Thread subject: Homeroasters - Home Roasting Coffee Community :: TC4ESP

Posted by renatoa on 05/01/2019 10:55 AM
#1

Hi all,

Wrote vaguely about the subject in several posts in the last months, so is time to raise the curtain.
Having a short break these days, due to Easter and 1 May holidays, finalised posting the first draft/stable version.
Actually, it is stable and operating real roasts for 3-4 months, delayed the public launch for more polishing and checks.

All the relevant info about this project can be found at the links below:
- hardware, schematic, components description, and cost analysis:
https://github.co...are/TC4ESP
- software, source code, firmware loading and operation instructions:
https://github.co...ArtisanESP

What is TC4ESP: a new way to run the greatly acclaimed and successful TC4 software, more exactly the last version 6.7 of the aArtisanQ_PID sketch.
It is based on complete different hardware platform, using ESP family processors, the only element that is still common to both architectures is the MCP3424 ADC.
Despite this huge hardware difference, the guys from Espressif did a so wonderful job to create an Arduino IDE compatibility layer, that the resulting sketch can be used now for both platforms. You can get the slightly changed aArtisanQ_PID.ino from my repository, drop in a Uno project, recompile, and have an operational TC4 system without any change. Operational, but without the new goodies added by my version, that are in a separate file.
To differentiate the two softwares, when running on the ESP architecture, the banner at start will read aArtisanESP V1.0
So aArtisanESP is name of the software that runs on this new platform, and is 100% TC4 compatible, because its structure is made from (rough numbers) 50% aArtisanQ_PID code, 25% modified or new libraries, to accommodate the new hardware, and 25% my work, some UI and operating mode changes, detailed described in the instructions at links above.
As aArtisanQ_PID will evolve in the future, will try to continue maintain this compatibility, as much as possible.

What is not TC4ESP:
- not a shield for an Arduino platform... the solution embed its own processor board, as TC4C
- not a plug and play or ready to use solution, it is a builders platform by the highest degree
- not a product to buy, although it can became, if someone design a shield, and sell the whole bag of parts as a kit, more or less soldered.

Why TC4ESP? Because I want to have a solution to run TC4 software:
- without need for much soldering, especially smd. I do this for a life, I have all tools and skills, so not a worry for me, but I speak about what others told me what they want...
- without actual processor limitations, especially memory
- with better temperature acquisition and signal processing
- different UI and intelligence added
- not the last, cheaper... genuine TC4 could end costing a fortune when imported in Europe, with all the taxes added...

Expect to see changes in this introductory announcement next days, as more thoughts comes in my mind, or as a result of your questions.

I am open and welcome any positive criticism and improvement suggestions, as well as code contributions to add to this project.

Edited by renatoa on 05/02/2019 4:56 AM