Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

OV301 Precision Composites Curing Oven - [SOLVED]

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic25085.aspx

By Lode D - 1/31/2018 9:34:38 AM

We recently bought the OV301 curing oven for use in our lab as an infusion oven.
Trying to install today, but we have encountered several problems. First of all, the accompanying manual is very unclear. Basically, we are not able to set the oven to a fixed temperature, no matter what we try. Following the instructions in the manual results in different outcomes than described in the manual itself.... Furthermore, the oven displays all kinds of messages (abbreviations since there are only a few digits) when pressing buttons, but nowhere there is an overview of what each message/abbreviation actually means. It even seems that some messages are not even how they should be, e.g. our oven displays "CnPt" instead of "InPt" (input).

Could you provide a schematic overview of the oven controls?
At least, we would be able to see then "where" we are in the menu. This would make it a lot easier to navigate the controls on the oven.
Hopefully, we'll be able to set the oven then to the single temperature mode (which currently does not work).

I can also not find a digital copy of the manual on your site, maybe this can be a good addition so that people are not dependent on one hardcopy which will eventually be outdated.

Our alarm light also seems to be on all the time. Sometimes there is a very annoying and loud sound (the oven itself is not warming up, still at ambient temperature, so the alarm is not related to any temperature overshoot). Nowhere in the manual can I find how to turn off the alarm (or at least the sound).
By Lode D - 12/6/2018 2:08:25 PM

 
Lode D - 2/13/2018 6:47:23 AM
Thanks for the prompt and detailed reply. I did not mean to put the blame on you calibration/testing procedure, but was wondering if there was anything we had to do during install besides calibrating the PID. It is good to know that the ovens are rigorously tested, so it will indeed probably be due to opening the doors and/or limited air flow.

When it happened, there was only a very small mould inside which should not really hinder air flow too much. However, we do put the rack in the middle of the oven (in front of the fan), and not at the bottom or the top. Is this a problem for the air flow?

I will check again when we install a new thermal fuse and try running an empty oven while keeping the doors locked.


After using the oven for several months, I can say that we are happy with this purchase.

Firstly, Easy Composites provided good support for our oven problems. Basically, we probably pressed the wrong order of buttons, resulting in a wrong calibration of the oven. A simple reset of the machine and PID calibration solved this issue, thanks to the support team.

Secondly, due to the wrong calibration, the actual temperature was higher than the reported one. This is why the thermal fuse broke at a temperature which was "too low" (the actual physical temperature was indeed at the trip limit). Replacing the fuses is also easy and well-explained in the manual.

Thirdly, we have been using the oven since without any problems. Temperature distributions are OK, no problems with opening/closing doors, ... . It is perfect for curing relatively large composite parts, especially longer ones.