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TC4 - Overview and announcements
rgrosz78
Top  #51 Print Post
Posted on 09/29/2013 8:20 PM

Quote

Barrie wrote:
I am using Roast Logger which serves my purpose pretty well, but your chart looks very pretty. What software are you using?

Did you notice - it sounds like the latest version of Artisan now works with the Hottop roaster interface?

Quote

MaKoMo wrote:
- Event sliders e.g. to control the Hottop heater and fan via the TC4 / HT Roaster Interface
Life is too short to drink bad wine ... or bad coffee!
 
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Barrie
Top  #52 Print Post
Posted on 09/29/2013 8:35 PM

Quote

rgrosz78 wrote:

Quote

Barrie wrote:
I am using Roast Logger which serves my purpose pretty well, but your chart looks very pretty. What software are you using?

Did you notice - it sounds like the latest version of Artisan now works with the Hottop roaster interface?

Quote

MaKoMo wrote:
- Event sliders e.g. to control the Hottop heater and fan via the TC4 / HT Roaster Interface

If this was directed to me, I did notice and am sorely tempted. Any hesitation is due to the concern that in the process of converting to Artisan I would lose the existing firmware. Then, if I could not make Artisan work, i would be left with neither. thumbdown
Barrie (San Diego, CA)
"So much to learn, so little time."
Hottop 2K+., Artisan, Jura Capresso ENA 3 (i.e. espresso).
 
MaKoMo
Top  #53 Print Post
Posted on 09/30/2013 12:44 AM
Barrie, at any time you can return to the RoastLogger firmware by just another firmware update. That firmware is also available for download. Nothing to loose.
 
Barrie
Top  #54 Print Post
Posted on 09/30/2013 7:49 AM

Quote

MaKoMo wrote:

Barrie, at any time you can return to the RoastLogger firmware by just another firmware update. That firmware is also available for download. Nothing to loose.


Tempting! Perhaps you can answer a simple question? I have just spent time reading the Artisan Installation information and am very impressed with that website and related blogs. The question is this....
The TC4C works with either RoastLogger or Artisan. Either of the latter is software living on ones computer. By some electronic magic that is above my pay scale, the TC4C interacts with the software and uses the HTC board to make changes in the HT. What happens to the RoastLogger-related firmware that is apparently installed in the TC4C when one talks to it with Artisan?
Barrie (San Diego, CA)
"So much to learn, so little time."
Hottop 2K+., Artisan, Jura Capresso ENA 3 (i.e. espresso).
 
MaKoMo
Top  #55 Print Post
Posted on 09/30/2013 11:15 AM
The TC4C is essentially an Arduino micro controller (kind of a small PC without keyboard, mouse, display..). On that a firmware (kind of a software program) is running that receives and sends (among others) commands via the serial connection to the PC. On the PC is either Artisan or Roastlogger running. Both programs talk a slightly different language (serial protocol). To make thinks work, using the Artisan software on the PC one needs to ensure that the Arduino/TC4 is running the aArtisan sketch/firmware. For RoastLogger there is a different sketch that talks its language. One difference between a micro controller and a PC is that on the micro controller there is not enough memory to host two firmwares/programs/sketches. Therefore, if you install the aArtisan sketch, the RoastLogger sketch is overwritten. To turn back to RoastLogger, just upload the RoastLogger sketch to the TC4, and the aArtisan sketch get's overwritten. The important thing is that on both ends there are programs talking the same serial protocol/language to make the communication work.
 
Barrie
Top  #56 Print Post
Posted on 09/30/2013 11:43 AM

Quote

MaKoMo wrote:

The TC4C is essentially an Arduino micro controller (kind of a small PC without keyboard, mouse, display..). On that a firmware (kind of a software program) is running that receives and sends (among others) commands via the serial connection to the PC. On the PC is either Artisan or Roastlogger running. Both programs talk a slightly different language (serial protocol). To make thinks work, using the Artisan software on the PC one needs to ensure that the Arduino/TC4 is running the aArtisan sketch/firmware. For RoastLogger there is a different sketch that talks its language. One difference between a micro controller and a PC is that on the micro controller there is not enough memory to host two firmwares/programs/sketches. Therefore, if you install the aArtisan sketch, the RoastLogger sketch is overwritten. To turn back to RoastLogger, just upload the RoastLogger sketch to the TC4, and the aArtisan sketch get's overwritten. The important thing is that on both ends there are programs talking the same serial protocol/language to make the communication work.

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Very clear now.
Barrie (San Diego, CA)
"So much to learn, so little time."
Hottop 2K+., Artisan, Jura Capresso ENA 3 (i.e. espresso).
 
JimG
Top  #57 Print Post
Posted on 10/08/2014 8:23 AM
TC4 Shield Version 6.00

The design of the TC4 shield has been updated for compatibility with a wider range of Arduino boards. The new design maintains backwards compatibility with Duemilanove, Diecimila, and pre-R3 Uno boards. But beginning with this new version 6.00, the shields are fully header-compatible with Uno R3, Leonardo, Yun, and Mega's.

