Mazzer electronic doser kits

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turtle
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#1: Post by turtle »

Does anyone know of a complete electronic doser kit for the SJ?

I've had mine for so long that I just can't even think about selling it and buying an electronic SJ. Too many good times to even think of someone else fiddling with "my pretty".

I would be willing to pay the piper for a complete kit (or buy all of the parts individually) and I have the inside knowledge of the grinder to wire it up myself.

Has anyone done this?

Thanks for any hints and suggestions. I want the electronic, not a spout (been there done that not happy with the results). Want a hopper of beans and proper dose without all the muss and fuss that I am getting from the can doser.
Mick - Drinking in life one cup at a time
I'd rather be roasting coffee

pacificmanitou
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#2: Post by pacificmanitou »

A search of any parts vendor shows that while Mazzer sells the mechanical internals of their grinders, the electronics are sold only in complete units. My guess is this requires an upgrader to purchase the whole grinder, rather than an electric controller. Frankly I'd be fine with the chute, and the doser works well enough. I've got no waste and rarely am I in such a hurry that I can't watch the grinder and dose by feel before weighing.
LMWDP #366

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turtle (original poster)
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#3: Post by turtle (original poster) »

I am thinking I may have to just add a motor cover and funnel type dosser can without the electronics. I recall seeing a controller board for sale somewhere but for the life of me, can't recall where it was. Motor cover, funnel and cap are all readily available it seems. Maybe a darkroom timer will have to come out of the closet to run the grinder instead of the electronics that are not easily obtainable.

Was hoping to put away the scale and dose by time but weighing and grinding everything through is not that big of a deal as I have been doing this for years before getting my Vario-W and Esatto/Preciso weight based grinders. I've just gotten "spoiled" with all of the automation/consistency I have introduced into my daily "cuppa"

If I come across all of the "bits" I will update this thread.

Mick - Drinking in life one cup at a time
I'd rather be roasting coffee

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HB
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#4: Post by HB »

turtle wrote:Was hoping to put away the scale and dose by time...
You may get some ideas from EspressoParts Mazzer Robur Competition Model. They modify a stock Robur to add a timer; the thread How to connect a Delta CTA to a grinder discusses the DIY approach. I searched "grinder timer" on this site and found a bunch of alternatives, e.g., a high speed external timer like the GraLab 450 darkroom timer.
Dan Kehn

jonny
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#5: Post by jonny »

You can buy that Delta timer through Espresso Parts, and when installed properly, is pretty slick! Espresso parts also sells the electronics for the funnel lid: http://www.espressoparts.com/MAZ_247 but who knows how to install that and I am not even sure if that contains the timer or is just buttons and a display and the actual timer is inside the grinder...? Here is a plug and play option: http://www.auberins.com/index.php?main_ ... cts_id=302

I am a bit confused about what you want beyond that. Are you wanting the funnel from the electronic Mazzers? If so you can find that stuff at espresso parts. http://www.espressoparts.com/mazzersupe ... inderparts

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turtle (original poster)
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#6: Post by turtle (original poster) »

As a follow-up to this thread....

I did convert the manual SJ to timed dosing using the electronic doser can from a Mini electronic, SJ motor cover and a timer box that is built and sold by Auber. It was less expensive to get the assembled timer box unit than it was to get a Delta timer and do case mods to the SJ. As it is now, if I want to go back to the standard Super Jolly Man, it is a simple screw driver switch back as nothing "permanent" was done to the SJ in the change over (only parts changed out and an external timer box that the grinder plugs into to control the grind time).

I've been using it for 3 days and have single and double shot doses dialed in nicely (within .2 grams from each run). The timer has 2 separate time memories (one for single dose the other for double)

Here are the parts used for the switch over they were purchased from 1st Line, Espresso Parts, Orphan Espresso, and Auber Instruments.



The finished results.



Due to the lack of room next to the SJ I placed the timer on the other side (away from the sink/water and between the grinder and the electric outlet). Since I opted for the full cradle portafilter forks I don't need to stand at the grinder holding the portafilter as it is filled so there is no inconvenience no matter where the timer is located. All in all I am very pleased with the change over.

