Introduction: Dog Food Dispenser

Items list

  • 2 x sheets of 3mm acrylic at least 400x600mm
  • 3d printer (to print helix screw)
  • 1 x 10mm diameter acrylic tubing
  • Laser printer (to cut stands and lid)
  • Arduino (I'm using uno)
  • Hacked servo motor
  • Acrylic glue
  • 1 bag Iams mini chunks
  • 1 x dog bowl
  • 1 x sheet (540x540mm) HIPS
  • Vacuum form machine

Step 1: Step 1:Cutting

  • Cut out the shapes on a laser cutter using 1 sheets (400x600mm) 3mm thick acrylic
  • Print the helix screw on the 3D printer

Attachments

Step 2: Step 2: Creating the Food Hopper

  • Create a dome shape with a diameter of 300mm and depth of 100mm Using a vacuum former and an appropriate mould using 1 sheet (540x540mm) HIPS

Step 3: Step 3 : Acrylic Tubing

  • Source 600mm length of acrylic tubing with 65mm inside diameter and 70mm outside diameter. Cut the tube at an angle of 45 degrees 300mm from one and fix the cut angle together at 90 degrees using acrylic cement.
  • Source 20mm of 20mm diameter acrylic tubing.

Step 4: Step 4:Coding and Wiring Layout

Connect the servo motor to the arduino

  • white wire to pin 10
  • Red wire to 5v
  • Black wire to ground

Code

Download the two files to arduino first before adding the code, this will allow you to use the Alarm.

#include <TimeAlarms.h>
#include TimeLib.h>

#include <Sero.h>

Servo myservo;

void setup()

{

Serial.begin(9600);

setTime (8,29,50,1,1,11); // set time to Saturday 8:29:00am Jan 1 2011

// create the alarms

Alarm.alarmRepeat(8,30,0, MorningAlarm); // 8:30am every day

myservo.attach(10); }

void loop()

{

Alarm.delay(3000);

}

void MorningAlarm()

{

for (int i=1; i<=3; i=i+ 1)

delay(100);

myservo.write(360);

delay(10000);

}

Attachments

Step 5: Step 5: Assembly

  • Drill 1 20mm hole in the shorter side of the acrylic tube about 150mm from the end. And another hole the same size in the centre of the dome.
  • Slot the 20mm acrylic tube between these holes and fix in place.
  • Fit the 3D printer helix to the motor and slot inside the acrylic tubing along with the Arduino and wiring.
  • Slot the stands onto the acrylic tubing and fix in place.
  • Fit the vacuum formed dome onto the 20mm hole and fill with dog food.