Meowton food scale
This scale will measure the food that the cat eats with great precision.
- Easy print and assemble
- Easy to clean
- Cat proof
- Reliable
- Very precise: 0.1g
You can find them in this repo, or on any of these sites:
- https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3355640
- https://www.printables.com/model/4561-precision-pet-food-scale-v5
- https://makerworld.com/en/models/539192
- Onshape drawing: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/9340f26131e7427dd97b1150/w/e20ada33870ed0ca4af311dc/e/52bd0c2bf5d7d839de6693d4?renderMode=0&uiState=6692ca8070e9512065fabed7
The loadcell is very sensitive when too much load is applied: I used some compliant design tricks to make the scale flex when a cat steps on the bowl.
The most critical part is a 100g loadcell of a specific size.
Since the 3D parts are drawn to exactly fit this one, you'll need the same one I used.
You can find it here: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/0-100g-200g-300g-750g-Electronic-Scale-Aluminum-Alloy-Weighing-Sensor-Load-Cell-Weight-Discount-50/32670225988.html
Use the 100g version.
Dimensions:
Note: Also get the HX711 converters, see Electronics requirements
I only have european measurements:
- 4 x M3 Bolt, 15mm length
- 2 x M3 Nut
Use this exploded view as a guide on how to assemble it:
Dont forget the small red spacer!
Make sure the loadcell is mounted correctly: The ARROW points down and is connected to the moving RED part.
Bolt and screw the loadcell to the green and red parts. One side of the loadcell has threads, the other side needs the nuts.
Make sure everything is aligned, and the red part doesnt touch the green part.
To prevent the cat from eating from the bowl directly, its advised to add some kind of shield around the food scale, like shown in the picture below. (I just stapled whatever i had lying around to it that looked to bekind of nice)
When you have 2 kats it helps to place the whole system on a small side table, or in a corner, so that they kind bother each other too much.
