Frequently Asked Questions

“TAP” stands for “Temperature Automation by Proportional Integral Derivative.”

Basically, that’s a fancy way of saying that TAP Kiln Controllers use a mathematical formula to ensure maximum precision between inputs and outputs for automatically executing firing schedules.

But TAP is also a double entendre – mimetic of the action a user takes to interact with the TAP Controller’s signature touchscreen controls.

Interested in learning more about the science and theory behind Proportional Integral Derivative? Check out What Is a PID Temperature Controller?

At a time when other programmable kiln controllers still used keys, complicated menus, and small alarm clock-like screens, the original TAP Kiln Controller by SDS Industries revolutionized kiln control by introducing intuitive touchscreen controls and an attractive graphical user interface.  

Our competition has been scrambling to keep up ever since!

When designing TAP, we kept the focus on making it easy for artists and craftspeople to do everything they needed with just a few taps of your finger. Instead of complicated firing codes and having to constantly recreate schedules, TAP focused on designing a controller anyone can pick up and begin using right away.

This includes menus that just make sense, full-text title displays, and the ability to create, name, and save unlimited firing schedules (with unlimited steps!).

See for yourself how TAP Kiln Controllers simplify your firing operations!

But we didn’t stop there!

SDS Industries also pioneered remote monitoring and control capabilities through TAP Kiln Control Mobile. We’re still (to our knowledge) the only kiln controller manufacturer that allows you to remotely create, edit, adjust, or execute firing schedules from your smartphone or tablet.

TAP combines this revolutionary user experience with a host of cutting-edge technical features like PID-driven precision, preventative maintenance alerts, advanced diagnostics, push notification alerts and alarms, error reports, and storage capabilities that allow users to save an unlimited number of unique schedules with an unlimited number of steps. 

You might think that this technological edge might come at the expense reliability, but we built the TAP Kiln Controller to be an industrial-grade component that can withstand workshop, at home, and industrial environments. Across over 700,000 hours of recorded firing time and 500,000 successful firings (that’s just for controllers connected to WiFi), TAP Kiln Controllers have well under a 1% field failure rate.

Plus, we support our mainline TAP Kiln Controllers (TAP II and TAP II Pro) with an industry-leading 3-year warranty.

Today, we’re still pushing the envelope on what’s possible when it comes to temperature control with constant refinement and new, innovative products like TAP Micro and TAP II Pro.

You can read a full comparison between TAP Kiln Controllers vs controllers by other kiln controller manufacturers here. 
 

As our lineup of TAP Kiln Controllers continues to expand, you might be asking yourself: What type of TAP Kiln Controller is right for me?

All of our TAP Kiln Control Products are designed to be easy to use and to meet the needs of ceramicists, glass artists, bladesmiths, and other heat treat artists. However, different controllers have different features that make them better suited for various applications.  

Below is a quick summary to help you decide what type of controller is right for you: 

• TAP II Pro Kiln Controller: A robust, fully featured controller that provides multi-zone temperature control for up to 3 independent zones, making it suitable for even the most complex applications. (We’ve even seen users use their controller to cure paint, incubate chicks, or roast coffee!).  TAP II Pro also has an exclusive Cone Fire Mode to make firing ceramics more precise and faster than ever before!
• TAP II Kiln Controller: An advanced controller that includes most of the advanced features of the TAP II Pro – but is only suitable for single zone kilns. 
• TAP Monitor Digital Pyrometer: An advanced digital pyrometer and limit controller that adds remote temperature monitoring to any manual or digital kiln, furnace, or oven. TAP Monitor isn’t a direct replacement for a programmable digital kiln controller, but it can be paired with your existing controller (no matter what type of controller you use!) to provide safety redundancy and ensure the kiln shuts off safely in the case of relay failure. 
• TAP Micro: TAP Micro is perfect for users who want a cost-accessible kiln controller that provides most of the advanced features of TAP and who don’t mind controlling their kiln almost exclusively from the TAP Kiln Control Mobile app. Due to its dimensions and wiring, unless you’re an extremely competent DIYer, TAP Micro is only suited for new kiln or oven builds and isn’t intended as a drop-in controller replacement.
• TAP&Go Single Setpoint Controller: TAP&Go is a simplified single setpoint controller designed specifically for heat treat, knife making, precious metal clays, jewelry making, or for other artists who don’t need to execute complex firing schedules. Like TAP Micro, TAP&Go is controlled almost exclusively through the TAP Kiln Control Mobile app. 
• TAP Standalone Kiln Controllers: Perfect for users who want to easily upgrade their manual kiln to the most advanced, easy-to-use programmable digital kiln controller.  
• TAP Kiln Conversion Kits: Perfect for users who are already using an automatic touchscreen, 3-key, or 12-key controller from another brand but want more precision, ease of use, remote control and monitoring, and more from their kiln controller. 

That said, no matter which TAP Controller you choose, know that you’ll be getting a product where simplicity, precision, user-friendliness, continuous support, and innovation are central to the controller. Our intention is to provide artists and kiln operators with a controller that gives them everything they need to improve their kiln firing experience and devote more time to their craft – instead of pressing keys or fumbling through user manuals.  

All of SDS Industries’ kiln controllers also use PID temperature control for maximum precision and provide integration to TAP Kiln Control Mobile to allow you to monitor your kiln from your smartphone or tablet.