Details available here:
http://www.mlgp-l...TC4-v6.pdf

Jim
 
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greencardigan
Top  #58 Print Post
Posted on 10/11/2014 3:31 PM
Excellent work Jim. Thank you for your continued work on this board. We all appreciate it.
 
JimG
Top  #59 Print Post
Posted on 10/12/2014 10:05 PM
Thanks, Brad.

Let me take this opportunity to acknowledge the huge contributions you have made on the software side! That is also much appreciated.

Jim
 
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MaKoMo
Top  #60 Print Post
Posted on 10/14/2014 1:51 AM
Apropos software: will we see anytime soon the discussed extension to the aArtisan v3.00 sketch that submits also the extended data like calculated heater% to Artisan?

Thanks both of you for what you did for us all,
Marko
 
JimG
Top  #61 Print Post
Posted on 11/25/2014 4:32 PM
New aArtisan firmware available for download
A beta version of aArtisan 3.10 is now available for download from the project googlecode site here:
https://code.goog...c4-shield/

This beta release of the aArtisan sketch supports the PID control features that Marko has added to Artisan, as well as adding the ability to alter digital filtering at runtime.

I have been sitting on this for a bit, primarily due to a lack of adequate time to fully test the new features during actual roasts. So I am requesting users of Artisan and TC4 boards to give this a try and provide feedback. (FWIW, to my knowledge the new features are working correctly.)

New RoastLoggerTC4 firmware available for download
Version 3.10 of RoastLoggerTC4.ino is released and can be downloaded from the project googlecode site here:
https://code.goog...c4-shield/

This new release provides "bumpless" runtime changes to the preferred temperature units, C or F.

Jim
 
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egon
Top  #62 Print Post
Posted on 11/27/2014 1:03 AM
I have been planning on upgrading my roasting methods and equipment. I've looked at both artisan and roastlogger, and am leaning towards Artisan, a Hottop, and the HTC+TC4C, although I'm still fuzzy on the various models and combinations, as well as what probes to use.

If building around at least a TC4C, what's the recommended set of options?
 
Primo Crepa
Top  #63 Print Post
Posted on 11/30/2014 11:26 PM
Wow! You guys are doing some great stuff here. For the past few years I?ve been working along similar lines. If I?d have known about the TC4 sooner I might have saved myself a lot of work.

Some time back I built a multi-thermocouple data logger to record inlet air temp, bean mass temp, exit air temp, ambient temp and humidity all logging to an SD card.

I use the SD card for permanent recording and playback along with a real-time LCD display for monitoring the actual roast.

My original goal was to log roast profiles in a commercial sized fluid bed roaster to both increase roast repeatability as well as to better scale things down to a sample size roaster for individual bean profiling and new roast development.

Just this weekend I was doing some research in anticipation of adding air flow and pressure sensing into the mix along with possibly moving to the MAX31850 Thermocouple-to-Digital converter chips for their 1-wire capability. While digging around the web looking at sensors I ran across the TC4 which led me right back to here where I?ve lurked for some time.

Now, I?m thinking I need to spend more time reading the forums to see what other gems I might find.

Keep up the awesome work!
Primo Crepa attached the following image:
logger.jpg
 
JimG
Top  #64 Print Post
Posted on 12/03/2014 9:17 AM

Quote

egon wrote:If building around at least a TC4C, what's the recommended set of options?


Hi, egon -

I am anxious to assist you, but I think I need a little more clarity regarding what you are asking?

In general, if you wish to monitor and log BT and ET on any roaster, you will need at least 2 thermocouples. Type K are preferred, but type J is supported as well. An enclosure for the electronics is nice, too.

You will also need software on the PC side of the USB cable. RoastLogger and Artisan are both excellent choices.

The preceding items would be enough to get up and running with most roasters.

If you wish to take the next step and add the ability to control your roaster, then additional hardware is required. For Hottop roasters, the HTRI boards are available (HTC board fits the TC4C board, while HTShield fits the TC4 shield).

Jim
 
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JimG
Top  #65 Print Post
Posted on 12/03/2014 9:23 AM

Quote

Primo Crepa wrote:
Just this weekend I was doing some research in anticipation of adding air flow and pressure sensing into the mix along with possibly moving to the MAX31850 Thermocouple-to-Digital converter chips for their 1-wire capability. While digging around the web looking at sensors I ran across the TC4 which led me right back to here where I?ve lurked for some time.


I like the idea of incorporating the SD card. That is a nice feature!

Before settling on Bill's design for the TC4 system, I evaluated one of the MAX chips. I did not favor that option, however, because the ambient (cold junction) temperature sensor and the ADC are combined into a single package. There was a significant self-heating problem present on the sample I tested. This introduced a significant error into the final readings.

Bill's design separates the ambient temperature sensor from the ADC. This both eliminates any self heating issues related to the ADC part of the chip, as well as permitting the placement of the ambient sensor more closely to the cold junction of the TC wires.

Jim
 
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