Firing Guide Celsius (need Fahrenheit?) Download this Document
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Firing Schedules: Guidelines for FUSING and SLUMPING 30 cm projects of various thicknesses up to 9 mm thick.
THICK Firing Schedules: Guidelines for firing THICK projects ranging from 13 to 50 mm thick
Technical Data: Strain Point, Annealing Point, Softening Point, Product Density
Firing Stages: Forming stages, definitions, and temperatures for firing System 96 products.
Bubble Squeeze: Adding a stage during firing to reduce or eliminate bubbles
Annealing: Simple advice for thorough annealing
4-Segment Firing: How to easily adapt our 6-segment programs to 4-segment controllers


The Schedules below are guidelines only, not strict rules. Times and temperatures may be adjusted based on the nature of your project.
Fusing
For FUSING and annealing 30-cm projects, of various thicknesses.
Segment Thickness Rate Temp Hold
(mm) (°C per Hour) °C (minutes)
1. Heating I: 3 260 540 0
(Heat from room temp to softening temp) 6 200
9 150
here is data
2. Heating II: 3 540 800 Desired

Effect
(Heat to fusing temp) 6
9
here is data
3. Cool to Anneal: 3 As fast as possible 540 5
(Cool down to anneal zone & equalize kiln temp) 6 8
9 10
here is data
4. Anneal I: 3 315 510 10
(Ease down to anneal point & hold) 6 150 20
9 90 40
here is data
5. Anneal II: 3 150 430 0
(Cool to below strain point) 6 90
9 65
here is data
6. Cool Down: 3 425 45 0
(To room temperature) 6 200
9 150
Fusing Cycle Graphs:
 3mm 6mm 9mm Overlay

Slumping For SLUMPING and annealing 12-inch projects, of various thicknesses.
Segment Thickness Rate Temp Hold
(mm) (°C per Hour) °C (minutes)
1. Heating I: 3 260 540 0
(Heat from room temp to softening temp) 6 200
9 150
here is data
2. Heating II: 3 650 665 Desired

Effect
(Heat to fusing temp) 6
9
here is data
3. Cool to Anneal: 3 As fast as possible 540 5
(Cool down to anneal zone & equalize kiln temp) 6 8
9 10
here is data
4. Anneal I: 3 315 510 10
(Ease down to anneal point & hold) 6 150 20
9 90 40
here is data
5. Anneal II: 3 150 430 0
(Cool to below strain point) 6 90
9 65
here is data
6. Cool Down: 3 425 45 0
(To room temperature) 6 200
9 150
Slumping Cycle Graphs:
 3mm 6mm 9mm Overlay



4-Segment Firing
Eliminate Segments 2 and 6 by simply continuing your Segment 1 rate to fusing or slumping temperature. Stop firing after Segment 5, allowing your kiln to cool at its natural rate (door closed, power off) to room temperature.



Annealing Simple Advice for Thorough Annealing
To assure a good anneal, we advise holding at 950°F (510C) for the recommended time, then slowly ramping down (around 150° per hour) to 800°F (427C) Holding time and ramp speed depend on how big and thick your project is. Refer to Firing Schedules for guidelines.
Bubble Squeeze Guidelines for Controlling Bubbles
If you’re seeking to reduce or eliminate bubbles, try slowing the rate of heating in Segment #2 (Heating II). Inserting a half-hour soak at around 1220° F (660°C) may also help, allowing added time for air to escape from between glass pieces before the edges seal and trap it in the form of bubbles. For large projects, experiment with a “ramp squeeze,” a very slow ramp to tack temperatures, say 60° per hour from 1100-1300°F (590-704°C). If your project has a clear base, consider using our “Double Thick” clear instead of two layers of regular clear. You can’t trap air where there isn’t a space.
Technical Data
 Strain Point* Anneal Point* Softening Point
Fahreneheit:
 890 (+/- 10) 955 (+/- 10) 1255(+/- 10)
Celsius:
 476 (+/- 6) 513 (+/- 6) 680 (+/- 6)
*At the At the Anneal Point of a glass,internal stresses are largely relieved in a matter of minutes. At the Strain Point, internal stresses are substantially relieved in a matter of hours.
Product Density
Grams/ Cubic Centimeter (g/cm3)
100SFS
2.5095
Studio Nuggets
2.69
200SF
2.343
© 2006 Spectrum Glass Company, Inc. PO Box 646 Woodinville, WA 98072 USA Phone: 425-483-6699 Fax: 425-483-9007 E-mail: Hotglass@ System 96.com

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