This script demonstrates the code to include in a script for feeding a pellet to a rat or mouse with the pellet dispenser attached to the system. It is important that the Zantiks system has been shutdown from the control console page, then after waiting 10seconds remove power to the Zantiks top box before connecting or removing the motor cable to/from the motor.
Setup
Installing the pellet feeder
The pellet feeder mechanism can be attached to the motor and stand with the use of the hex key driver. The video below illustrates how to install the pellet feeder.
Setting up the pellet feeder mechanism for fish on the Zantiks LT
The pellet feeder mechanism holds and delivers food for rodents.
NOTE: There is a different powder delivery feeder for fish. You may also set up the motor platform with the peristaltic pump for liquid delivery. See the Peristaltic pump demo.
Script explanation
The script below will deliver 5 pellets, with a wait of 3 seconds between each feed. Parameters can be changed by defining different values.
DEFINE WAIT_TIME_SECS 3 DEFINE REPEAT_NUM 5 ACTION MAIN INVOKE(PELLET,REPEAT_NUM) COMPLETE
Two DEFINE commands set the wait time between feeds and the number of repeated feeds.
The script will INVOKE the action PELLET. This action will be repeated by the number set in the DEFINE REPEAT_NUM command above.
ACTION PELLET
ZCOMMAND("U0 D1000 M20 M-10 M20 M-10 M20 M-10 M20 M-10 M20 M-10")
WAIT(WAIT_TIME_SECS)
COMPLETE
The action PELLET above uses the ZCOMMAND to rotate the pellet feeder and then wait a period of time in seconds as defined by WAIT_TIME_SECS at the top of the script.
Script download
To download the pellet_feed demo script as a .zs file (file type Zantiks software reads), choose the Save File As option in the right-click dialogue box. Clicking on the script name hyperlink will open a read-only version of the script.
Script download:
pellet_feed.zs
Video demo
The following video shows rodent pellets being dispensed by a feeder
Pellet being dispensed by feeder
