Mini Mating Nuc

thingiverse

This project is inspired by, but not a modification of, **Johno's mating nuc w/frame** posted by @milsimlabs: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3356272 The nuc with spout allows filling the feeder without removing the whole lid. The Plexiglass inner cover allows opening the nuc without immediately letting the bees fly. The clear inner surface should enable them to get used to the light and settle down before opening the inner cover. It is an optional part. These were created in Tinkercad and are available there if you want to remix them: Mating Nuc: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/dPhLCOMSihW Mating Nuc Lid: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/axHyC4Je1Vi Mating Nuc with Spout: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/fDUlZWmsdYO Mating Nuc Lid with Spout: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/6dm4sCNXapQ Mating Nuc Entrance Disk: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/4uQS8D5YCL2 Mating Nuc Inner Cover: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/dak2ZJBPDa0 Mating Nuc Frame - Foundationless: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/enKmli0ALtO Mating Nuc Frame - with Foundation: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/8izvw1QIwaH Mating Nuc Frame - for Commercial Foundation: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/lGRn3Uawez0 Mating Nuc Frame - Feeder Float: https://www.tinkercad.com/things/i2VTGy6Gccf Attach the Entrance Disk with an M3x6 screw. The threads should be snug enough to allow screwing into the box without using a nut. The feeder on the regular nuc will hold approximately 550 cc or 19 oz of syrup. The nuc with spout may hold a little bit more. If you wish to use a piece of Plexiglass over the frames under the lid, a piece of 3/16" or 5mm thick, 143mm x 132mm, will fit over the frames. I have also included an SVG for laser cutting the piece. The frame to hold the commercial foundation will accept a typical 4mm thick foundation, cut down to 88mm W x 100mm H. The lid with spout uses a piece of 1.75mm filament through the hinges. As an alternative to the float, use straw or pine needles, or a piece of non-slip shelf liner (thanks for the idea, @milsimlabs): https://www.amazon.com/DAZZ-8714388-Taupe-Classic-Shelf/dp/B01LWASQEE/ The honeycomb scad library is from @pruby's **OpenSCAD Parametric Honeycomb & Foundation Library**: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4025172 12/8/21: **Updated Nuc Boxes:** Increased number and depth of QE in the feeding area Increased frame rail depth to clear Plexi inner cover Relieved the screened area to save on print time Relieved sides to reduce print time Lowered entrance to allow drainage **Updated Frames:** Re-worked to eliminate artifacts Eliminate I-beam on frame sides to avoid wasted comb space 12/9/21: **Updated Nuc Boxes** Found a better way to round the edges in Tinkercad ** Updated Nuc Box Lids** Found a better way to round the edges in Tinkercad Better fit (old one was 10mm too large) 12/10/21 (I still need to update the "assembled" model so don't grab those for now): **Updated Frames** Found a better way to round the edges in Tinkercad Allow more consistent bee-space Strengthen ears 12/15/21: **Updated Frames** Got rid of some artifacts that skewed printings Standardized parts between versions 12/19/21: Mistakenly deleted the Tinkercad "Mating Nuc" design - the new link is above. **Updated Boxes** Made rails slightly longer (145mm) to give a total of 5mm clearance to shift frames Made box slightly taller to allow spacing the inner cover with beespace above frames Simplified the shape of the inner cover to eliminate complex cuts (143 x 132) Feeder is now 132w x 35d x 111h (512cc or 17 oz) Reduced mass to reduce print time/filament cost **Updated Lids** Created full-length lips to increase stiffness when printed 12/20/21: **Updated Boxes** Created slope/taper under queen excluder on the inside to encourage better bee space **Updated Lids** Fixed lid width 12/21/21: **Updated Entrance Disk** Created a center "hub" to allow better mounting and wear 12/29/21 ... where do I even start. Everything is updated except disk and inner cover: **Updated Nuc Bodies** Enlarged feeder area slightly Smoothed some of the edges **Updated Nuc Lids** Resized to fit better **Updated Frames** Removed second notch for queen cell to increase rigidity Added rib to commercial foundation model to increase rigidity **Updated Float** The last version did not fit properly, updated size Increased holes to be more "bee-friendly" 01/09/22 Update: I was informed that there was a very tight clearance between the nuc and the feeder on my 5-frame feeder model. As I was checking the layup, I noticed I was off by a mm in thickness on the long walls of the nuc and it is similar to this one which was also off. This is likely something only I would have noticed, and if you already have it printed the new feeder will fit it fine. I had to also make a new inner cover for the change to the nuc. I slightly tweaked the size of the float, but again if you have it already, there's no need to re-print.