BrewMatic - Automated Brewing System

An Arduino-based automated brewing control system with touch screen interface for managing mash, sparge, and boil processes.

Overview

BrewMatic is a comprehensive brewing automation system built on Arduino Mega 2560 with a large TFT touch display (800x480). The system provides automated temperature control, step management, and real-time monitoring for the entire brewing process.

Key Features

• Multi-stage Process Control: Automated management of Mash, Sparge, and Boil phases
• Temperature Monitoring: Multiple DS18B20 sensors for precise temperature control
• Touch Screen Interface: Intuitive GUI with tabs, buttons, and real-time data visualization
• Recipe Management: Configurable brewing recipes with multiple mash steps
• Safety Features: Temperature delta monitoring, sensor error detection, hysteresis control
• Fire Control: SSR-based heating element control with safety interlocks
• Audio Feedback: Buzzer alerts for process transitions

Hardware Requirements

Main Components

• Microcontroller: Arduino Mega 2560
• Display: 800x480 TFT LCD (SSD1963 controller) with resistive touch
• Temperature Sensors: DS18B20 (OneWire) sensors for:
  • Mash (upper and lower)
  • Sparge
  • Environment/backup
• Relays/SSRs: Solid State Relays for heating element control
• Audio: Buzzer for notifications

Pin Connections

See mega_pins.h for detailed pin assignments:

• Temperature sensors on various digital pins
• SSR control pins
• Display connection (38, 39, 40, 41)
• Touch screen interface

Software Architecture

Project Versions

The workspace contains three main versions:

1. BrewMatic: Original implementation
2. BrewMaticAlpha01: First alpha release
3. BrewMaticAlpha02: Latest alpha version (recommended)

Core Libraries Used

• AWind: Window/GUI framework for Arduino
• ASensor: Sensor management framework
• AFrame: Arduino framework for sensor integration
• UTFT: TFT display driver
• UTouch: Touch screen driver
• OneWire: Temperature sensor communication

Main Components

View Layer

• MenuWindow.h: Main navigation menu
• BrewWindow.h: Tab control for brew processes
• Mash.h: Mash process window and controller
• Sparge.h: Sparge process window and controller
• RecipeWindow.h: Recipe configuration interface
• SettingsWindow.h: System settings

Controller Layer

• Recipe.h: Recipe data structures and configuration
• PlantParams.h: Plant-specific parameters
• utilities.h: Helper functions and utilities

Model Layer

• SensorManager: Centralized sensor management
• DS18B20Sensor: Temperature sensor wrapper

Installation

Library Setup

Option 1: Using install_libs.sh (Mac/Linux)

./install_libs.sh

This script creates symbolic links from the project's libs folder to your Arduino libraries folder.

Option 2: Manual Installation

1. Copy the following libraries to your Arduino libraries folder:

   • BrewMaticAlpha02/libs/AFrame → libraries/BrewMaticAlpha02AFrame
   • BrewMaticAlpha02/libs/ASensor → libraries/BrewMaticAlpha02ASensor
   • BrewMaticAlpha02/libs/AWind → libraries/BrewMaticAlpha02AWind
   • BrewMaticAlpha02/libs/UTFT → libraries/BrewMaticAlpha02UTFT
   • BrewMaticAlpha02/libs/UTouch → libraries/BrewMaticAlpha02UTouch

2. Install additional required libraries:

   • OneWire (for DS18B20 sensors)
   • Arduino Timer libraries

Hardware Setup

1. Connect the TFT display according to UTFT library specifications
2. Wire DS18B20 temperature sensors with 4.7kΩ pull-up resistors
3. Connect SSRs to the designated control pins
4. Wire buzzer for audio feedback
5. Ensure proper power supply for all components

Configuration

Recipe Configuration

Edit Recipe.h to configure your brewing recipe:

mashStep mashSteps[] = {
    {50, 10, 1, false, 0},  // 50°C for 10 minutes
    {62, 30, 1, false, 0},  // 62°C for 30 minutes
    {72, 20, 1, false, 0},  // 72°C for 20 minutes
    {78, 5,  1, false, 0}   // 78°C for 5 minutes (mash out)
};

Plant Parameters

Adjust PlantParams.h for your specific setup:

#define MAX_DELTA 3.0        // Maximum allowed temperature delta
#define HYSTERESIS 0.5       // Temperature control hysteresis
#define INERTIA 2.0          // System thermal inertia

Usage

Starting a Brew Session

1. Power On: The system initializes and displays the main menu
2. Recipe Selection: Navigate to the recipe window to select/configure recipe
3. Sensor Calibration: Verify all temperature sensors are reading correctly
4. Start Mash:
   • Navigate to Mash tab
   • Press "Start Mash" button
   • Add grains when target mash-in temperature is reached

