TAP Products FAQ

“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?

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.

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:

When we were designing the TAP Kiln Controller, our priority was to make our controller as user-friendly and accessible as possible. That meant not cutting any corners – especially when it comes to screen size!

The TAP II Kiln Controller features a 4.3″ resistive touchscreen, meaning it responds to pressure and you can use it with gloves. The TAP II Pro Kiln Controller has a 4.3″ capacitive touchscreen which provides better viewing angles and faster response.

Both feature the same artist-centric user interface, where menus are arranged logically, text is always rendered at accessible sizes, buttons are large and hard to press accidentally, and you can view full-text title displays for your firing schedules. Plus, you can easily see all schedule details on a single screen.

These features improve accessibility and reduce the possibility for user error.

The Bartlett Genesis 2.0 has a 3.4″ resistive touchscreen, giving artists and craftspeople far less room to work with. This shows up in the user interface, which is cramped and often requires a stylus to navigate successfully.

You can see the difference below:

But what about SDS Industries’ and Bartlett’s respective entry-level mini controllers?

There, the playing field levels – with a major caveat. TAP Micro, TAP&Go, and TAP Monitor all feature a 2.4″ color touchscreen. This is the same size as the touchscreens on the Genesis Mini and the Genesis Spark.

However, the Genesis Mini and Genesis Spark require you to perform all schedule creation, settings adjustments, and firing operations on the controller’s touchscreen (you’ll definitely need a stylus!).

TAP Micro, TAP&Go, and TAP Monitor, on the other hand, are designed to let you perform all the functions you need from your smartphone or tablet on TAP Kiln Control Mobile. That way, you can bypass the potential frustrations of trying to manage your kiln on a smaller screen size.

TAP II and TAP II Pro also provide this option.

Bartlett KilnAid doesn’t provide comparable capability. You can create schedules on Bartlett’s app, but transferring them to your kiln requires a lengthy 13-step process (schedules you create on TAP Kiln Control Mobile sync to your controller automatically – and vice versa).

In our online store, you’ll notice that we sell TAP Kiln Controllers in three formats: Controllers, Conversion Kits, and Standalones. Below are the primary use-cases for each, so that you can decide which format best fits your need: 

• Digital Controllers: Best for new builds & DIYers: Digital Controllers only contain the controller itself, a wiring harness, and any other selected options (as well as a faceplate for the TAP II and TAP II Pro Controllers). However, these controllers don’t include everything you’d need for plug-and-play installation as a replacement for an existing automatic controller. Controllers in this category are better suited for new kiln and oven builds or users who are comfortable splicing wires or making some modifications to their kiln.
• Conversion Kits: Best for upgrading automatic kiln controllers: Conversion kits are for users who are looking for a simple solution to upgrade an existing automatic controller without having to worry about a complicated installation. Conversion kits provide everything you need to easily swap out your current automatic controller for TAP. In most cases, the only thing you’ll need is a screwdriver – although in some cases minor modifications to your kiln, such as drilling new holes for the faceplate, may be necessary. 
• Standalone Kiln Controllers: Best for upgrading manual kilns: Standalone kiln controllers provide a plug-and-play solution for upgrading a manual kiln to TAP Digital Controls with no or minimal modifications to your kiln. Standalone kiln controllers include the necessary transformer, electrical receptacle, relays, and thermocouples. It may be necessary to drill a small hole through your kiln brick to insert the tip of the standalone unit’s thermocouple into the interior of your kiln (or you can enlist the help of a kiln technician to install your standalone). 

You’ll also notice a fourth category: Digital Pyrometers. These are not process kiln controllers that you can use to fully manage your kiln. Instead, they work with your kiln controllers – automatic, manual, you name it – to provide precise, remote temperature readouts. Plus, they can act as safety limit controllers to ensure your kiln safely shuts off if it exceeds a specified temperature.

You can shop our selection of programmable kiln controllers, standalones, and conversion kits on our online store. Or, you can purchase TAP Digital Controllers or TAP-controlled kilns and heat treat ovens through one of the following distributors: 

• Evenheat 
• Hot Shot Oven & Kiln 
• Paragon Kilns
• Mobile Glassblowing Studios, LLC 
• Jen-Ken Kilns 
• Kiln Frog 
• Sheffield Pottery 
• Delphi Glass 

While the original TAP Kiln Controller is discontinued, there’s a chance you might still purchase a kiln that has the original TAP preinstalled. So, how can you tell if you have an original TAP, a TAP II, or a TAP II Pro Controller?

The easiest way to tell the difference is to look at your controller’s Home Screen: 

• If your Start and Menu buttons are on the left side of the screen, you’re using an original TAP Controller. 
• If your Start and Menu buttons are on the right side of the screen, you’re using a TAP II or TAP II Pro Controller.

If you’re unsure whether you have a TAP II or a TAP II Pro, you can go to Menu>Settings. If your controller has an option for Firing Settings to enable Cone Fire Mode, then your controller is a TAP II Pro. If you do not have that option, then you have a TAP II Controller.

You can also check which controller you’re using from the TAP Kiln Control Mobile app by clicking the Info icon beside your kiln on the Summary Screen. 

The TAP II Pro and original TAP Controller [discontinued] are the only kiln controllers in the TAP Ecosystem capable of multi-zone temperature control.

TAP II Pro can receive input from three different thermocouples and provide independent temperature control for three different elements (or zones) of your kiln. It’s compatible with Type R, Type S, and Type K thermocouples.

All of our other kiln control options are designed for single zone kilns and are compatible with Type K thermocouples.