2015-07-09 (Th) Automated Aerator and Laser Show for Domestic House Pets

Fully threaded bolts were purchased and inserted into the holes with nuts. Nuts were used on each side of the printed pieces so the structure could be repositioned by changing the nut positions. Electronics were hooked back up and a portable power supply was used. Connection for the laser module was three DuPont wires glued in place through the hole made for it. The DuPont wires made a convenient socket. Clearance for the electromagnet wires was made by placing the nuts far onto the bolts and using the bolts like table legs. Problems arose with positioning the mirror. Fastening a point while allowing motion was still a problem but using gravity to hold it in place worked temporarily.

Electronics attached

Laser aiming was off-center so a combination of nut adjustment and repositioning the laser in the socket was performed to get the laser to aim at the mirror. Hitting the flat mirror in the center was not important as long as the reflected beam was close to the center of the convex mirror. Hypothetically a flat mirror of any larger size could also work. Redirection of the laser by the mirror was noticeably better than before. Video was taken which showed the minute movements of the mirror and the significant movement after reflecting off the convex mirror. At a distance this would translate to appreciable swing between extremes but still not enough for the cat toy.

Laser aim off-center

Laser jumping around

Video showing mirror and laser movement

OpenSCAD file for structure
STL file for structure

To Do:
  • Publish stl and scad files online
  • Add bolt to hold mirror fulcrum
  • Test array
  • Build structure 
  • Write instructions
    • Make a linkable parts list
    • Draw schematic 

The rest of the posts for this project have been arranged by date.

First time here?

Completed projects from year 1.
Completed projects from year 2



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2015-07-09 (Th)

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