[Cowley Double-drive potters wheel]

Hulk…Thanks very much for this info.

I have already seen the operators manual, but the other document is useful too.

I think I’m going to have to call into one of my customers, who has a few of these, & take some photos of the connections.

Your help is greatly appreciated.

Mike

[Cowley Double-drive potters wheel]

Hi

Does anyone have an electrical circuit diagram for this wheel please?

I’m a kiln/wheel engineer & someone kindly gave me two old wheels that they were throwing out, as their local electrician couldn’t get them working!

I’ve got one motor working, but the other ( the newer one) has a similar switch, but fewer wires to the motor.

Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Mike

[Micro4 kiln controller]

Thanks, but I have done so already.

They have not seen one of these, nor ever supplied it.

Mike

[Micro4 kiln controller]

Hi

Does anyone know about or have information on this Micro4 kiln controller please?

It’s connected to a Kilns & Furnaces Firecraft kiln Type F/TL.74, here in the UK.

Any advice or information gratefully received.

Mike

 

[Stuck wheel heads]

Thanks for the great ideas….. hopefully at least one will work, for me.

Cheers

Mike

[Stuck wheel heads]

Hi Neil

I think that almost all the wheels, I’ve been to, to repair, (approx 30) have the head stuck on!

Luckily, they have all been, motor, belt drive, electrical, etc faults & removal of the head was not needed.

But I just wondered if anybody had any advice or tips, so that I don’t crack the aluminium/alloy head!

Cheers

Mike

[Stuck wheel heads]

Hi

Any ideas on how to remove a wheel head that is “stuck” in place, due to lack of maintenance?

Also, how do others remove a breaking that is a very tight fit on the drive shaft?

As always, any advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Mike

[HobbyCeram Prisma kiln (Italian made)]

Thank you everyone for your input.

I spoke, via Google translate, to the Italian company.

He confirmed that they should just pull out …

”To replace the resistors, you must first remove the resistance cover rods, which have been inserted ‘locking’, to do so you can help with the tip of a screwdriver.”

Unfortunately, due to the high cost (>€300!), increased by 20% import tax…thanks to Brexit (Don’t blame me, I didn’t vote for it!) and my time, the customer has decided it’s not worth spending this much on an old kiln.

I must say that if you do need to contact HobbyCeram, do it in Italian & you will get a really good response.

Again thanks for all your help.

Mike

[HobbyCeram Prisma kiln (Italian made)]

The customer has taken these photos…. So you might be onto something  Neil.

What little I could see, the coil diameter was quite small, so if I can remove these ceramic fittings, we might have some success!

I think it’ll be more like surgery than engineering.

(sorry, just noticed that that you got autocorrected to Nick, in previous messages!)

Cheers

[HobbyCeram Prisma kiln (Italian made)]

Ok, I will do!

Thanks very much Nick, for all your advice.

I’ll update this thread, once I succeed…hopefully!

Mike

[HobbyCeram Prisma kiln (Italian made)]

The only access is as thick as the wire thickness, not the coil diameter.

Italian magic, eh?

[HobbyCeram Prisma kiln (Italian made)]

Yes, the ends of the 4 element sections terminate through the firebricks & into in screw connectors behind the connection case.

I too saw them in the 2021 catalogue at €4.50 each!

Maybe I’m just being a bit too gentle with them?

Also max temp is 1260°C.

 

[HobbyCeram Prisma kiln (Italian made)]

Hi Nick

I’m a repair engineer & I was called to this kiln today.

I’ve attached 2 photos to show the covers.

I think they are U-shaped & not sealed in, but they did not move when I tried to wiggle them out with a thin screwdriver. 
It was marking the fire bricks rather than moving out.

All the corners were mitered (60degrees?) which stopped them moving out.

Also from what little I could see, the element was sitting IN the U shape. But as they are so tight, one strip couldn’t come out with the next ones coming out at the same time … which looks impossible to me!

HobbyCeram have not responded, so I don’t know if I can get replacement elements anyway.

Regards

Mike

[HobbyCeram Prisma kiln (Italian made)]

Hi

Does anybody have any experience of repairing these kilns?

The company is in Milan, but not responding to emails & the UK subsidiary listed, has closed!

I’m looking at ordering & fitting a replacement element set, but they are held in (possibly) ceramic u-shaped strips, which do not seem to want to move!

Any advice gratefully received!

Mike