Travis here. So I was feeling an urge to create recently, to build something, to feel more productive than just to say I memorized a bunch of stuff. And Kamala suggested a problem for me to work on: a way to feed the cat twice a day automatically, so that he would stop yelling at us to feed him whenever he was hungry.
Solution: the internet.
I found a few different products online ranging from $60 - $140++. Then I looked for some DIY solutions. Some were very creative and involved large setups, or a spare computer, or rare hardware. Then I found one from Make magazine (video on youtube) which involved a VCR, some plywood, and some wheels (or a VCR, an auger, and some weird gearbox).
So I found a VCR for $2, and thought of some other ways to apply the principles from the video... for FREE!
As you can see, I used my new favorite building material: cardboard. The small motor is removed from the machine, but still attached. I connected it to one bottle, which spins way to fast (it flung food all over the room!). So two more bottles helped to gear down the speed and increase the torque.
Obviously the delivery ramp needs improvement to get all of the food in the bowl. Then I just need to program the VCR to record a couple times a day for a minute or so to dispense a portion of food!