The FlareLab Workshop: Fat Pet Feeder – Custom Automatic Pet Feeder
Designing something meant for daily use means thinking beyond looks. The Fat Pet Feeder project was created as a custom 3D-printed automatic pet feeder with a strong focus on durability, mechanical reliability, and long-term usability. The goal was to build a feeder that could handle repeated dispensing cycles while remaining easy to print, assemble, and maintain.
This project also serves as a solid foundation for future automation, making it ideal for DIY pet owners and makers experimenting with motors, timers, or microcontroller-based controls.
Built for Repeated Use
Automatic feeders experience constant motion, vibration, and load from stored food. To handle this, wall thicknesses were carefully planned to reinforce stress areas without overbuilding the structure. Internal clearances were tuned to allow smooth movement of mechanical parts, reducing the risk of jams or inconsistent dispensing.
The feeder's geometry was designed to guide food cleanly through the mechanism, keeping operation predictable and reliable during everyday use.
Segmented Design for Smarter Printing
Rather than forcing the entire feeder into a single print, the design was intentionally split into multiple parts. This approach improves print success, reduces the chance of warping or failure, and makes post-processing far easier.
Segmented parts also allow for simpler assembly and future upgrades. If one section needs modification or replacement, it can be reprinted without rebuilding the entire unit. This makes the feeder adaptable as components like motors or electronics evolve.
Material Choice and Print Strategy
The feeder was printed using blue and orange filament, giving it a bold, practical look while keeping parts easy to distinguish during assembly. Print orientation and infill were chosen to balance strength and efficiency, ensuring the feeder remains sturdy without unnecessary material use.
With a total print time of 20 hours and 56 minutes, the final output is solid, consistent, and ready for real-world testing or further automation integration.
Materials Used:
Blue Filament
Orange Filament
Total Printing Time: 20 hrs 56 mins
Frequently asked questions
How does the Fat Pet Feeder dispense food?
It uses a rotating mechanism inside the housing that pushes a measured amount of dry food through an outlet on each cycle. The shape and clearances are tuned to prevent jams and to deliver consistent portions on every rotation.
Can I add a timer or motor to automate it?
Yes — the feeder is designed with automation in mind. The dispensing shaft can be coupled to a stepper motor or servo, and the housing has space for a small microcontroller and battery pack (Arduino, ESP32, or Raspberry Pi Pico work well).
What kind of food does it work with?
It's tuned for standard dry kibble. Wet or semi-moist food will clog the rotating mechanism. For very small kibble or treats, the dispenser opening can be scaled down on request.
Why is the feeder split into multiple parts?
A segmented design prints more reliably than one giant monolithic part — less risk of warping, easier to fit on standard 220 x 220 mm beds, and easier to replace individual sections if a motor or hopper needs to be modified later.
What filament should I use for a printed feeder?
PETG is the safest choice for parts that touch food because it's stable, doesn't absorb moisture quickly, and resists wear. PLA works for the outer shell. Flarelab carries both at flarelab.com.
Can Flarelab build me a custom pet feeder?
Yes. Flarelab can print, assemble, and even integrate the electronics for a custom feeder sized to your pet and food type. Send your concept and feeding schedule to flarelab.com for a quote.