Barmonkey Code in Development

[ncttrnl]

So I realized a couple weeks ago that I burned alot of cash... I'd rather not say how much... on this barmonkey thing and I still have nothing to show for it. So today I broke down and started coding.

I have most of the guts of the application made now that I finally took the time to figure out how to talk to my controller. I still need to pick my storage weapon of choice. I'm thinking plain text files because they're "gangsta". All I need to store are the drink recipes and a few config variables for things like viscosity, glass volume, etc.

In anycase, here is the controller I was dorking around with during lunch.

http://www.anthonycervantes.com/gallery/d/316-2/monkey_brains.jpg

An here it is doing pretty much nothing useful but I was happy to have the thing talking to my app.

http://www.anthonycervantes.com/gallery/d/321-1/monkey_controller.gif

[ncttrnl]

For those that hadn't heard of the barmonkey thing...

Look here for the general idea and think "computerized bar"

http://www.barmonkey.net/

Here is a video of a portable one in action

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kMLogg0JK34

[MikekiM]

Is that some propriety barmonkey controller?

[Brk4Euros]

I am speechless. "Build it and they will come."

Tony, man you got skills! I would not even know where to start on creating such an amazing tool. :like:

[ncttrnl]

Is that some propriety barmonkey controller?

Nope

Its just relay controller used for thing like industrial automation.

[ncttrnl]

I am speechless. "Build it and they will come."

Tony, man you got skills! I would not even know where to start on creating such an amazing tool. :like:

They've got commercial units out there already that are used in things like casinos. 2 of the projects on the barmonkey site turned into semi-commercial ventures but I don't think they are making many sales because of the price of components. I'm not sure they are trying very hard because of the existing commercial units and fear of lawsuits.

These are still very much something you have to build yourself. It really doesn't take too much specialized talent. Its just simple programming and a little plumbing/construction unless you really want to take it to another level.

[Brk4Euros]

Looks like a fun project nonetheless. Read more on it . . . for some odd reason I see Costco selling their own, yet smaller version: "Kirkland's Signature Bar Bot"

[idrivea2002golf]

that's flippin sweet. if you could program one to have a touch screen with different genres of alcohol and then a new menu with drinks containing said alcohol that would rock.

ps how much are each of the pumps (aka "flowjets") those can't be cheap especially since they have to be FDA food grade pumps. sweet idea none the less

[ncttrnl]

that's flippin sweet. if you could program one to have a touch screen with different genres of alcohol and then a new menu with drinks containing said alcohol that would rock.

ps how much are each of the pumps (aka "flowjets") those can't be cheap especially since they have to be FDA food grade pumps. sweet idea none the less

I got the flo-jets from a guy on ebay that sells soda fountains for a living. I also got my valves from him. I got enough for 16 ingredients.

I got a fantastic deal! About $15 for each pump and about $15 for each valve. The valves are the type found in electronic bar guns and the pumps are from small soda fountains. I saved some cash by getting the smaller valves because they didn't have an automatic "empty" shut off. The shut off wouldn't have worked anyway as it is based on the vacuum created when soda syrup bags go empty.

Some people are using surplus ice maker valves and they are just pressurizing the bottles rather than pumping the liquid. The only real downside is that pressurizing the liquid can make things a little fizzy but its more portable since all you need are the valves. Everything is a tradeoff.

[bugzy]

this might qualify under the Toy's forum ;)

[ncttrnl]

this might qualify under the Toy's forum ;)

Maybe when its less about coding and more about boozing :p

[bugzy]

Maybe when its less about coding and more about boozing :p
this is true

[idrivea2002golf]

I got the flo-jets from a guy on ebay that sells soda fountains for a living. I also got my valves from him. I got enough for 16 ingredients.

I got a fantastic deal! About $15 for each pump and about $15 for each valve. The valves are the type found in electronic bar guns and the pumps are from small soda fountains. I saved some cash by getting the smaller valves because they didn't have an automatic "empty" shut off. The shut off wouldn't have worked anyway as it is based on the vacuum created when soda syrup bags go empty.

Some people are using surplus ice maker valves and they are just pressurizing the bottles rather than pumping the liquid. The only real downside is that pressurizing the liquid can make things a little fizzy but its more portable since all you need are the valves. Everything is a tradeoff.

that's sweet i'd love to try it out when you get it done. what 'beverages' are you going to have programmed in?

[ncttrnl]

that's sweet i'd love to try it out when you get it done. what 'beverages' are you going to have programmed in?

As many as I can!

Its going to have 16 ingredients at any given moment. That can make quite a few different drinks.

The only drinks The one I'm building really can't make are the ones that require special types of pouring. It can't really make drinks were the ingredients have to be layered or floated or any other technique that involves not letting the booze mix during the pour. Drinks where a little mixing is acceptable, especially iced, like a tequila sunrise, are possible.

The design for funneling the ingredients into the glass that is currently winning is a bit like a sluice box. The ingredients flow down a channel and mix on their way to the end where they pour into the glass. I still have to see if that will fit into the armoire that will host this thing though.

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

I vote Tony gets SCE Uber Geek status.

[mike]

wow, puts my bar to shame, I can sling drinks though old school, but thats just pimp status

[ncttrnl]

I vote Tony gets SCE Uber Geek status.

I'm just copying someone else's good idea.

The kids at Harvey Mudd that made the first one are the real innovators. They even had a debit system so people could buy drinks from an online account.

The programming is easy for this... Until I've had too many beers.

[Tom (aka Godzilla)]

I'm just copying someone else's good idea.

The kids at Harvey Mudd that made the first one are the real innovators. They even had a debit system so people could buy drinks from an online account.


They don't post on SCE. You win.

[stevehayes01]

What language is this programmed in?

That is going to be a cool bar when your done !!

[ncttrnl]

What language is this programmed in?

That is going to be a cool bar when your done !!

I'm using PERL

I was debating over which language to use. At first I was going to just use C or C++ to dust off some old skills. I wanted something that would fit on a smallish linux distribution and its hard to beat compiled languages for that. Problem was that I kinda didn't want to pull out a compiler to make changes.

I've been using a ton of PERL lately for legacy application support so I figured I'd give it a shot and write the app in it.

[stevehayes01]

Very cool... Using PERL keeps it much easier to update for sure.

[ATEN]

http://www.duke.edu/~jwc13/beerlauncher.html

BEER LAUNCHER

[ncttrnl]

http://www.duke.edu/~jwc13/beerlauncher.html

BEER LAUNCHER

I saw that on hackaday awhile back.

I see that thing leading to broken stuff, injured guests, and exploding cans when you open them.