[avocado_flower]

I built the CannaTator - Smart Drying & Curing System, and I want to share the entire process with you for FREE.

The thing is that I am still not sure it is infringing Cannatrol patent (pretty sure not, but I am not a patent lawyer...), so if anyone who's reading it have insights that would be great - until then I will not share the how-to details...

The concept - Take a thermoelectric fridge, add a few components, and transform it into a high-tech, automated solution.
It's affordable, customizable, and packed with features you won't find in typical systems.

Everything is connected to the microcontroller, even the fridge so there is full control over the temperature and humidity over which allows implementing cool algorithms to maintain desired environment.

Here's what it offers:

• Precision Control - Automated temperature and humidity programs using science-backed methods like slope and algorithms.
• Real-Time Monitoring - Stay connected with live data, stages, and device status, viewable from your phone, tablet, or computer.
• Customizable & Calibrated - Whether you prefer manual control or fine-tuned adjustments, tailor the system to your exact needs.

I wrote a detailed guide so you can build your own, but again I will not share it until this patent thing is clear enough.

• Step-by-step hardware assembly-fully explained, no guesswork.
• Software to automate and simplify the process.
• Detailed wiring diagrams and tips to make it foolproof, like just ordering the PCB ready to mount.
• How to integrate it all seamlessly into a one setup.

How much did it cost me? About €80 for the fridge and another ~€100 for components.
Help me release this to the community so everyone can enjoy it!


Feel free to ask questions!

 

[R4V3N]

Pretty freaking sweet, dude.

 

[Galgrows]

Holy technologest dude you got skills.

 

[TheRealMC]

I built the CannaTator - Smart Drying & Curing System, and I want to share the entire process with you for FREE.

The thing is that I am still not sure it is infringing Cannatrol patent (pretty sure not, but I am not a patent lawyer...), so if anyone who's reading it have insights that would be great - until then I will not share the how-to details...

The concept - Take a thermoelectric fridge, add a few components, and transform it into a high-tech, automated solution.
It's affordable, customizable, and packed with features you won't find in typical systems.

Everything is connected to the microcontroller, even the fridge so there is full control over the temperature and humidity over which allows implementing cool algorithms to maintain desired environment.

Here's what it offers:

• Precision Control - Automated temperature and humidity programs using science-backed methods like slope and algorithms.
• Real-Time Monitoring - Stay connected with live data, stages, and device status, viewable from your phone, tablet, or computer.
• Customizable & Calibrated - Whether you prefer manual control or fine-tuned adjustments, tailor the system to your exact needs.

I wrote a detailed guide so you can build your own, but again I will not share it until this patent thing is clear enough.

• Step-by-step hardware assembly-fully explained, no guesswork.
• Software to automate and simplify the process.
• Detailed wiring diagrams and tips to make it foolproof, like just ordering the PCB ready to mount.
• How to integrate it all seamlessly into a one setup.

How much did it cost me? About €80 for the fridge and another ~€100 for components.
Help me release this to the community so everyone can enjoy it!


Feel free to ask questions!

View attachment 2363590View attachment 2363591View attachment 2363592View attachment 2363593View attachment 2363594View attachment 2363595View attachment 2363596View attachment 2363597View attachment 2363598View attachment 2363599View attachment 2363600View attachment 2363601
View attachment 2363603

Cool build, we should maybe collaborate on a build. There’s really no need to add a peltier cooler when you already have one in your machine. I’ve built 3 units. I only use thermoelectric fridges that are a good size. I custom made my shelves. They are perforated aluminum.

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

It doesn't look very "free."

 

[MrUnderhill]

This looks awesome! I would be very interested in giving it a shot and building one. What steps are you taking to iron out the uncertainty with the patent? Any idea when you might be able to release your guide?

 

[LoveGrowingIt]

Growing technology is one of my favorite things about growing. So, I've been interested in how to improve drying and curing for a long time. This is intriguing.

 

[avocado_flower]

This looks awesome! I would be very interested in giving it a shot and building one. What steps are you taking to iron out the uncertainty with the patent? Any idea when you might be able to release your guide?

I have no idea how to proceed, a patent lawyer is not an option as they are expensive…
I went over the patent you read it in full here, according to some lazy research he’s writing it very broadly which is annoying such as “a chamber of thermoelectric tech that allows to control drying with one or many PID loops consist of a cooler, heater, humidifier and dehumidifier modules using vapor pressure calculations….for cheese, meat and cannabis…”

Basically he owns a patent of a fridge that can control it’s atmosphere inside , no idea how this is legal and not considered monopoly unless of course I’m missing something that only a patent lawyer can spot…

The guide and software are already written, and the PCB files are ready to upload.

