Complete (5) Frame Bee Hive (15 - 25 Liter) - No Supports Required

I have spent time researching the most common designs of bee hives (Langstroth, Top Bar and Warre) and even some creative approaches out there. I also spent time digging in a little deeper to how bees live. Ready to move, if I could design a space they would live in, I was closer to understanding a little more about them, especially before I really started, acquired a queen and failed a colony. 

Below is a generic representation of a simple bee hive.
 

Taking all "bee space" (I used 5/6" or 7.94mm) into consideration I am excited to begin testing a very old practice with modern; integrated approaches that I designed from the ground up. Of course I will utilize traditional bee hives as well, they have stood the test of time. However, the ability to marry all of the different design concepts and philosophies into custom geometry was a fun challenge. This (5) frame bee hive can be printed completely without supports. Designed (DFM) specifically with FDM (or similar) tool path in mind. It has the ability for the hive base to be anchored (or not) down with a fastener but friction, geometry and tolerances theoretically should take care of the rest. It also has the ability to be expanded as well as featuring some unique “add on's”. The hive body is an acceptable ~15Liters and the super provides another ~10L. You can continue to add super's onto the hive as long as it is stable. From what research shows, bee's really prefer ~40L with a suggested range of >10L and <100L. That being said, the data from research shows that cavities for wild (feral) bees is typically in the ~15 - ~20L range due to availability of cavities to the bees in the natural world. You will need to add ventilation holes in the slicer yourself based on your individual requirements and location.

Pictured below:

I plan to print it out of PCTG (Chemically similar to PETG but better in a number of ways) I'm not sure where this hive box fits in within the grand scheme of hives and colonies; which is extensive. In all honestly it's an experimental project as the amount of filament and time make it seem…..impractical. That being said, excellent for learning and unique challenge to model; this could lead to creating components for off the shelf hives.

Remember this is why it is called a test, in my world this would really be ES1, or engineering sample one, it could technically be called a Rev A though as well as it functionally works (don't know about the rest yet) and is ready to print. 

If you have a printer large enough and an interest in bee keeping, feedback would be great! I am confident the design will evolve as I learn more about bee's, hives etc.

Even if you don't use my model I hope it inspires you to create something of your own.

Enjoy!

**6/21/25: Queen Excluder uploaded and ready to test. See drawing, slot size 4.25mmx8mm. Queen Excluders are not required however some like them in their particular process. Also, added Hive Base that can be screwed down to a substrate **

Filament Estimates per ideaMaker (very custom settings):

Hive Cover: 376g/8.25hrs

Hive Super Body Frame: 133g/3.25hrs   (print (5) of these; ~665g filament)

Hive Super Body: 535g/12.75hrs

Hive Expander Ring: 129g/~3hrs

Hive Body Frame: 147g/~3.75hrs  (print (5) of these; ~735g filament)

Hive Body: 771g/~18hrs

Hive Bottom Board: 157g/~4hrs

Hive Base: 321g/ ~7hrs

Queen Excluder:  102g/~4hrs

TOTAL = ~3,700g filament, ~60 hours of print time, could be as much as 80 hours