for a limited time anytime and with the virus and the constant prattle about heroes TV time for me is now even shorter. Plus I'm enjoying this venture.
After some fooling around yesterday with the hot plate settings and considerable time letting the PID autotune I started today with the plate set at 455° and the pot at 365° C where I always cast this alloy. In 21 minutes the Lee 10# was at 365° C and the mold was reading 257° F. Around 10-11 casting cycles the mold was up to temp that I wanted. That isn't quite what I have in mind though the 455° plate setting will actually maintain the already hot mold at around 340° if it's just resting there.
Think what I'll try next is reset the hot plate to 450° but for the initial warmup just kick the hot plate setting to 480°. It'll stay close enough with the 450° PID parameters for that chore and then I'll set the plate PID back down to 450° and retime things to see if I'm close to my goal.
Well at least I'm not in the house with the TV on. There's something I can only be around for a limited time anytime and with the virus and the constant prattle about heroes TV time for me is now even shorter. Plus I'm enjoying this venture.