Mick - Drinking in life one cup at a time
I'd rather be roasting coffee

pacificmanitou
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#7: Post by pacificmanitou »

Looks like an excellent conversion, very nicely done. If I wasn't starting a single dose grinder project I would probably do that to my SJ. Do you find any problems using the static screen and guard plate? I removed those rather quickly from my grinder.
LMWDP #366

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turtle (original poster)
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#8: Post by turtle (original poster) replying to pacificmanitou »

I used the mini electronic doser funnel for over a week without a screen while waiting for the rest of the parts and I found that the dose was very inconsistent even when weighing and grinding a single dose of beans at a time as more or less would fall out of the chute/throat each time I ground so my finished/ground weight would vary by as much as 3/4 of a gram even though I put the same weight of beans into the hopper each time.

I have not put the finger guard plate on yet and from what I have seen so far I doubt that I will. I thought I might need it as when I used the SJ with the funnel and no screen the grounds shot out across the funnel to the other side when the grind started and they seemed to be rather "clumpy" in consistency. I figured that the guard would break up the grounds as they exited the chute but with the screen on the grounds fall straight down and aren't "ejected" like they are without the screen. The "clumpyness" has gone down dramatically also with the antistatic screen in place.

From what I have seen so far the screen seems to be necessary to get a uniform dose as it holds back the grounds so that a consistent amount comes through (pushed out by the burr vanes/paddles). this is not an issue with the can type doser as you control the dose by the setting and how many times you pull through.

With the screen in, the grounds are held in the chute/throat and the weight consistency has gone down to .2 gram from grind to grind with a full hopper of beans.

The only draw back that I can see to retaining grounds in the throat/chute would be over night as the beans in there will stale up a bit but there is only a couple of gram in the chute so you can always grind for a second or so to clean out the old grounds and replace the chute/throat with fresh if you are worried about it.

I used the SJ for over a week with the mini electronic doser funnel and a piece of cardboard held in place with a tooth pick to cover up the open motor while I waited for all of the parts to get here so I did get a good idea of how it worked without the screen and I am sold on keeping the screen in now. Before I was not sure but now, no question (in my mind anyway).

Without the screen I got a lot of drop out of grounds when the grinder was sitting idle (grounds would fall out of the chute/throat onto the grinder plate and catch pan). With the screen I can say that, so far, I have not had any grounds fall out while the grinder is idle so it does hold grounds in the cute/throat

The SJ looked rather silly with cardboard and a toothpick on it but this gave me the opportunity to run it without an antistatic screen for enough time to see how it worked before trying it with the screen in place.

Mick - Drinking in life one cup at a time
I'd rather be roasting coffee

pacificmanitou
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#9: Post by pacificmanitou »

You're not the first to note that issue. I know a shop owner who opted for dosered roburs based on his experience with the converted units used at the shop he used to work in for that exact reason. It seems the design of the grinder throats are more conducive to using a doser than not in terms of precision, since spillage in the doser doesn't necessarily equal a difference in dose. It's also valid to note that these are pieces of commercial equipment, so there is an assumption of high turnover rates in ground coffee when it comes to the engineering of the grinder. It's my guess this is why there is a market for high end hobbyist grinders like the Versalab, HG-one, and Pharos in the first place. Straight through designs limit inaccuracies and spillage, and therefore waste. I don't waste a lot of coffee, but the amount is significant over time I'm sure.
LMWDP #366

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FotonDrv
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#10: Post by FotonDrv »

Turtle:

Did you consider using this for getting the grounds into a basket/PF?
http://www.espressoparts.com/MAZ_131?

I know you would probably have to hold the PF while it grinds and you are not interested in doing that, but did you consider this? I have a Kony-E that I use as a single doser and unless I use the anti-static screen it is sort of messy and certainly not accurate for dosing. But while using the screen grounds stay in the grinding chamber, about 30g worth, so if I am being picky I dump the first dose and retain the accuracy of the electronic doser.

But I mentioned picky, so if I dose into a basket that is sitting on a scale that sits on the PF Holder then I use the pulse button and get exactly what I need as displayed on the scale. Certainly not a speedy way to do it but it works. Now if Mazzer, or anyone who is motivated, builds a weight based switch for their Mazzer, like the Baratza W, then they would eliminate variables.

Stephen
That Light at the End of the Tunnel is actually a train

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