Crazy Cat Chase Toy - V1

Somewhere on the Internet I saw a outdoor dog chase system that consisted of a motor driven string loop around a series of pulleys that are planted in a yard or play area.  The pulls the string which a toy around for a dog to chase.  There was a video online of someone using the same system for a cat, and the cat went bonkers. The system itself was expensive, so I decided to make a simpler indoor version in which the vast majority of the parts could  be printed.  

In this version, you print as many pulleys as you like to make a course throughout the house.  There are no size constraints other than the length of string you provide. You print 1 drive pulley to power everything.   the course size is only limited by your imagination.

Assembly

1. Print 1 Power Pulley and power pulley base
2. Print 1 or more pulley/base sets (Try 3)
3. Press fit a 608 bearing into each of the non-powered pulleys
4. Push the pulley wheel into the base
5. Dry fit the 380 motor to ensure a good fit into the power base.  IT might need some light sanding)
6. If there are no leads on the motor, solder leads to the motor 
7. Feed the leads through the center bottom of the power base
8. Seat the motor
9. Press the power pulley onto the motor
10. Setup your course
11. Painters tape loops are used to secure them to the floor (This will not work on carpet unless you use an alternative attachment).  
12. run string in a loop around the course and tie it together to make one continuous loop of string. 
13. place the loop around all of the pulleys
14. adjust any single pulley to ensure the string is tight
15. Attach a toy to the string
16. Turn on 

Video of setup - https://youtu.be/Cxaom4c9_qw

After a lot of trial an error with press fitting the bearings, pulleys where the string does not “easily” come off,  various motor versions/sizes, speeds, I completed version 1 of this toy.   I wanted to put this out to share and get some feedback before moving on to version 2. 

Things I do not like and want to improve:

• The motor.  I originally experimented with a small DC direct drive motor a pulled from a VCR.  I added a tiny drive pulley to it, and I think it worked great.  Is was quite a bit faster, but MUCH less noisy. I settled on the GEARED 380 motor to get lower RPM's for anyone who wanted to try something out without having to add speed control.  For V2 I will move to a digital controlled Drone motor or some other quiet drive.
• Drive pulley - Its big to cover the motor and keep everything pet safe and snag free as possible.

Materials Needed:

1. 12V Power supply - https://a.co/d/dku33Pf
2. Electric motor - https://a.co/d/cPBt9J3
3. Painters tape - https://a.co/d/cVrlPaq
4. Kite String - https://a.co/d/i27svf6 - The string I am using is polyester not cotton.  Avoid stretchable string
5. 608 Bearings - https://a.co/d/hHMJ7tL