Want to make a box that will open at a programmed time.

[Tuvok-momma]

I have a Doberman that suffers from GERD and needs two middle-of-the-night snacks to keep it at bay. He is fed raw, so dry feed dispensers are not an option, and wet feed dispensers are designed for cats--too small and fragile. I need to build a small box that will hold a small bowl of wet food with a lid that will pivot or lift to expose the food at a set time. I have no experience with this sort of thing, but have a lot of experience building things with wood, understand basic mechanics, and have done some basic Python programming in the past, so I know I can do this with some experienced guidance. I've already looked at a couple of threads that look helpful and it looks like I may have a couple of options--one based on an Arduino UNO....I would very much appreciate some input on what the best setup might entail, and some guidance on what components I need to obtain. Thanks much!

 

[AnalogKid]

Think about this.

A spring-loaded lid that pops open when a latch is retracted.
A small solenoid connected to the latch.
A small wall-wart type power supply to power the solenoid.
A lamp timer.

A 3 am, the timer powers the wall-wart, which powers the solenoid, which retracts the latch. For a second bowl, build a 100% duplicate with the timer set to a different time.

The lamp timer and wall-wart are available at Walmart, but cheaper on ebay. A suitable solenoid should be on ebay somewhere.

No programming, no electronic components, all of the wiring is wire strippers and wire nuts. You probably can scrounge the wall warts from friends with old digital cameras, answering machines, phones (before everything went USB-C), etc.

ak

 

[Tuvok-momma]

Excellent. One question -- the spring loaded lid and latch...is that something I can procure or do I need to build it from scratch?

 

[Delta Prime]

How about automatic wild game maybe for boar, wet food dispenser feeder Kit? You can find them in different shapes, sizes, specifications, features. Tough enough for a boar it would be tough enough for a your Doberman friend.

https://spyboar.com/en/category-feeders-cat-33.htm

 

[Bluejets]

I need to build a small box that will hold a small bowl of wet food with a lid that will pivot or lift to expose the food at a set time.

Being a dog, they can be quite aggressive (in a nice way) when it comes to food.
I'd imagine under those circumstances that anything with a hinged lid would last about as long as it took to feed the first time.

I'd be thinking more along the lines of a sliding lid like say in the olden day pencil case.
Operation could be in 2 stages to cover the 2 feed times and mechanics could be quite substantial using say auto windscreen motor.

An Arduino, real time clock and mosfet for the motor on a plug pack power supply with a fairly simple program could take care of the controls.
I'd tend to nail the whole lot to the floor though.

 

[AnalogKid]

Excellent. One question -- the spring loaded lid and latch...is that something I can procure or do I need to build it from scratch?

You said you like making things out of wood, so . . .

ak

 

[crutschow]

the spring loaded lid and latch...is that something I can procure or do I need to build it from scratch?

The latch could be one of these.
The lid you will likely have to build or modify.

 

[AnalogKid]

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ak