Basics: What is a Segment?

A kiln doesn't just "turn on." It follows a path of steps called Segments. Each segment has 3 parts:

• 1. Rate (°C/hr): The Speed. How fast do you want to climb? (Like mph in a car).
• 2. Target (°C): The Destination. What temperature does this step end at?
• 3. Soak (Mins): The Rest Stop. How long should it hold at that temperature?
  IMPORTANT: If you do not want to hold, you MUST type 0 in the Soak box.

Step 1: 🧱 Material & Start

❶ Look at the top left panel. Select your Clay Preset (e.g., Stoneware). This tells the simulator the maximum heat the clay can handle before melting.

❷ Set the Start Temp to 20 (Room Temperature).

Step 2: 📅 Creating a Schedule

We usually have two parts to a firing: The drying phase (Manual) and the final firing (Calculator).

Part A: Manual Entry (Drying/Candling)

Use the "Segment Entry" box to dry the pots slowly so they don't explode.

Part B: The Final Firing (Cone Calculator)

Use the "Cone Calculator" box below to finish the firing accurately.

1. Select Target Cone (e.g., Cone 6).
2. Select Final Rate button (e.g., 60° for slow/safe).
3. Click 🖩 Calculate & Fill. The system will do the math for you.
4. Click + Add Segment to add this calculated step to your list.

Step 3: ⚡ Hardware & Firing

❶ Ensure the Hardware sliders (Top/Bottom Capacity) are at 100%. Lowering these simulates broken/old elements.

❷ Click ▶ Start PID Program under the kiln picture.

❸ Watch the pots! If they explode 💥, you went too fast at the start. If they melt 🫠, you went too high.