Since I do this as a hobby I don’t have any interest to break a patent especially if this guy is a patent troll that owns a-lot of patents (this information is all public), thus I will release this only when I can be certain it’s legal.

I opened an anonymous Reddit account to upload the same post but because it’s new I cannot post anything yet, hopefully when I can someone there will have “patent experience”

Cheers!

 

[MrUnderhill]

I have no idea how to proceed, a patent lawyer is not an option as they are expensive…
I went over the patent you read it in full here, according to some lazy research he’s writing it very broadly which is annoying such as “a chamber of thermoelectric tech that allows to control drying with one or many PID loops consist of a cooler, heater, humidifier and dehumidifier modules using vapor pressure calculations….for cheese, meat and cannabis…”

Basically he owns a patent of a fridge that can control it’s atmosphere inside , no idea how this is legal and not considered monopoly unless of course I’m missing something that only a patent lawyer can spot…

The guide and software are already written, and the PCB files are ready to upload.

Since I do this as a hobby I don’t have any interest to break a patent especially if this guy is a patent troll that owns a-lot of patents (this information is all public), thus I will release this only when I can be certain it’s legal.

I opened an anonymous Reddit account to upload the same post but because it’s new I cannot post anything yet, hopefully when I can someone there will have “patent experience”

Cheers!

I would have to believe the worst thing that would happen would be a cease and desist. But regardless, I agree it doesn't feel like there would even be grounds for that. I am not a lawyer, and don't really know though. My brother actually is a lawyer. I can run this past him and see if he is willing to give his two cents, if that would be helpful.

 

[avocado_flower]

I would have to believe the worst thing that would happen would be a cease and desist. But regardless, I agree it doesn't feel like there would even be grounds for that. I am not a lawyer, and don't really know though. My brother actually is a lawyer. I can run this past him and see if he is willing to give his two cents, if that would be helpful.

That would be helpfull thank you.
I read that a cease and desist letter can come with a request to pay the fees for writing it, I prefer to be certain.

 

[MrUnderhill]

That would be helpfull thank you.
I read that a cease and desist letter can come with a request to pay the fees for writing it, I prefer to be certain.

For sure! I will give him a call today. Do you have an updated link to the patent? It looks like the one you linked to Google patents is abandoned and not the one that was actually awarded.

 

[avocado_flower]

For sure! I will give him a call today. Do you have an updated link to the patent? It looks like the one you linked to Google patents is abandoned and not the one that was actually awarded.

Sorry, here it is.

 

[alstotter]

Well,

You can gain funding through a THC Farmer group buy. I’d buy one or three.

Keep in small and try to sell to this community for funds to go big. Baby steps

 

[growfl]

Hi wann gibst Du das weiter LG

 

[Newty]

Does your design run on 110v for growers in the USA?

If you're not actually selling it, do you have to worry about someone else's patent?

People DIY stuff all the time, if you're not actually selling it I don't see a problem.
If that wasn't the case then anyone who builds a picnic table is technically copying a patent.
Just an example but you know what I'm saying.

Also patents are usually by Country, there could be a Patent in the USA for a product but no Patent in another Country.

 

[ATLien415]

what it offers:

• Precision Control - Automated temperature and humidity programs using science-backed methods like slope and algorithms.
• Real-Time Monitoring - Stay connected with live data, stages, and device status, viewable from your phone, tablet, or computer

NAL.

I agree the patent is rather broad. You must remember that the founder of the Cannatrol has a background in controls. This naturally seems to have led to his patent filing ability. The turnaround on his patent from filing to being accepted is absurdly fast. From that I would presume he has attorneys ready to act fast. I don't think they are positioned for you though. There are two major commercial competitors trying to take away his market share. His money making is not in the $1,600 home units. Think of that more as a service to the community. First off, those units if you had a custom fabricated fridge, a custom board controlling the dual Peltier coolers, and you actually did the R&D yourself (which these dudes are doing, they literally proved demonstrably and categorically that their cure preserves magnitudes more cannabinoids and terpenes, these dudes are the cutting edge of cuticle preservation and the research that goes into it) then these units could easily cost their MSRP. Add in a cold mirror a_subW calculator and boom - you're actually at $1k or more easy peasy. Second, their home grow units are so successful they have just about every science related cannabis person on TikTok vouching for them AND their rental program has an insane conversion rate (like people go out and start groups just to crowdfund one rather than return their rental).

Combine all that with the fact their real money is with commercial rooms and prefabbed commercial setups, and the fact that he has given multiple talks on this topic. If you started selling your software, I'd expect a prompt C&D... If you try to go make your version commercially viable, I'd expect a prompt C&D. If you're just open-sourcing with the community, I highly doubt using Peltier coolers in a feedback loop would be defendable in court, and then who would he come after? The dude himself has given away much of his sauce (the slope and step formulas for his unit). he has given multiple talks at food and cannabis talks, given podcasts, and he has users of the units reverse-engineering their settings - so the sauce is out of the bag. The only real thing he has that is concrete is his controls diagram and the code he uses to implement the formulas. As long as what you did did not include reverse engineering one of his units, you should very much be in the clear.