Mash Process

The Mash class manages multi-step mashing:

• Temperature Ramp: Automatically heats to target temperature
• Rest Period: Maintains temperature for specified duration
• Step Progress: Visual indication of current step and time remaining
• Iodine Test: Optional extended rest periods with user control
• Mash Out: Final step with buzzer notification

Key features:

• Real-time temperature display (upper, lower, average)
• Fire status indicator
• Step progress visualization
• Manual step duration adjustment

Sparge Process

The Sparge class manages sparge water heating:

• Target temperature: 78°C (configurable)
• Automatic fire control
• Temperature monitoring
• Completion notification

Safety Features

1. Temperature Delta Check:

   • Monitors difference between upper and lower mash sensors
   • Automatically disables heating if delta exceeds threshold
   • Prevents scorching and uneven heating

2. Sensor Error Detection:

   • Validates sensor readings
   • Disables heating on sensor failures
   • Visual and audio warnings

3. Hysteresis Control:

   • Prevents rapid on/off cycling
   • Extends equipment lifespan

Development

Project Structure

BrewMaticAlpha02/
├── BrewMaticAlpha02.ino    # Main Arduino sketch
├── libs/                    # Core libraries
│   ├── AFrame/             # Arduino framework
│   ├── ASensor/            # Sensor management
│   ├── AWind/              # GUI framework
│   ├── UTFT/               # Display driver
│   └── UTouch/             # Touch driver
├── Mash.h                  # Mash process (View + Controller)
├── Sparge.h                # Sparge process
├── MenuWindow.h            # Main menu
├── BrewWindow.h            # Tab control
├── Recipe.h                # Recipe configuration
├── PlantParams.h           # System parameters
└── utilities.h             # Helper functions

Key Classes

Mash Class

Location: Mash.h

Implements both View and Controller for the mash process:

class Mash : public Window, 
             public ISensorHasDataEventReceiver, 
             public ISensorMeasuredEventReceiver, 
             public ITouchEventReceiver
{
    // View components
    TextBoxString *mash_up_temp_str_;
    TextBoxString *mash_down_temp_str_;
    TextBoxString *mash_avg_temp_str_;
    ImageWindow *flames_img_;
    
    // Controller methods
    void HandleStep();
    void CheckTemperatures();
    void SetFire();
    void UpdateScreenStepData();
};

SensorManager

Location: libs/AFrame/SensorManager.h

Manages sensor measurements and event notifications:

SensorManager *mash_up_temp_manager = new SensorManager(
    mash_up_temp, -10, 110, 1000*10, false, F("MASH_UP")
);

Adding New Features

1. New Sensor: Create sensor in setup(), register with SensorManager
2. New Window: Inherit from Window, implement ISensorHasDataEventReceiver
3. New Recipe Step: Modify mashStep structure in Recipe.h

Examples

The Arduino Project Examples folder contains isolated examples:

• all_together: Combined hardware test
• buttons: Button handling examples
• Music_Player: DFPlayer integration
• TemperatureSensor: DS18B20 sensor examples
• ScreenDrawingTest: Display graphics tests
• SD_on_LCD_screen: SD card bitmap display

Hardware Enclosure

The Case folder contains:

• Front panel design
• Back panel design
• Frame specifications
• CNC machining instructions

PCB Designs

The PCBs folder contains circuit board designs for:

• Temperature sensor connections
• Power distribution
• Control interfaces

License

This project uses multiple open-source libraries with different licenses:

• AWind Library: Apache License 2.0
• BrewMatic Code: BSD 3-Clause License (see file headers)
• UTFT Library: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0

Copyright (c) 2018 Federico Bolelli

Contributing

When contributing to this project:

1. Follow the existing code style
2. Test thoroughly with actual hardware
3. Update documentation for new features
4. Add examples for complex functionality

Troubleshooting

Display Issues

• Verify pin connections match BrewMaticAlpha02.ino setup
• Check backlight pin (pin 8) is HIGH
• Ensure UTFT library is correctly installed

Sensor Problems

• Verify 4.7kΩ pull-up resistor on OneWire bus
• Check sensor addresses using OneWire scanner
• Monitor Serial output for sensor readings

Touch Not Responding

• Run touch calibration
• Update calibration values in UTouchCD.h
• Check precision setting: myTouch.setPrecision(PREC_MEDIUM)

Memory Issues

• Arduino Mega has limited SRAM
• Use F() macro for string literals
• Monitor free RAM: AHelper::LogFreeRam()

Useful Links

• Link Utili PID-SSR: See Link Utili PID-SSR.txt
• Link Utili Speaker: See Link Utili Speaker.txt

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Note: This is an active development project. Always refer to the latest code in BrewMaticAlpha02 for the most current implementation.