Plug&Play connectors
      Back to home
      1. Helpdesk : Cropster
      2. Connecting your roast machine
      3. Plug&Play connectors

      Roaster Dynamics (with Watlow controller) - Roasting Intelligence (RI) Setup (alpha)

      This manual covers the connection of a Roaster Dynamics roast machine with Watlow PID controllers to Cropster's Roasting Intelligence.


       

      This roast machine is currently in the alpha stage of development at Cropster.

      Alpha means that we have limited experience with the Roaster Dynamics roast machine with Watlow PID controllers. The setup instructions below have yet to be confirmed by the manufacturer. Therefore, the configuration in this article may not work across the entire model range.

      If you have not received an invitation to join the beta program for this integration, but are keen on participating and testing out this new feature, please sign up here.

      Once the connection is established, you may encounter some daily use flaws. It will be necessary to share such feedback with us, so please let us know if you encounter any unexpected behavior.

      We will be happy to assist in resolving any issues you may encounter or propose alternative connection options.

      Specifications

      Requirements

       On recent MacOS devices, the driver may be already pre-installed with your operating system.

      Supported measurements

      • Bean temperature
      • Exhaust temperature

      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 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 Generic Modbus over serial port 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.
        Screenshot 2024-08-22 at 12.49.54
      5. Click on the Gear icon to open the more settings. 
      6. Copy the settings as shown in the screenshot below, and select the Serial port, and Temperature unit:

        • Serial port:
          Windows: choose the COMx option that refers to the connection to the roaster.
          Mac: choose the USBx option.

        • Temperature unit: Choose Celsius or Fahrenheit according to the temperature unit displayed from the machine's temperature readouts.
          Screenshot 2024-08-22 at 12.47.37

      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.


      Screenshot 2024-08-21 at 09.42.45
      📚 Learn more about the Roasting Intelligence (RI) Preferences. 

      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 computer? 
      • Have you downloaded the driver for the USB serial converter?
      • Is the correct serial port within the RI selected?
      • On MacOS: try installing the beta VCP driver. MacOS X10.15 to MacOS 11 (this is a Beta driver release and the installer should be run from the /Applications folder on your machine)

      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.