TAP Kiln Controllers are compatible with any relay-controlled kiln or oven that accepts 12VDC outputs (that’s almost every relay-controlled kiln!). 

You can use TAP Conversion Kits to replace just about any existing automatic controller with no, or minimal, modification to your kiln – whether it’s a touchscreen controller, a 3-key controller, or a 12-key controller. 

You can use TAP Standalone Kiln Controllers to upgrade any existing manual kiln to be digitally controlled and network connected. 

TAP Kiln Controllers are compatible with relay-controlled kilns or heat treat ovens, including those from manufacturers like: 

• Evenheat 
• Hot Shot Oven & Kilns 
• Mobile Glassblowing Studios LLC (Annealer Kilns) 
• Skutt Kilns 
• Olympic Kilns 
• L&L Kilns 
• Cress Kilns  
• Paragon Kilns 
• Seattle Pottery Supply Kilns 
• Amaco Kilns 
• Cone Art Kilns 
• AIM Kilns 

You can even use TAP on industrial applications and DIY, build-it-from-scratch kilns and oven builds.

If you’re looking to buy a kiln from a manufacturer that doesn’t offer TAP Kiln Controllers as a pre-installed option, we encourage you to reach out to them and ask them about TAP. Then, feel free to email us at info@kilncontrol.com and we’re happy to try to facilitate a 1:1 install for the kiln of your choice. 

Capacitive touchscreens usually have a glass display that is coated with a transparent conductor that responds to conductive inputs (such as your fingertip!). It doesn’t require pressure to activate. Capacitive touchscreens have more of a ‘swiping’ feel and are capable of recognizing multi-touch gestures.

You’re probably used to interacting with capacitive touchscreens on your smartphone or tablet. 

A resistive touchscreen has a plastic screen overlay that requires pressure to activate. Resistive touchscreens have more of a ‘pressing’ or ‘tapping’ feel. Today, resistive touchscreens are less common in day-to-day life, but a lot of ATMs still use resistive touchscreens.  

TAP II Pro, TAP Micro, TAP&Go, and TAP Monitor all use capacitive touchscreens for better viewing angles and faster responsiveness.

TAP II uses a resistive touchscreen which has several potential advantages when it comes to heat treat:

• You can use a TAP II Controller even if you’re still wearing protective gloves when operating your kiln. 
• Heat treat requires precision – resistive touchscreens are less susceptible to accidental inputs.  
• Inputs on a resistive touchscreen aren’t as affected by debris.

However, even with a resistive touchscreen, TAP II Controllers are snappy, responsive, with a vibrant display (unlike many ATMs). And, with a Premium Subscription to the TAP Kiln Control Mobile, you can fully control your kiln using the capacitive touchscreen on your phone or tablet if you want! 

A decade after the release of the original TAP Controller, we took everything we’ve learned over the past 10 years to create our most advanced, fully-featured kiln controller yet: the TAP II Pro.

Like the original TAP Controller, the TAP II Pro is a multi-zone PID temperature controller that provides precise control for up to 3 independent temperature zones.

In addition to our signature features like intuitive touchscreen controls, unlimited firing schedules, and true end-to-end remote control and monitoring through TAP Kiln Control Mobile, TAP II Pro introduces a host of new improvements.

• Upgraded, More Responsive Touchscreen: TAP II Pro has a more responsive, snappy capacitive touchscreen. It offers better viewing angles and a touch interface that’s just like your phone or tablet!
• Upgraded User Interface: Enjoy the industry’s most intuitive, attractive, and easy-to-navigate UI.
• Exclusive Cone Fire Mode: The easiest-to-use kiln controller just got even easier. Want to start a cone firing? Just select the cone you want and press start. 
• Multi-Zone PID Temperature Control: Precisely control temp for up to 3 different zones.
• Support for Multiple Thermocouples: Use with Type K, R, or S thermocouples.
• Auxiliary Output: Automatically control your vent or fan with your controller. 

If you’re looking to upgrade to the best of the best when it comes to kiln control, check out the TAP II Pro.

Yes, TAP Conversion Kits make it easy to upgrade your existing automatic kiln controller to all the great features of TAP – with no, or minimal, modification to your kiln.  
 
We include custom harnesses and faceplates to allow users to seamlessly upgrade the following controllers with zero splicing or kiln modification required:  

• Bartlett 3-Key 
• Bartlett 12-Key 
• Bartlett Genesis Mini 
• Bartlett Genesis 
• Bartlett Genesis 2.0 
• DTC 1000/800/600 
• Evenheat Set-Pro 
• Evenheat Rampmaster II  
• Evenheat Rampmaster III 
• JenKen AF3P 
• L&L DynaTrol 
• Orton 3-Key 
• Orton 12-Key 
• Orton Autofire 2000 
• Orton Autofire 3000 
• Orton Autofire 4000 
• Orton Autofire Slide 
• Orton Autofire 4X 
• Paragon Sentinel 
• Paragon Sentry 2.0 
• Paragon Sentry 3.0 
• Paragon Sentry XPress 2.0 
• Paragon Sentry XPress 3.0 
• Paragon Sentry XPress 4.0 
• Paragon Sentry XPress 5.0 
• RTC-1000 
• Skutt KilnMaster LT 
• Skutt GlassMaster LT 
• V6CF 

Follow along in the video below to see how fast and easy it is to install a TAP Conversion Kit: