Arc Roaster (Multi barrel Lab roaster) - Roasting Intelligence Setup (Beta)
Table of Contents
This roast machine is currently in the Beta stage of development at Cropster.
To access this integration, please register for Beta testing by completing the provided form here.
Specifications
Requirements
- USB cable
- Driver (serial converter) for machines built before February 2022:
- Driver (serial converter) for machines built February 2022 onwards:
⚠️ The driver may already be pre-installed with your operating system.
Supported measurements
- Bean temperature
- Exhaust temperature
- Inlet temperature
Multi-barrel Roasting Intelligence setup
Downloading the startup script
- Download the Beta version of Roasting Intelligence.
- Complete the installation process by following the steps provided.
-
Download the multibarrel startup script below and save it to the desktop.
- Windows: RoastingIntelligence5.beta.vbs
- Mac: RoastingIntelligence5.beta.command.zip
- Linux: RoastingIntelligence4.sh
Configuring the startup script
The startup script is preconfigured for a four-barrel sample roaster. If your roaster has fewer than four barrels, you will need to adapt the file first.
Follow the steps based on your computer's operating system:
Configuring the startup script on macOS
- Double-click the .zip file to decompress the .command file.
- Right-click on the .command file, select Open With and choose the Text edit application.
-
The file contains four text blocks as shown below. Each block refers to one barrel of your roaster.

-
Refer to the machine and identify the number of barrels you are setting up.
⚠️ The number of barrels on your roaster must match the number of blocks in the file. - Starting from the bottom of the file, delete the text blocks until there are as many text blocks as there are barrels on the roaster. e.g., If you have a two-barrel roast machine, you need to delete the last two text blocks.
- Save your changes to the file.
- Open Roasting Intelligence.
Configuring the startup script on Windows
- Right-click on the vbs. file, select Open With, and choose the Notepad application.
-
The file contains four text blocks as shown below. Each block refers to one barrel of your roaster.

-
Refer to the machine and identify the number of barrels you are setting up.
⚠️ The number of barrels on your roaster must match the number of blocks in the file. - Starting from the bottom of the file, delete the text blocks until there are as many text blocks as there are barrels on the roaster, e.g., if you have a two-barrel roaster, you need to delete the last two text blocks.
- Save your changes to the file.
- Open Roasting Intelligence.
Roasting Intelligence setup
Opening Roasting Intelligence on Windows
- Double-click the startup script (RoastingIntelligence5.beta.vbs) and several instances of the Roasting Intelligence will open.
Opening Roasting Intelligence on macOS
- Download the make executable.zip (2 items).
- Unpack the file by double-clicking it. It will create a new file called make_executable.
- Unpack the start script file (RoastingIntelligence5.beta.command.zip) It will create a file called RoastingIntelligence5.beta.command.
-
Drag the RoastingIntelligence5.beta.command file on top of the extracted make_executable automator file.

- Click Open in the following dialog. Nothing visually will happen, but the file will now be executable.
- Double-click the startup script (RoastingIntelligence5.beta.command) and everal instances of the Roasting Intelligence will open.
Opening Roasting Intelligence on Linux
- Check how to run a sh-file on Linux or issue a support ticket for further assistance.
Roasting Intelligence configuration
The images below are for reference and may vary slightly from your screen.
Important details to keep in mind:
- Before you start configuring your roast machine, ensure that you have added it via the online platform C-sar.
- Configure the Machine Preferences separately for every open instance of Roasting Intelligence.
- Only click Save after you've completed all settings in Roasting Intelligence.
- Select
Preferences > Machine > Configuration. - To choose the Roast machine, click on the dropdown menu in the Machine section.
- Click the + Add connector option to choose your connector from the dropdown list.
- Select Arc Roaster from the dropdown.
-
Click Select to add the connector.

- Click on the
Gear icon in the Connector setup section to open and configure more settings. -
Select the Serial port referring to your roast machine, Temperature unit, and Version:
-
Serial port:
- Windows: COM
-
Mac: USB
⚠️ Select a different Serial port in each Roasting Intelligence instance.
- Temperature unit: Choose Celsius or Fahrenheit according to the temperature unit displayed from the machine's temperature readouts.
-
Version: Choose the version corresponding to your machine's manufacturing date.
- Before February 2022 - Version: Before February 2022
- February 2022 onwards - Version: February 2022 onwards
-
Serial port:
-
Click OK.

- Navigate to the Machine > Measurements tab. All supported measurements will be displayed.
- To activate the measurements, click the green toggle button.
- Enable the desired measurements and choose Arc Roaster as the connector type.
- (Optional) Change the order of the measurements by using the
Drag and Drop icon and move it into position. -
Click Save to finalize the changes.
⚠️ Repeat these steps for each remaining barrel within its respective Roasting Intelligence instance.
-
Restart Roasting Intelligence. If the setup was successful, you will see the temperature values displayed on the right-hand side of the screen following the restart

Troubleshooting
If Roasting Intelligence indicates No source connected and/or you cannot see any measurements, please verify the following:
- Is the roast machine connected to the computer?
- Have you downloaded the driver for the USB serial converter, according to the manufacturing year of the machine?
- Is the correct Serial port within Roasting Intelligence selected?
If the serial port has been reassigned, Roasting Intelligence can no longer find the connection it previously saved. This results in a "No sources connected" error. This usually happens if you plug the USB cable into a different port or if the OS reorders your devices:
- Select
Preferences > Machine > Configuration. - Click on the
Gear icon in the Connector setup section to open and configure more settings. - Locate the Serial port dropdown menu.
- Select the new active port from the list.
- Click OK.
- Click Save to finalize the changes.
- Restart Roasting Intelligence.