Fluke 9118A User manual

September 2012 Rev. 1, 2/2014
© 2012-2014 Fluke Corporation. All rights reserved. Specifications are subject to change without notice.
All product names are trademarks of their respective companies.
9118A
Calibration Furnace
Users Manual

LIMITED WARRANTY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
This Fluke product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for one year from the date of purchase. This warranty does not
cover fuses, disposable batteries, or damage from accident, neglect, misuse, alteration, contamination, or abnormal conditions of operation
or handling. Resellers are not authorized to extend any other warranty on Fluke’s behalf. To obtain service during the warranty period,
contact your nearest Fluke authorized service center to obtain return authorization information, then send the product to that Service Center
with a description of the problem.
THIS WARRANTY IS YOUR ONLY REMEDY. NO OTHER WARRANTIES, SUCH AS FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, ARE
EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED. FLUKE IS NOT LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR
LOSSES, ARISING FROM ANY CAUSE OR THEORY. Since some states or countries do not allow the exclusion or limitation of an implied
warranty or of incidental or consequential damages, this limitation of liability may not apply to you.
Fluke Corporation
P.O. Box 9090
Everett, WA 98206-9090
U.S.A.
Fluke Europe B.V.
P.O. Box 1186
5602 BD Eindhoven
The Netherlands
11/99

i
Table of Contents
Title Page
Introduction.................................................................................................................... 1
How to Contact Fluke .................................................................................................... 1
Safety Information.......................................................................................................... 1
Installation ..................................................................................................................... 6
Unpack and Inspection ............................................................................................. 6
Placement................................................................................................................. 6
Dry-Out Period .......................................................................................................... 6
How to Move the Product.......................................................................................... 7
Product Components ..................................................................................................... 7
Front-Panel Controls................................................................................................. 10
Rear-Panel Connections........................................................................................... 12
Probe Installation ...................................................................................................... 17
The Isothermal Block ................................................................................................ 20
Connect to Mains Power........................................................................................... 21
How to Turn On the Product .......................................................................................... 21
How to Turn Off the Product .......................................................................................... 22
Display........................................................................................................................... 23
Setup ............................................................................................................................. 23
Set the Language...................................................................................................... 23
Set Display Contrast ................................................................................................. 23

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Users Manual
ii
Operation ....................................................................................................................... 24
How to Set Parameters in the Product ...................................................................... 25
Value List ............................................................................................................. 25
Set Number Value ................................................................................................ 25
Softkey Menus .......................................................................................................... 26
Temperature (TEMP) Setup Menu ............................................................................ 29
Scan Rate ............................................................................................................ 29
Cutout................................................................................................................... 29
Program (PROG) Menu ............................................................................................ 29
RAMP/SOAK Menu .............................................................................................. 29
RUN PROG Function ........................................................................................... 30
Calibration (CALIB) Menu ......................................................................................... 30
Calibration (CAL) Points Menu............................................................................. 30
PID Setup Menu ................................................................................................... 31
Furnace Setup Menu................................................................................................. 31
System Menu ............................................................................................................ 31
Display (DISP) Menu............................................................................................ 31
Communications (COMM) Setup Menu................................................................ 31
Password Setup Menu ......................................................................................... 32
System Information (INFO) Menu......................................................................... 32
Adjust Furnace Temperature .................................................................................... 32
Set the Furnace Temperature with a Preset......................................................... 32
Set the Furnace Temperature Manually ............................................................... 33
How to Stop the Furnace Heat Cycle........................................................................ 33
Change a Preset Temperature.................................................................................. 33
Probe Insertion .............................................................................................................. 34
Cutouts .......................................................................................................................... 34
Soft Cutout ................................................................................................................ 34
Hard Cutout............................................................................................................... 35
Chassis Thermostat Cutout....................................................................................... 35
Fan Fault Cutout ....................................................................................................... 35
TC or Heater Fault Cutout......................................................................................... 35
Remote Operation ......................................................................................................... 35
Digital Communication Interface ............................................................................... 36

Contents (continued)
iii
How to Configure the Digital Interface ...................................................................... 37
Input Terminators...................................................................................................... 37
SCPI Commands ...................................................................................................... 37
Commands by Function or Group ........................................................................ 37
Alphabetic List of Commands ........................................................................................ 42
Maintenance .................................................................................................................. 59
Cutout Test ............................................................................................................... 60
How to Clean the Product ......................................................................................... 60
Furnace Calibration................................................................................................... 60
Calibration Terminology ....................................................................................... 61
Environment Conditions ....................................................................................... 61
Calibration Equipment.......................................................................................... 61
Calibration............................................................................................................ 61
Calibration Procedure for Tube Furnace........................................................................ 64
Calibration procedure for 9118A-ITB (with Isothermal Block) ................................... 70
Calibration Equipment Setup .................................................................................... 70
Stability Test......................................................................................................... 73
Accuracy Test ...................................................................................................... 73
Accuracy Adjustment ........................................................................................... 74
Axial Uniformity .................................................................................................... 74
Specifications for 9118A and 9118A-ITB ....................................................................... 78
General Specifications .............................................................................................. 78
Accuracy Specifications ............................................................................................ 79
Radial Uniformity....................................................................................................... 79
Axial Uniformity ......................................................................................................... 79
Temperature Stability................................................................................................ 79
Heating Time (23 °C to 1200 °C) .............................................................................. 80
Cooling Time (1200 °C to 300 °C) ............................................................................ 80

9118A
Users Manual
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v
List of Tables
Table Title Page
1. Symbols ................................................................................................................................ 5
2. Front-Panel Controls............................................................................................................. 11
3. Rear-Panel Connections....................................................................................................... 13
4. Display Elements .................................................................................................................. 23
5. Commands by Function or Group......................................................................................... 38
6. Calibration Equipment........................................................................................................... 61
7. Furnace Calibration Tests and Adjustments ......................................................................... 63
8. Stability Test Data................................................................................................................. 66
9. Axial Uniformity Test............................................................................................................. 67
10. Skew Correction Values........................................................................................................ 67
11. SKEW Parameter ................................................................................................................. 67
12. Zone Correction Values ........................................................................................................ 68
13. ZONE Parameter .................................................................................................................. 68
14. Accuracy Parameter ............................................................................................................. 69
15. Stability Test Data with Isothermal Block .............................................................................. 73
16. Accuracy Parameter for Isothermal Block............................................................................. 74
17. Axial Uniformity Test with Isothermal Block .......................................................................... 75
18. Skew Correction Values for Isothermal Block ....................................................................... 76
19. SKEW Parameter for Isothermal Block ................................................................................. 76
20. Zone Correction Values For Isothermal Block ...................................................................... 77
21. Zone Parameter for Isothermal Block ................................................................................... 77

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Users Manual
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vii
List of Figures
Figure Title Page
1. Calibration Tube Furnace ..................................................................................................... 8
2. Front View with Isothermal Block.......................................................................................... 9
3. Rear View with Isothermal Block .......................................................................................... 9
4. Front-Panel Controls............................................................................................................. 10
5. Rear-Panel Connections....................................................................................................... 12
6. Rear View of 9118A Thermocouple Calibration Furnace with Isothermal Block ................... 14
7. Short Tube and Long Tube Insertion .................................................................................... 15
8. Rear Plug Insertion ............................................................................................................... 15
9. Attach the Rear Shield.......................................................................................................... 16
10. Attach the Support Bracket ................................................................................................... 16
11. Front Plug Insertion .............................................................................................................. 17
12. Probe Installation A............................................................................................................... 18
13. Probe Installation B............................................................................................................... 19
14. Insert Alignment.................................................................................................................... 20
15. Power-Up Screen ................................................................................................................. 21
16. Main Screen.......................................................................................................................... 22
17. Preset Selection.................................................................................................................... 25
18. SETPOINT Temperature ...................................................................................................... 25
19. Softkey Menu Tree ............................................................................................................... 27
20. Menu Softkey Displays ......................................................................................................... 28

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Users Manual
viii
21. Preset Selection.................................................................................................................... 32
22. Change Preset Temperature................................................................................................. 33
23. RS-232 Cable Connections................................................................................................... 36
24. Tube Furnace Calibration Flow Chart ................................................................................... 62
25. Test Equipment Connections ................................................................................................ 65
26. Calibration Equipment Setup ................................................................................................ 71
27. Calibration Procedure for Furnace with Thermo Block.......................................................... 72

1
Introduction
 Warning
To prevent possible electrical shock, fire, or
personal injury, read all safety information
before you use the Product.
The Product is used to calibrate Platinum Resistance
Thermometers (PRTs), fiber optic sensors, and
thermocouples to a maximum temperature of 1200 °C.
How to Contact Fluke
To contact Fluke Calibration, call one of these telephone
numbers:
•Technical Support USA: 1-877-355-3225
•Calibration/Repair USA: 1-877-355-3225
•Canada: 1-800-36-FLUKE (1-800-363-5853)
•Europe: [phone]
•Japan: [phone]
•Singapore: [phone]
•China: [phone]
•Brazil: [phone]
•Anywhere in the world: [phone]
To see product information and download the latest
manual supplements, visit Fluke Calibration’s website at
www.flukecal.com.
To register your product, visit http://flukecal.com/register-
product.
Safety Information
A Warning identifies conditions and procedures that are
dangerous to the user. A Caution identifies conditions and
procedures that can cause damage to the Product or the
equipment under test.
 Warning
To prevent possible electrical shock, fire, or
personal injury:
•Read all safety information before you use the
Product.
•Carefully read all instructions.

9118A
Users Manual
2
•Use the Product only as specified, or the
protection supplied by the Product can be
compromised.
•Do not use the Product around explosive gas,
vapor, or in damp or wet environments.
•Use this Product indoors only.
•Use only the mains power cord and connector
approved for the voltage and plug
configuration in your country and rated for the
Product.
•Replace the mains power cord if the insulation
is damaged or if the insulation shows signs of
wear.
•Connect one end of the supplied ground wire
to the protective earth ground terminal on the
rear panel and the other end to an earth
ground.
•Make sure the ground conductor in the mains
power cord is connected to a protective earth
ground. Disruption of the protective earth
could put voltage on the chassis that could
cause death.
•Do not put the Product where access to the
mains power cord is blocked.
•Make sure that the Product is grounded before
use.
•Do not use an extension cord or adapter plug.
•Do not use the Product if it operates
incorrectly.
•Do not use the Product if it is damaged.
•Disable the Product if it is damaged.
•Make sure the power cord does not touch with
hot parts of the Product.
•Make sure that the space around the Product
meets minimum requirements.
•Do not keep the Product in operation and
unattended at high temperatures.
•Use caution when you install and remove
probes and inserts from the Product. They can
be hot.
•Do not put the Product on a flammable surface
and keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
•Do not set anything on top of the Product. Very
high temperatures can cause the ignition of
flammable materials.
•Do not remove the isothermal block and rear
plug at high temperatures. The isothermal
block and rear plug are the same temperature
as shown on the display.
•Do not lift or move the Product with the
isothermal block in place. The isothermal
block and rear plug may fall out of the
instrument.

Calibration Furnace
Safety Information
3
•Applicable personal protective equipment
must be worn when you move hot temperature
probes or do work near the furnace apertures.
•Do not use the Product for applications other
than calibration work.
•The Product must only be used by approved
personnel.
•Do not touch surfaces near the well access
port. They can be very hot.
•Do not touch the insulation material in the
Product. The insulation material can cause
mild mechanical irritation with skin, eyes, and
upper respiratory system. If it gets on your
skin, flush area and wash gently. Do not rub or
scratch exposed skin. If it gets into your eyes,
flush abundantly with water. Do not rub eyes. If
the nose and throat become irritated, move to
a dust-free area and blow nose. If symptoms
continue, get medical advice.
Caution
To prevent damage to the Product:
•Operate the Product at room temperature.
See specifications.
•Keep a minimum of 45 cm clearance from
the front, left, and right sides. Keep 150 cm
from the top of the Product.
•Do not put the Product in a corner or cause
a blockage behind the Product.
•Do not use fluids to clean out the well.
Fluids in the Product can cause damage.
•Do not put unwanted material into the
probe protection tube or hole of the insert.
Fluids in the Product can cause damage.
•Only change calibration constant values
from the factory set values when you
calibrate the Product. These values are
important in the safe operation of the
Product.
•Read and understand the operation before
you turn on the Product.
•Do not operate the Product in wet, oily,
dusty, or dirty environments.
•Make sure the probe handle temperature
does not go above its limit.

9118A
Users Manual
4
•Be careful with thermometer probes. Do
not drop, stress, or let them become too
hot.
•Do not operate the Product without the
control probes correctly connected and put
into the furnace. The furnace does not
operate correctly without the control
probes.
•Make sure the main probe and zone probe
are connected to the correct connector.
•Turn off the furnace when a mains supply
power fluctuation occurs. Turn on the
furnace only when the mains power is
stable.
•Make sure that all reference sensors used
with the furnace are specified for the
temperature range of the furnace.
•Do not disconnect the Product from the
mains while the furnace temperature is
above 80 °C.
•Do not attempt to push the block into the
furnace. The isothermal block expands as
the furnace heats due to thermal
expansion. It will extend beyond the front
of the furnace at high temperatures. This is
normal.
•Remove the isothermal block and rear plug
prior to transporting the furnace. The
ceramic furnace tube is fragile and can be
damaged by the block.
•To prevent the probe under test from
getting stuck in the isothermal block due to
different rates of thermal expansion, allow
a clearance of at least 0.4 mm between the
outer diameter of the probe and the hole of
the isothermal block.
•Never introduce any foreign material into
the probe hole of the isothermal block.
Fluids, etc. can leak into the Product and
cause damage.
•Minimize vibration in the calibration
environment.
•The furnace can be used with or without an
isothermal block installed. Unique
calibration parameters are necessary for
each mode of operation.
•Before operating the furnace, select the
appropriate mode of operation in the
calibration menu (see Furnace Setup
Menu). If necessary, a calibration for the
new mode of operation may be required.