If he means anything he says, you should be all clear to proceed. If you are worried, go anonymous. The simple fact of the matter is that on average WITHOUT this drying tek you end up rupturing way more trichome heads than with the unit, increasing terpene content by 16%. They haven't done anything with flavorents, but many of those are more volatile than terpenes so likely an even bigger retention rate.

 

[TheGreatCannatrolio]

Your project is awesome and I hope you can co-exist with Cannatrol. I've heard last year that AC Infinity might be making their own product in the near future..

 

[ThemasterKu5h]

I built the CannaTator - Smart Drying & Curing System, and I want to share the entire process with you for FREE.

The thing is that I am still not sure it is infringing Cannatrol patent (pretty sure not, but I am not a patent lawyer...), so if anyone who's reading it have insights that would be great - until then I will not share the how-to details...

The concept - Take a thermoelectric fridge, add a few components, and transform it into a high-tech, automated solution.
It's affordable, customizable, and packed with features you won't find in typical systems.

Everything is connected to the microcontroller, even the fridge so there is full control over the temperature and humidity over which allows implementing cool algorithms to maintain desired environment.

Here's what it offers:

• Precision Control - Automated temperature and humidity programs using science-backed methods like slope and algorithms.
• Real-Time Monitoring - Stay connected with live data, stages, and device status, viewable from your phone, tablet, or computer.
• Customizable & Calibrated - Whether you prefer manual control or fine-tuned adjustments, tailor the system to your exact needs.

I wrote a detailed guide so you can build your own, but again I will not share it until this patent thing is clear enough.

• Step-by-step hardware assembly-fully explained, no guesswork.
• Software to automate and simplify the process.
• Detailed wiring diagrams and tips to make it foolproof, like just ordering the PCB ready to mount.
• How to integrate it all seamlessly into a one setup.

How much did it cost me? About €80 for the fridge and another ~€100 for components.
Help me release this to the community so everyone can enjoy it!


Feel free to ask questions!

View attachment 2363590View attachment 2363591View attachment 2363592View attachment 2363593View attachment 2363594View attachment 2363595View attachment 2363596View attachment 2363597View attachment 2363598View attachment 2363599View attachment 2363600View attachment 2363601
View attachment 2363603

Sorry, here it is.

I have no idea how to proceed, a patent lawyer is not an option as they are expensive…
I went over the patent you read it in full here, according to some lazy research he’s writing it very broadly which is annoying such as “a chamber of thermoelectric tech that allows to control drying with one or many PID loops consist of a cooler, heater, humidifier and dehumidifier modules using vapor pressure calculations….for cheese, meat and cannabis…”

Basically he owns a patent of a fridge that can control it’s atmosphere inside , no idea how this is legal and not considered monopoly unless of course I’m missing something that only a patent lawyer can spot…

The guide and software are already written, and the PCB files are ready to upload.

Since I do this as a hobby I don’t have any interest to break a patent especially if this guy is a patent troll that owns a-lot of patents (this information is all public), thus I will release this only when I can be certain it’s legal.

I opened an anonymous Reddit account to upload the same post but because it’s new I cannot post anything yet, hopefully when I can someone there will have “patent experience”

Cheers!

Is there a update on this because out of all the diy dry and cure units I’ve seen yours is by far the cheapest everyone else seems to be 300+ which is still really affordable but yours I would guess be around 100$ cheaper and has app potential did you create that app? Also thinking about the whole patent thing couldn’t you just patent it as a wine fridge with humidity control I just don’t see how the cannatrol patent can be so wide ranging also maybe a idea since you said you were trying to give out the information for free you could make some sort of contract for anyone wanting this information then send a personal email to those individuals just a thought I would love to have this I live in the desert and summers make it hard for a good dry and cure have to run a ac and it’s just not as effective as this would be

 

[JaysLaysWays]

Any updates here? I’m a first time grower and I can use all the help I can get…lol

 

[jonywister]

I live in a place with a very hot climate, so Id have to use a wine fridge that has a compressor instead of being thermoelectric, the thermoelectric technology doesnt keep temps cools enough when the outside is above 35 degrees celsius.

Is it possible to make a similar less fancy model (without the hard/firmware) but with a compressor model instead of a thermoelectric? does anyone know that? If so, where should I drill the holes for the cables and for the drain? How to make sure the water from the dehumidifier placed inside is going to fall directly through the hole on the bottom of the unit?