Fuck me, i suck at hardware. Trying to build an automatic cat feeder, but it is crap.

Anyone that can think of a good dispensing mechanism? Opening a valve isn’t the way to go; it dispenses too much, and the bastards are already too fat.

@JohnDoesNot take a look at https://youtu.be/dqr-AT5HvyM
I’m going to give it a try :)

Another possible design you could consider.

The second iteration is always better than the first. I mean, check out Jaws 2!

If it's crap, then you're talking about the wrong end of the cat.

@fonfi nice! More simple than my current solution, love it! Got my servos working in combination with Firebase, so i can remote feed (and watch) them!

@fattymiller that’s also good design indeed!

Keep trying
Keep asking
Keep criticizing

But there's a thin line between criticizing your product and acting like a douche bag to yourself and your work. It's not about hating yourself but criticizing your products' flaws and being so engrossed in correcting that you forget who you are

Best of luck. Going by this advice might save you a year or so (it took me a year to get it right)

We all have to start somewhere. Keep trying and you'll improve

Algo necro.

Here's a decent dispensing mechanism: build a hopper that fills a sliding tray with a fixed-size hole in it; slide the now-filled hole out over a bowl. That way it always dispenses the same amount of food.

Downside: difficult to adjust.

Example:
http://webstaurantstore.com/images/...