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Need guidance for custom oven components

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BretMan

Mechanical
Mar 27, 2007
60
Hello,

I'm fabricating a custom thermoforming oven and vacuum table. The table is done and the oven box is made but I'm uncertain about the connections for the electrical components I think will work for it. This oven is meant to form just a few plastic sheets measuring about 33" x 33", for a prototype and then it's done. So I want to do this as economically as possible.

I've researched the several ways to heat the oven interior and I think the most economical is to get a standard bent resistance wire (like those used in a home oven broiler) as the heating element, which cost about $30-$35.00 and connect that to an analog temperature controller which I see on Ebay for under $30. I have standard 120/240vAC home power with 10amp breakers, even for my home 110vAC kitchen oven socket. I'm a novice with electricity so please bear with me.

The heating element seems to be essentially a simple path for the electricity to flow, so I'm assuming its connection to the temperature controller is a simple 2 wire connection. Then the temp. controller simply plugs into the wall outlet. I just need it to be able to vary the flow of electricity to the heating element to then control the temp. I have a separate thermometer I'll use to indicate when the oven temp. reaches the max 350oF I need.

Do I have it right that this should be as simple as I think it is above? Please advise.

Thanks.

Bret

Miami,FL USA
 
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