Coffeetool R-models (from September 2015 onwards) - Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup

This manual covers the connection of the Coffeetool machine manufactured from September 2015 onwards to Cropster's Roasting Intelligence.




Specifications

Requirements

  • Allan Bradley PLC
  • Ethernet cable

Supported measurements

Coffeetool roast machines manufactured between June 2019 and June 2021 do not support Cropster's Control features.

The Gas, Drum Speed Control and Airflow Control features are currently available in beta for Coffeetool roast machines manufactured within the specified timeframes:

Manufactured between 2015-2019
  • Allen Bradley Micro 820 PLC.
  • Read & Control of Gas, Airflow, and Drum Speed.
  • Can be controlled from the HMI and PC at the same time.
Manufactured between June 2019 - June 2021
  • Schneider M241 Series PLC.
  • Read only.
Manufactured from June 2021 onwards
  • Schneider M241 Series PLC.
  • Read & Control of Gas, Airflow, and Drum Speed.
  • Requires switching between HMI control mode/PC control mode.

Setting up a connection

There are two ways to connect your roast machine to the network:

Via the computer 


Screenshot 2024-07-19 at 16.14.46

  1. Connect the network cable to your roaster's Ethernet port 
  2. Connect the other end to the computer's Ethernet port.
  3. Proceed with the Network settings.

Via the network router


Screenshot 2024-07-19 at 16.14.46

  1. Connect your network cable to your roaster's Ethernet port.
  2. Connect the other end to the router's Ethernet port.
  3. Make sure that your computer and the router are connected (via Wi-Fi or Ethernet cable). 
  4. Proceed with the Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup.

Network settings

When the roaster is connected to the computer directly, you need to set up a Static IP address. 

Static IP address configuration - Windows 7, 8, 10

  1. Go to Control Panel > Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center
    or enter ncpa.cpl in the Windows search field.
  2. On the left panel, click the Change adapter settings link.
  3. Identify the network adapter-icon that refers to the roast machine connection.
    If you are not sure which icon refers to the roast machine, simply disconnect and reconnect the ethernet cable and check which icon changes its status.
  4. Right-click the network adapter and select Properties.
  5. Select the Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option and click the Properties button.
  6. Select Use the following IP Address option.
  7. Enter the specific IP Address for your roaster and replace the fourth number block with 42:
    In this example the IP address of the machine is 192.168.1.200.
    • IP Address: 192.168.1.42
      Important: The first three blocks of the IP address need to match the IP address of your roaster, as identified via the roaster's panel
    • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
    • Leave the rest blank
  8. Click the OK button to submit your changes.
    1. Proceed with the Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup.

    Static IP address configuration - MacOS 

    1. Go to > System Preferences > Network
    2. Identify the Network connection item that refers to the connection to your machine and select that item.
      💡 If you are not sure which icon refers to the roast machine, simply disconnect and reconnect the Ethernet cable and check which icon changes its status.
    3. Open the Configure IPv4 dropdown and choose Manually.
    4. Enter the specific IP Address for your roaster and replace the fourth number block with 42:
      In this example the IP address of the machine is 192.168.1.200.
      • IP Address: 192.168.1.42
        Important: The first three blocks of the IP address need to match the IP address of your roaster, as identified via the roaster's panel
      • Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
      • Leave the rest blank
    5. Click the Apply button to confirm the changes. 
    6. Proceed with the Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup.

        Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup

        Installing the Roasting Intelligence (RI) software

            1. Download RI.

            2. Complete the installation process by following the steps provided.

            3. Double-click the Cropster icon on your desktop to access RI.

            4. Enter your username and password.
              Use the same login information that you use to access the online platform C-sar.

            5. Click the Login button.

        Check out the Release notes for every version of RI5 to stay updated on the latest features and improvements.

        You can access the Release notes directly in RI by clicking on Help > Release Notes.

        Establishing a connection to the machine

        1. If you are setting up RI for the first time, click the Select Machine button in the banner at the top or click gear-png-2 Preferences  > Machine > Configuration bottom left to access the Preferences screen.
          📚 Learn how to use the keyboard shortcuts in RI.

        2. To choose the Roast machine, click on the dropdown menu in the Machine section
          📚 Learn how to add a new roast machine. 
        3. After selecting the machine all supported measurements will load.
          Change the order of the measurements by using the  Drag and Drop icon and moving it into position.
        4. Switch on the measurements you would like to enable and select Coffeetool PLC from the dropdown. Repeat this step for all measurements you would like to enable.  

          💡 Make your measurement readouts more compact. Choose the size of your measurement readouts by selecting either the Small or Large view for display.

          Screenshot 2024-07-25 at 11.48.19
        5. Click on the Gear  icon to open the settings
        6. Enter the IP address for the roast machine.
          The default IP address for Coffeetool roast machines is 192.168.1.200.
          Screenshot 2024-07-25 at 11.56.29
        7. Click OK.
        8. Click Save to finalize the changes.
        9. After saving the changes, RI will automatically restart. If the setup was successful, you will see the temperature values displayed on the right-hand side of the RI screen following the restart.
          Screenshot 2024-07-23 at 12.45.55
        10. Proceed with the Coffeetool's Control Mode.

        📚 Learn more about the Roasting Intelligence (RI) Preferences and roasting with the Control and Replay Assist features

        Coffeetool's Control Mode Guide

        Coffeetool's Control Modes, are only available on Coffeetool machines manufactured after June 2021.


        After Coffeetool machine's software update (for machines manufactured after June 2021), from the Coffeetool's HMI touch screen you have the ability to run the machine on two control modes.

        This allows you to shift the control between the Coffeetool's HMI touchscreen, and a roast-profiling software:

        The available control modes include:

        1. HMI Control Mode: The roaster receives user input commands for Gas, Airflow, and Drum speed, only from the HMI touchscreen.
        2. PC Control Mode: The roaster receives user input commands for Gas, Airflow, and Drum speed, only from the PC.

        For the Cropster Controls integration, please set the Coffeetool's control mode to PC Control Mode, as shown below:

        When you switch from PC Mode to HMI Mode, the variables are initialized to 50%.

        1. Push the Settings tab on the top of the HMI touchscreen. By default, the Coffeetool roast machine is set to HMI Control Mode.
          If the HMI Control Mode button is highlighted as GREEN, then it is enabled.
        2. Tap the PC Control Mode button, to enable it for Cropster's Control features.
          If the PC Control Mode button is highlighted as RED, then it is enabled.

          Troubleshooting

          If the RI indicates No source connected and/or you cannot see any measurements, please check the following: 

          • Is the roast machine connected to the network (router or computer)?
          • If the roaster is connected to the computer directly, is the static IP address configured correctly?
          • Does the IP address assigned to the roast machine match the default? 
          • Have you set the HMI touch screen to "PC Control Mode"?

          Congratulations! You have successfully set up the Cropster Roasting Intelligence!

          Check out the Roasting Intelligence (RI5) - Getting Started manual and enjoy tracking your first roasts! More manuals and videos can be found on help.cropster.com.