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Aillio Bullet USB Setup

Rostoc has experimental read-only support for Aillio Bullet telemetry. Use this path for catalog entries such as Aillio Bullet R1, Aillio Bullet R1 IBTS, and Aillio Bullet R2.

The Bullet speaks Aillio’s own protocol over USB. How it appears to your computer depends on the firmware. Older Bullet R1 firmware exposes a direct USB device. Firmware 626 and later presents a standard serial COM port instead — a change Aillio documents for its new firmware. Rostoc tries the direct USB connection first, then falls back to the serial port automatically. Setup in Rostoc is the same either way.

Bullet R1 firmware 626 and later

Section titled “Bullet R1 firmware 626 and later”

From firmware 626, a Bullet R1 or R1 IBTS connects through a serial port. Your operating system lists the Bullet as a serial device using its built-in driver. That driver is correct — do not replace it.

What this means for Rostoc:

  • Update Rostoc first. Versions before 0.3.70 cannot connect a Bullet on this firmware at all, and versions before 0.3.74 could refuse a healthy Bullet on newer firmware (such as 645). Troubleshooting below names the error message you would see.
  • Serial-port support is newer than the direct USB path. Treat it as experimental: expect rough edges and validate the first roasts before relying on the setup for production logging.
  • If the latest Rostoc still fails to connect on firmware 626 or later, send the support report below — reports from these firmware versions directly shape the fixes.

Firmware numbers here are Bullet R1 firmware. The Bullet R2 uses the direct USB connection.

How this fits with RoasTime

Section titled “How this fits with RoasTime”

RoasTime remains the native Aillio Bullet software path for Bullet-specific operation, logging, analysis, automation, and Roast.World workflows.

Use Rostoc when the validated Bullet roast should be connected to green lots, roast plans, batches, notes, and production records. Do not treat this experimental Rostoc path as a replacement for native Bullet controls.

What you need

Section titled “What you need”
  • Connect the Bullet with a data-capable USB cable.
  • Close other roasting software that may already be using the Bullet. This matters even more on serial firmware: only one app can hold the port.
  • Know your Bullet’s firmware version. RoasTime shows it, and Rostoc reads it during connection.
  • Update Rostoc if your Bullet R1 runs firmware 626 or later.
  • Choose the catalog entry that matches your Bullet generation.
  • Treat the first roast as validation before relying on the setup for production logging.

Add the machine

Section titled “Add the machine”
  1. Open Settings -> Machines.
  2. Click Add Machine and browse the catalog.
  3. Search for Aillio or Bullet.
  4. Choose the exact Bullet model.
  5. Confirm the support status is Experimental.
  6. Save the machine. There is no COM port to choose in Rostoc — the Bullet is found by its USB identifiers, whether it appears as a USB device or as a serial port.

Validate the first roast

Section titled “Validate the first roast”

During the first test roast, compare Rostoc against the Bullet display or your trusted roasting software.

Check:

  • bean temperature and environmental or drum temperature move in the expected direction
  • IBTS and bean-probe labels match what your Bullet generation exposes
  • heater, fan, drum, and other feedback streams appear on the right curves
  • voltage, current, power, or other feedback streams are not mistaken for temperature streams
  • rate-of-rise values are plausible after the roast has been running for a few minutes
  • the saved Batch reopens with the same stream labels and values

If a value is missing, stuck, or clearly wrong, report the Bullet generation, firmware version, operating system, USB cable or hub setup, and what other software was open.

What Rostoc reads

Section titled “What Rostoc reads”
  • Bullet R1 and R1 IBTS on direct USB firmware — bean temperature, environmental temperature, bean-temperature rate of rise, exhaust temperature, preheat temperature, voltage, and heater, fan, drum, and fan RPM feedback.
  • Bullet R1 and R1 IBTS on serial firmware 626 and later — bean temperature, environmental temperature, rate of rise for both, IBTS temperature with its own rate of rise, voltage, coil fan speeds, and heater, fan, drum, and fan RPM feedback. This firmware does not report exhaust or preheat temperature; Rostoc knows that and does not mark the Bullet as partially connected over streams the firmware cannot provide.
  • Bullet R2 — the R1 serial set plus inlet temperature, hot air temperature, IBTS ambient, pressure, and energy readings.

Rostoc does not send control commands to the Bullet.

Troubleshooting

Section titled “Troubleshooting”
  • The Bullet shows up as a COM port - normal on firmware 626 and later. Leave the driver alone; Rostoc finds the port automatically. Do not set the Bullet up as a TC4 or generic serial machine.
  • Firmware 626 or later, but no COM port appears on Windows - an older Aillio USB driver from a previous install may still be bound to the roaster. Aillio’s own troubleshooting for the new firmware covers removing it. Reconnect the Bullet afterwards. A missing COM port does not mean the Bullet is unplugged.
  • Connection fails on firmware 626 or later - update Rostoc first; versions before 0.3.70 cannot connect this firmware at all, and versions before 0.3.74 could reject it with a state payload error. If the latest Rostoc still fails, send the support report below.
  • Test Connection while a roast is recording - safe. Rostoc reuses its live connection instead of opening the Bullet a second time.
  • Bullet is not detected - try another data-capable USB cable and connect directly to the computer instead of through a hub.
  • Another app can see the Bullet but Rostoc cannot - close the other app, reconnect the Bullet, and try again. On serial firmware, an app holding the port blocks every other app.
  • The wrong streams appear - confirm the selected catalog entry matches the Bullet generation, especially R1 versus R1 IBTS versus R2.
  • A TC4 or generic serial setup reports empty responses - the Bullet speaks Aillio’s protocol even over its serial port. A generic serial or thermocouple setup is a different integration path and can hide the real issue. Use the Aillio Bullet catalog entry.

Support report checklist

Section titled “Support report checklist”

If the Bullet still does not connect, send:

  • Bullet generation: R1, R1 IBTS, or R2
  • Bullet firmware version
  • operating system and Rostoc version
  • whether the Bullet appears as a COM or serial port on your system
  • whether RoasTime or another roasting app was open
  • USB cable or hub details
  • the Rostoc catalog entry selected
  • screenshots or notes showing which readings were missing, stuck, or mislabeled
Section titled “Related”