Summary of AUTOMATED CAT FEEDER HANDLES WET FOOD WITH APLOMB
Vikram Hao built a fully automated wet-food cat feeder that opens, dispenses, serves, and disposes of single-serving cans. It holds up to nine cans (expandable), uses steppers, servos, and brushed motors for mechanical actions, and is controlled by an Arduino Mega 2560. The unit integrates a can opener, dispensing mechanism, and waste bin; both owner and cat are pleased with its performance.
Parts used in the Fully Automated Wet-Food Cat Feeder:
- Arduino Mega 2560
- Stepper motors
- Servo motors
- Brushed motors
- Can hopper (holds up to 9 cans)
- Can opener mechanism
- Dispensing mechanism
- Integrated waste/trash bin
- Frame/chassis components
- Power supply
A feline’s appetite is rarely sated, and cat owners around the world are routinely treated to an early morning wake up call to remind them of this fact. To solve this problem, many turn to automated feeders. However, such devices usually handle only dry foods, with a simple hopper system. [Vikram Hao] instead went above and beyond, building a fully automated wet food cat feeder.
The device is a great example of effective automation. It’s fully capable of dispensing a single can of cat food, as well as opening the can, serving the food and disposing of the waste in an integrated bin. Currently, it has a maximum capacity of 9 cans, though this can be increased by simple alterations to the hopper and trash bin. Unsurprisingly, all manner of steppers, servos and brushed motors work in concert to achieve this feat. An Arduino Mega 2560 serves as the brains, providing plenty of IO to run everything as easily as possible.
[Vikram] reports that both the owner and the cat are overjoyed with the invention. We’ve seen a few builds before, with some even featuring armor plating. Video after the break.Source: AUTOMATED CAT FEEDER HANDLES WET FOOD WITH APLOMB
- What does the automated feeder handle?
The feeder handles wet canned cat food, including opening, dispensing, serving, and disposing of the waste. - How many cans can the hopper hold?
The hopper currently has a maximum capacity of nine cans. - Can the capacity be increased?
Yes, capacity can be increased by altering the hopper and trash bin. - What microcontroller is used as the brains?
An Arduino Mega 2560 is used as the controller. - What types of motors are used in the build?
The build uses stepper motors, servo motors, and brushed motors. - Does the system dispose of can waste?
Yes, it includes an integrated waste bin to dispose of the can waste. - Is the feeder capable of serving a single can per cycle?
Yes, it is capable of dispensing and serving a single can of cat food. - Are both owner and cat satisfied with the invention?
Yes, the builder reports that both owner and cat are overjoyed with the invention.
