Queen bee marking tool - one handed

Idea

Easy to use one-handed tool for marking of queen bees. Actuate the flap with your thumb to get the queen bee in and safely lock her in the tool. Then simply push or screw down the slider carefully. The slider has a defined end point as safety mechanisms so that the queen cannot be harmed during the process. When the queen is safely locked in the contraption you can mark the back through the hexagonal pattern on the bottom of the device.

Features:

• one handed operation

• slider or screw with defined ending point for safety

• magnetic lock to secure the slider

Printing

Print as oriented. Printable without any support. The main body should be printed as massive part for stability. Slider and lid can be printed with standard settings.

Assembly

Assembly of the screw version is straightforward:

1. Screw the threaded part into the cap.

2. Snap the lower end of the screw into the slider through the slit.

3. Insert the slider into the case.

4. Push the cap into the case after the slider is in place.

5. To attach the flap, place it onto the case and insert a short piece of 1.75 mm filament, approximately 3 cm long, through the hinge holes to form the hinge pin.

The parts are designed for a friction fit, which should provide a secure hold without glue. If needed, glue can be used as an optional extra.

Assembly of the slider version:

After printing glue or push in the magnets in the slider and lid. Make sure that the have opposite polarity and stick together. Additionally glue some sort of foam (thickness approx. 1 cm) on the bottom side of the slider to protect the queen when pressing to the bottom. Place the case on the bottom and put in the slider. Push the lid onto the case. If you like you can glue it on with some superglue for additional stability and secure fit. Slightly bend the flap in the middle and push the sides into the respective squares on the side of the case. Make sure the flap fits tightly against the case. If you do not have TPU at hand, or prefer a swinging mechanism over a bending one, use the PLA version. It can be placed similarly and by pushing in the adapters or a short part of standard 1.75 mm filament from the side to create a hinge.

Updates

• 2026/08/08: Published first version.

• 2026/08/10: Added new lid_v2 (stronger fit) and slider_v2 (indentations for less friction)

• 2026/08/12: Some suggested to include a version with a slider that can be actuated with a screw as it gives them more control and stays at a given position without having to hold it. I designed the hole marker from scratch and implemented a few other improvements for the case, flap and lid.

• 2026/08/13: Included a second cap with higher tolerances. Choose between a more tight or loose fit for the screw.