Bee Feeder

pinshape

It's springtime and your friendly Apis Mellifera (honeybees) are facing a crisis: their honey reserves are dwindling fast. What can be done before flowers start blooming? The solution is simple: feed them sugar water using one of these clever devices. This device fits perfectly into hives with 3/4 to 1/2 inch thick walls and 3/4 to 1 inch high entrance. It utilizes a standard canning jar as the container, providing bees with a convenient drinking area. A drip catcher "pond" inside allows them to drink safely, while a second pond area keeps sticky substances out of the hive. A unique feature of this design is its external overflow drain hole, preventing water from accumulating and causing problems. Unlike similar products available in stores, this device securely hooks into the frame, ensuring it won't fall out. Additionally, the threads are integrated into the plastic, making it impossible for the jar to be accidentally bumped out. The design also includes three entrance/exit tunnels with an inner roundabout, allowing it to be printed without support material. However, there is a minor design flaw in this model - I forgot to account for the height of the canning jar during attachment. This means that until I update the size, you'll need to use a jar smaller than a pint. If that's acceptable, go ahead and print it. Otherwise, you may want to wait for the release of the updated design compatible with standard pint jars. I printed this device using PLA with 10% infill and three shells to provide extra strength to the threads. The goal was to create a design that wouldn't require supports, so I didn't use any. However, there were many "hangies" during printing - a common issue with complex designs like this one. If you encounter this problem, you'll need to decide whether to remove the hangies or the support material. Cleaning the inside of the device may also be necessary, as my printer filled in the holes. Use a hot dental pick or needle to poke them back out.