Looking for cat toy parts recommendation

[james079]

Hi everyone, I'm relatively new to arduino, but am hoping to use the little knowledge I have to build a toy to keep my cats busy when am out of the house, or otherwise unable to entertain them.

From what I can determine, I will need 2 servos (each with a friction clutch? to protect the servos from when my cats inevitably pull against the servo).

My plan is this: I have my first servo rotate left to right, about 180 degrees. I then connect the other servo directly to the first and have it rotate up and down about 90 degrees, from horizontal to vertical. The specific degree range for each servo will be adjusted through testing.

I intend on having a string on the end of a rod attached to the servos so they can move a cat toy in arcs as well as straight back and forth (the coding specifics I can manage later).

I need to have the servos protected against my cats grabbing the string and holding it against the direction the servos want to move (friction clutch?) and then have the servos move again once my cat has let go of the string.

I would love some advice on servos and other parts I will need to make something like this become a reality.

I, and my cats, greatly appreciate any help we can get thanks!

[xfpd]

Parts cats will acknowledge: Catnip. LASER (eyesafe). Crinkley plastic. A cat. A human.

[LarryD]

Suggest you use springs instead of a clutch.

[james079]

I hadn't considered springs before. Could you elaborate on how they could be used to protect the servos from being damaged when my cats grab on to the toy? Or point me in the right direction to learn more? Thanks

[Railroader]

One way could be using a current sensor and abort the servo move when overloaded.

[LarryD]

Spring connects to servo horn.

String connects to spring.

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Also, detaching the servo will allow it to manually move, then reattach when needed.

[PerryBebbington]

I made a cat toy with a laser pointer mounted on 2 stepper motors much as you described. Limit switch was 2 Hall effect switches and magnets.

The trouble with toys like this is cats get bored with them.

[LarryD]

Instead of a spring, maybe use small diameter stretchy surgical tubing.

[lastchancename]

@LarryD

Suggest you use springs instead of a clutch.

This.
Once the. clutch slips, your program has no idea where the mechanism is.

You have to manually restore the clutch to return to normal,range of motion.

If you’re staying with a servo, this is the way to go.
Or, a dc motor / stepper with a home switch will let the unit recalibrate irsellf

[james079]

Awesome. Thanks for all the replies everyone. I'll likely go the route of using a spring to avoid the servos getting damaged.

Would anyone have any suggestions on specific servos to use for such a task? I'm in Canada, and it seems all the servos on the arduino site are sold out at the moment. Not sure where else to specifically look to purchase parts.

[alto777]

@PerryBebbington

The trouble with toys like this is cats get bored with them.

It is a proven fact that the more time, effort and money you spend on a cat toy, the less interest it will hold for the cat(s).

a7

[james079]

This is 100% true, but, naturally I love my cats, so I'm going to try anyways

[LarryD]

Canada

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Lots of different quantity servos available on Amazon.ca.

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I use MG996R a lot, however, these are middle quality types.

[LarryD]

A TIMER that operates the toy for a few minutes then disables the toy for ~30 minutes might be wise.

[LarryD]

A micro switch could be connected in series with the string to detect an interested cat’s attention.

[james079]

Awesome, thanks for the advice Larry. I really appreciate it. I think I have enough to go off of now. We'll see how it goes! I'm sure I'll be back with more questions eventually.

Thanks for all the help!

[LarryD]

Last one.

Lower balls can be moved with motor/magnets every now and then.

The pillar (on a cloth clutch) could rotate using gear motor and using a different TIMER

And

Add an ultrasonic distance sensor that can start things if cat walks by.