UPDATE!
See the video of it in action here: https://vimeo.com/138416482
This is a treat feeder I designed to feed my dog a Dentastix treat after every meal. After designing and building it, I realized I made this thing waaaaay more complicated and $expensive$ than it needed to be! So yes there're simpler ways (I intend to make REV2 later on which will be fully printable) but I stuck with my initial idea till the end just to finish it.
Disclamier: This project is NOT FOR BEGINNERS as it is ONLY for an individual who is comfortable with electronics, programming, and machine shop tools. (Also there is one part that is made of stainless steel sheet metal which requires a laser or skilled band saw cutter. I've included a printable template so that you can print it out and cut/drill the profile and holes. See PDF for more details. If there are a lot of request (10+) for a non sheet metal base, I will consider redesigning a printable one and posting it.)
Inspiration:
I got tired of constantly having to remember/get up in the middle of dinner to give him a Dentastick after he finishes eating. Being a machine designer by trade I decided to automate this task so he can become more self reliant.
How it Works:
Your Dog places it's paw on the "Paw" lever which turns ON the machine, then the machine decides if a treat will be dispensed or not and turns OFF the machine (to conserve battery). It keeps track of the "next treat time" and "treats left in the tube before rotation" by storing these values in the EEPROM on the Arduino so they remain in memory even after the machine turns OFF (main reason I used an Arduino). The machine is programmed to only dispense a (half) treat every 8 hours and resets this value every time a treat is dispensed.
Loading the Machine:
You load the machine with an entire bag of Dentastix (Toy dog type). Since I only give him one a day, I break them in half and load each tube with 4 total halves.
| Dog_Treat_Feeder_Layout.pdf | 231.9KB | |
| FEEDER_SKIRT_LARGE.STL | 3.2MB | |
| FEEDER_SKIRT_SMALL.STL | 237.0KB | |
| GATE_ARM.STL | 193.8KB | |
| geneva_drive_wheel_.870.STL | 450.9KB | |
| HEX_BOLT_ADAPTER_TO_9g_SERVO_REV3.STL | 128.6KB | |
| HOLDER_BATTERY.STL | 13.9MB | |
| LINEAR_SERVO_CLAMP_REV2.STL | 330.2KB | |
| PAW_FLAP.STL | 9.1MB | |
| SUPPORT_BRACKET.PDF | 51.8KB | |
| SWITCH_ARM.STL | 228.3KB | |
| SWITCH_HOLDER_REV2.STL | 555.2KB | |
| Treat_Feeder_Code.ino | 9.2KB | |
| TUBE_CLAMP_FLANGE.STL | 944.9KB | |
| TUBE_HOLDER_1.007.STL | 2.5MB | |
| TUBE_TOP.STL | 1.7MB | |
| weld_nut_assy.PDF | 21.6KB |
