Pet Care Timer (Arduino)

This Pet Care Timer lights up on a daily schedule that you set in the Arduino code.  Use it to alert you and other family members when it's time to care for your pet, and press the button to turn off the alert.  Everybody in the family will know that your pet has been fed, walked, or whatever you use your Pet Care Timer for!

The default settings provide 2 alerts daily that are 8 hours apart - perfect for a morning and an evening feeding!  If you prefer a different schedule, simply use the Arduino IDE (available at https://www.arduino.cc/en/software/) or the Arduino cloud version to change the number of daily alerts and/or the number of hours between alerts in the "arduinoDailyTimer-v1.ino" sketch before uploading the code to your Arduino.

Important Note:  The Pet Care Timer has no idea what time of day or what day it is - it starts a 24-hour cycle as soon as the Arduino is powered up.  You should provide power when you want the first alert of the day to trigger; everything else is based on that moment in time.  If the power fails or Daylight Savings Time begins or ends, then you must repeat the above at the first alert time of the day!

REQUIRED (NON-PRINTED) PARTS...

Quantity:      Description: /
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1              Arduino Nano Every with headers [ABX00033]
$19.90         https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WWK29XF
Should be able to use any Arduino Nano compatible board of same form factor

1              ELEGOO 6PCS 400 Point Breadboard Kit
$8.99 (for 6)  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYPVMK9J
Any similar 400 point breadboard should work - verify dimensions! We assume mounting tape on bottom!

1              Twidec/2Pcs 12mm Round Momentary Push Button Switch Red Pre-soldered
$6.99 (for 2)  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYG3S2H9
Other DigiKey options that should fit: CIT Relay & Switch #EH12NMB3ZX or E-Switch #PV5S24019

1              Monoprice 3ft USB 2.0 A Male to Micro 5pin Male
$3.98          https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-Male-Micro-28AWG-Cable/dp/B001U3SU8U
Any USB Micro power cable should work

1              2Pack USB Wall Charger Plug, AILKIN 2.4A Dual Port
$11.99 (for 2) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07T82D4YF
Any USB power outlet should work

2              Optek Technology LED RED CLEAR 5MM T/H
$0.78 (for 2)  https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/tt-electronics-optek-technology/ovllr8c7/827139
Any similar Red LEDs should work - ideally 900+ mcd brightness and 90+ degree viewing angle!

2              RES 150 OHM 5% 1/8W AXIAL
$0.20 (for 2)  https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/stackpole-electronics-inc/CF18JT150R/1741590
Any 150 ohm 1/8 watt or 1/4 watt through-hole resistor should work

6 - 8          560Pcs Jumper Wire for Breadboard Prototyping
$5.89          https://www.amazon.com/Aluminum-Breadboard-Expansion-Accessories-Prototyping/dp/B09F3FV1CF
Any breadboard jumper wires (24 AWG) should work (sometimes included with breadboard purchase)

REQUIRED 3D PRINTED PARTS…

Bottom - all parts except USB Charger Plug fit into the Bottom - which can be screwed onto a wall with 2 drywall or wood screws that you provide.

Middle - breadboard rests in Middle, then it slides into Bottom.

Switch Plate - the switch is secured in Switch Plate and a Lens snaps into Switch Plate, then it slips into Bottom above Middle after switch wires are inserted into breadboard.

Lens - Lens must be printed with a "transparent" filament or with a light filament (such as Sunlu White PETG) that allows light to pass through!  Two Lens options are provided: the "arduinoDailyTimerLensNoText-1c-Prusa.3mf" file uses a single filament color and doesn't contain any text; the "arduinoDailyTimerLensFeedingTime-1c-Prusa.3mf" file requires an MMU or AMS to print up to 2 colors per layer; it uses a transparent/translucent color for the Lens body and another color (such as black) for the text - which is set to "Feeding Time!" - though the text can be changed in PrusaSlicer.

Top - Top slides over Bottom and clicks in place once all parts are placed inside and USB cable is plugged into Arduino.

All parts of the Pet Care Timer can be printed in PETG or PLA.

Please refer to the attached photos for images of the purchased parts that are required.

The following render shows all the printed parts:

The following "fritzing" image shows the physical layout and wiring of the breadboard:

The following "fritzing" image shows the circuit schematic:

The following photo shows assembly of the Switch Plate:

Once the breadboard wiring is completed per the provided photos and the Switch Plate is assembled, complete installation and assembly as follows:

1 - Secure the Bottom to your chosen mounting location (near an outlet for the USB power supply) with 2 drywall or wood screws (or double-sided tape if you prefer)

2 - Plug the USB power cord into the Arduino Nano

3 - Remove the liner from the double-sided tape on the bottom of the breadboard

4 - Press the breadboard into the Middle tray - centering the USB cable in the slot on the Middle

5 - Slide the Middle into the Bottom

6 - Connect the 2 switch wires to the breadboard (per the breadboard wiring image)

7 - Place the Switch Plate on the Middle - ensuring that the switch wires don't interfere with the LEDs

8 - Slide the Top over the Bottom until it clicks (Top will be flush with top of Lens)

9 - Plug USB cord into power source at the exact time of day that you want the first daily alert to trigger

Congratulations - you did it - your pet thanks you!

The following photos show the Pet Care Timer in use:

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I have provided STEP (.stp) files for all parts to allow modifications to my design.

PrusaSlicer 3MF files have been provided for PETG.

G-code files have been provided for the Original Prusa MK4 for PETG.  The optional text version of the Lens expects an MMU3 with filament #1 (transparent or translucent white) for the Lens body and filament #2 (black or dark color) for the text.

The Pet Care Timer parts seen in the photos were printed in Sunlu Gray PETG, Sunlu White PETG, and Prusament Jet Black PETG with a 0.4mm nozzle at 0.2mm layer height with a 15% honeycomb infill (and 2 bottom layers for the Lens).  Only the optional Lens with text was printed with multiple colors.

Be sure to check out my other designs - including honeycomb storage wall (HSW) accessories, universal key covers, and a diverse collection of household accessories and 3D printing tools - on Printables at https://www.printables.com/@PhilCaruso/models