Calibration Furnace
Safety Information
5
The symbols on the Product and in this manual are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Symbols
Symbol Description Symbol Description
Risk of Danger. Important information. See
Manual. Hazardous voltage. Risk of electric shock.
Caution. Hot surface. Protective Earth Ground
USB connection Conforms to European Union directives.
Conforms to relevant North American Safety
Standards. Conforms to relevant Australian EMC standards.

This product complies with the WEEE Directive (2002/96/EC) marking requirements. The affixed label indicates
that you must not discard this electrical/electronic product in domestic household waste. Product Category: With
reference to the equipment types in the WEEE Directive Annex I, this product is classed as category 9 "Monitoring
and Control Instrumentation" product. Do not dispose of this product as unsorted municipal waste. Go to Fluke’s
website for recycling information.

9118A
Users Manual
6
Installation
The subsequent sections give you information on best
practices for Product installation.
Unpack and Inspection
Carefully unpack the Product and check for all parts. If
there is damage, tell the shipper immediately and make a
claim. The parts included are:
•9118A Calibration Furnace
•Type-S Thermocouple, Long
•Type-S Thermocouple, Short
•Protection Tube, Long
•Protection Tube, Short
•TC Support Bracket
•L-Key, Hex 3 mm
•Button Head Screw, M5X12 (2 each)
•Getting Started Manual
•Users Manual CD-ROM
•Ground Wire
•Serial Cable
•USB Cable
•Super Wool Insulator
•Calibration Certificate
•Isothermal Block
•Rear Plug
•Rear Plug for backup
The last 3 items are only for the thermocouple calibration
furnace with isothermal block.
Placement
For best results, choose a location to setup the Product
where room temperature changes are minimum. To safely
remove heat, put the Product in a position with a minimum
of 45 cm of free air space around it.
Fluke Calibration recommends that you do a test for axial
uniformity and adjust if necessary after the Product is
installed. Temperature uniformity of the Product could be
affected by the environment where the Product operates or
by equipment or material placed inside or at the ends of
the central tube. Refer to the Calibration section of this
manual.
Dry-Out Period
Before initial use, after transport, or the Product has not
been energized for more than 10 days, turn on the Product
for a minimum of 2 hours.
If the Product is wet or was in a wet environment, remove
moisture before you turn on the Product.

Calibration Furnace
Product Components
7
How to Move the Product
 Warning
To prevent personal injury, use proper
techniques to lift the Product.
When you lift the Product, bend your knees and lift with
your legs. Before you move the Product, let it cool to
ambient temperatures and remove the control and cutout
thermocouples and all objects in the furnace well. To
safely move the Product, two people are necessary. Put
one person in the front and one person at the rear of the
Product. Carefully put your hands under the Product and
lift in unison.
Caution
To prevent damage to the Product, remove the
isothermal block and rear plug prior to
transporting the furnace. The ceramic furnace
tube is fragile and can be damaged by the
block.
Product Components
As shown in Figure 1 the two primary components of the
Product are the furnace and the controller. Figures 2 and 3
show the thermocouple calibration furnace with the
isothermal block. The isothermal block shown in Figure 2
is made of aluminum-oxide and provides a constant and
accurate temperature environment for the sensor under
test. Four 6.7 mm diameter wells are provided.

9118A
Users Manual
8
Furnace
Controller
gxs009.eps
Figure 1. Calibration Tube Furnace

Calibration Furnace
Product Components
9
Thermal Block
gxs121.eps
Figure 2. Front View with Isothermal Block
Rear Plug
gxs133.eps
Figure 3. Rear View with Isothermal Block

9118A
Users Manual
10
Front-Panel Controls
Figure 4 shows the front-panel controls of the Product and Table 2 is a list of control descriptions.
1
234
6
7
8
9
5
10
gxs007.eps
Figure 4. Front-Panel Controls