Bee Hive Bucket Feeder Accessories 3D Printer Model

Author: @
License: CC BY
File formats: stl
Download type: zip
Size:2.1MB

The file 'Bee Hive Bucket Feeder Accessories 3D Printer Model' is (stl) file type, size is 2.1MB.

Summary

These accessories are for a Beehive Top Bucket Feeder.
The bucket feeder can be a 1 gal., 2 gal. or 5 gal. HDPE bucket (online or big box store) with holes in the top to allow sugar water to exit the bucket when it is upside down on the inner cover or feeder top. I put the feeder inside a Deep hive body for 1 Gal and 2 Gal buckets with a hive cover on top.
The printed parts are- a spout insert, a cap for regular use, an assembly cap (for the gluing process) and a drill guide for the bucket top. The spout and cap allow the bucket to be refilled removing the cap instead of having to remove the lid from the bucket to fill it saving time and effort.
The drill guide is for marking the center for the 1 3/4" hole for the spout and locates the spout hole flange edges before marking the center hole for drilling. In my case I try to put the spout hole as close to the edge of the bucket lid without the flange extending over the edge of the ridges and valleys of the bucket lid. The drill guide also serves to drill a consistent five hole pattern where the sugar water can be drawn by the bees.When the bucket is filled and inverted to place on the hive, some sugar water with come out of these holes until a vacuum is created inside the bucket. From then on, the bees can draw sugar water out of the holes until it is empty. I put the five holes on the opposite side of the lid from the spout but they can be located anywhere.
The spout fits nicely through a 1 3/4 inch hole and the flange can be glued to the bottom inside of the lid to keep the spout in place. HDPE is hard to glue reliably, but there are glues to either bond them permanently or well enough to hold it in place. The assembly cap is not necessary but I printed one to hold the spout flange snug to the bottom of the lid while the glue cures. It has a spacing set back to keep the assembly cap from gluing to the bucket or the spout if the glue oozes.

Assembly_Cap.stl 1.5MB
Cap_102.stl 3.1MB
Drill_Guide.stl 317.5KB
Spout.stl 551.4KB