Summary of Super Stylish Automatic Cat Feeder
Jojo, a handsome cat who wakes his owner at 4 AM for food, inspired the creation of a stylish automatic feeder. Instead of using a standard bucket design, the project repurposes a cereal dispenser for reliability while focusing on aesthetics through a custom 3D-printed framework. The system uses a Wemos chip to control a servo motor that turns the dispenser knob at preset times via a DS3231 module, ensuring Jojo gets fed without disturbing sleep.
Parts used in the Super Stylish Automatic Cat Feeder:
- Cereal dispenser
- Wemos D1 Mini
- Servo motor
- DS3231 module
- DC connectors
- Solder tool
- 3D printer and white PLA
Jojo is a super handsome cat.I love him in every aspect, except he keeps waking me up everyday 4am in the morning for his food, so it’s time to get an automatic cat feeder to save my sleep. However, he is so handsome that when I want to find a right automatic cat feeder on the market for him, I can never be satisfied with their simple bucket like appearance. So I decide to build a best looking cat feeder that I can ever imagine from……well, not from scratch, but from a cereal dispenser to ensure it’s functionality.
The principle behind this feeder is rather straight forward. The wemos chip drives the servo motor to turn the cereal dispenser knob at preset time instead of your hand. So unlike many other DIY cat feeder projects who builds everything on its own,I leverage the mechanical part to a solid made cereal dispenser, thus can set more focus on details.
Supplies:
- cereal dispenser
- wemos d1 mini
- Servo motor
- DS3231 module
- DC connector
- solder tool
- 3d printer& white PLA
Step 1: Setup the Framework
For the structural part, the major innovation is its 3D printing framework which combines aesthetics and functionality. It’s a well balanced twist locking structure, so the installation of motor and electronics can never be easier:
- Print out the framework file.
- Seat the major bottle container into the framework at the front side, gravity will help to lock them together.
- Replace the dispenser knob with the servo motor at the backside, rotate the motor to touch the framework and lock it up with a single zip tie.
- Slide in the electronic box beneath the bowl part.
Step 2: Setup Up the Controller
- Wire things up
- Upload the program
Read more: Super Stylish Automatic Cat Feeder
- Why did the author build this specific cat feeder?
The author wanted to solve the issue of their cat waking them up at 4 AM while avoiding the simple bucket appearance of market feeders. - What mechanical component serves as the core of the dispenser?
A solid made cereal dispenser is leveraged to ensure functionality and allow focus on details. - How does the device operate automatically?
The Wemos chip drives a servo motor to turn the cereal dispenser knob at preset times instead of human hands. - What material was used to print the framework?
The framework was printed using white PLA with a 3D printer. - How are the motor and electronics installed?
The installation uses a twist locking structure where the motor touches the framework and locks with a single zip tie. - What module provides the timekeeping function?
A DS3231 module is used within the electronic box setup beneath the bowl part. - What distinguishes this project from other DIY cat feeders?
Unlike others that build everything from scratch, this project leverages an existing solid cereal dispenser for mechanics. - Where is the electronic box placed?
The electronic box slides in beneath the bowl part of the framework.
