[Robovergne] wrote in to share his fantastic automated cat feeder with us. After researching the common commercial products he could find, he decided to build one that utilized a home made linear actuator to pull a certain amount out of a reservoir. Initially, he attempted to use microwave motors but ultimately found them to be too weak to force the bits of cat food should they get stuck. He was afraid this extra strain would cause motor failure before too long. Ultimately, he replaced the microwave motor with a fairly strong servo that seems to do the job just fine. He’s currently using an Arduino to time it all, but he does mention that he feels it is a waste of the arduino for such a simple task.
As you can see in the videos after the break, his mechanism seems quite solid. There isn’t a lot of play in the movement and the amount of food coming out seems to be fairly controllable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1_iLfK5qr8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_35feY7N8wc&w=400
What he should be afraid of is the cat attacking the feeder because it can see the food.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRBH21IvSrc
Man that cat really wants the food in that feeder….
This is the first METH HEAD cat I’ve seen!!! Nice!!!!
I like it!
I’ve always thought that the cereal dispensers they have at motels and cafeterias (the dispenser nozzle usually has a rubbery rotating-door like mechanism that you twist) would make a good base for a pet-food dispenser.
Windshield wiper motor?
I like the build , BUT wouldn’t the feeder opening and the lid opening be very susceptible to other critters ? such as mice (not the PC kind )and bugs?
A simple seal on the lid and a re-work of the bottom board or the actuator arm would close up the gaps.
no feedback on how much food is on the platter?
I like the design. My dad always has problems with raccoons stealing the food and this one is almost a solution for that. There is still a small hole accessible from the below and racoons will surly get their little hands in there and empty the entire feeder in one night. If the feeder completely closes then there will be no problems whatsoever.
I have a suggestion for a simplified control circuit: just a timer. Use a timer to supply power to the circuit at the same time every day for just long enough to supply enough food for the cats.
Quite nice, but what does someone with two or more cats do?
Make sure there’s no way for the cat to shove it’s paw up in the orifice while it’s shutting…
I would think that a cat would rip all the exposed wiring out of that thing, either by accident or exploring for an opening to the food.