Over the years, Fast Heat has developed advanced control algorithms to address the demands of faster processing and smaller, more precise thermal systems.
How does this work?
Most PID controls are designed with a standard algorithm that constantly calculates an output based on a standard prebuilt into each zone of control. This method actually produces excellent results for static cases when that algorithm was developed. If any of the following are changed significantly or in any combination, it will require that new values are introduced into the PID initial startup values:
- Faster production cycle times for production
- Engineered materials requiring tighter windows of processing temperature
- More complex parts being produced
- Customers demanding better part quality
For those conventional PID controls, that means physically entering new values or pressing a "tune" or "learning" button by an operator. At most, operators will see an issue and not remember that the system has to "re-learn" the new conditions, which in some cases happen several times a day. This could be very frustrating.
Secondly, the reaction to designers of standard controls are to build a more "reactive algorithm" — that is to have it react more as changes in temperature occur. The end result is the same; almost immediately those very changes cause even more fluctuations in temperature.
What are the benefits?
With new customer demands for faster production, tighter material specs, more complex parts and better part quality, it becomes necessary to have a controller with intelligence. Specifically, a temperature controller that constantly learns, without any operator intervention.
Fast Heat's Advnaced Control Algorithm is unique in that it does not ever require any physical tuning. From the moment it is turned on, it starts learning how to stabilize its temperature.
How does it do this? It's simple, on the surface: it monitors changes often, summarizes those changes, looks for trends and learns from previous events.
More importantly some changes to output power are only made when required. The end result is predictable, consistent temperature, even in the most demanding conditions, without operator intervention.