PawDrop - Interactive Pet Feeder

PawDrop – Paw-Operated Feeder Meet PawDrop, an interactive pet training feeder created for the MakerWorld Pet Feeder Design Contest and designed around Bambu Lab’s new PLA Pure. Unlike a traditional automatic feeder, PawDrop is operated by the pet itself: The pet presses the front lever with its paw The internal opening releases small treats A printed PETG spring automatically resets the mechanism PawDrop is immediately ready for the next round This turns treat time into a simple and rewarding enrichment activity. Why PawDrop? Paw-operated mechanical design No electronics or batteries No screws, glue or purchased hardware Fully 3D printable Printed PETG reset spring Optional ballast compartment for extra stability Designed and tested on the Bambu Lab A1 Mini Simple five-step assembly Suitable for small dry treats or kibble The wide stance provides excellent stability. For especially enthusiastic pets, the hollow space underneath the inlay can also be filled with clean stones or another suitable weight before the inlay is installed. Materials The main components can be printed in PLA Pure: Body Legs Lever Inlay Lid PLA Pure was chosen because its clean formulation and very low printing emissions make it especially interesting for objects used around pets and inside the home. Important: Print the spring in PETG The red spring must be printed in PETG. During testing, PETG provided the best combination of flexibility, spring force and durability. A PLA spring may work initially but can fatigue or break after only a few activations. The spring is intentionally printed in a contrasting color so that the mechanical reset system remains slightly visible. Assembly Attach the legs to the body Insert the PETG spring Insert the front lever Place the inlay inside the body Attach the lid No tools are required. How to use PawDrop Fill the container with small, dry treats. Start by demonstrating the mechanism and pressing the lever yourself. Once your pet understands where the rewa