North Coffee Roasters (Fotek controls) - Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup

This manual covers the connection of North Coffee Roasters with Fotek controls to Cropster's Roasting Intelligence

• Specifications
• Roasting Intelligence Setup
  • Installing the Roasting intelligence (RI) software
  • Establishing a connection to the machine
• Troubleshooting

Specifications

Requirements

• USB cable
• VCP driver  (FTDI)
  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10
  • MacOS X 10.9 to 10.14

Supported measurements

• Drum temperature
• Bean temperature
• Environmental temperature
• Airflow (Hz)

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.

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 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. 
   

   💡 After selecting the machine from the dropdown menu, the roast machine settings may automatically be filled in. You have the flexibility to edit these settings at any time to ensure they align with the specifications of your roasting machine. 

   📚 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 Mill City (all versions - Phidgets and PIDs/PLC) from the dropdown for the measurements.
   💡 Make your measurement readouts more compact. Choose the size of your measurement readouts by selecting either the Small or Large view for display
   
5. Click on the  Gear icon to open the PID settings.
6. Select the Mill City Version, Serial port referring to your roast machine, and the Temperature unit. 
   
   
   • Version: Fotek controls (Standard control panel)
     • Serial port:
       Windows: choose the COM option that refers to the roaster's connection.
       Mac: choose the USB option that refers to the roaster's connection.
     • Temperature unit: choose Celsius or Fahrenheit according to the temperature unit displayed from the machine's temperature readouts.
7. Click OK.
8. Click Save to finalize the changes.

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.

Troubleshooting

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

• Did you choose the correct version?
• Did you choose the correct serial port?
• Is your North Coffee Roaster machine equipped with Fotek controls?

Bean temperature stall (RoR Valley)

You have successfully connected your North Coffee Roaster with RI, but you are experiencing a consistent stall in the Bean temperature (shown as a valley in the RoR):

The temperature and RoR curves shown above were tracked during one roast, using a Standard control panel North Coffee Roaster roast machine with Fotek controls.

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