Queen Rearing Grafting System – 45 Cells

Update:

• I added a slot to the bottom of the top bar for starter strips or wax, to encourage the bees to draw comb downward.

This is a comprehensive 3D-printable Queen Rearing System for beekeepers, designed specifically for the grafting method to raise high-quality queen honey bees. It offers a modular, affordable alternative to commercial systems, with flexibility for various operation sizes.

### Key Components Included:

- Modular Cell Bar Frame (multi-level holder with side supports/end frames):

Supports up to three grafting bars, each holding 15 queen cell cups (total capacity \~45 cups when fully loaded).

Includes a blank top bar for customizable setups.

- For single-bar use: Place the grafting bar on the bottom position, skip the middle bar, and install the blank top bar. This creates space for bees to build natural comb between the top and bottom bars (add wax to the bottom of the top bar to encourage comb building).

- Bars insert securely into the frame slots for easy hive placement/removal (fits deep Langstroth boxes).

- Grafting Cell Cup Holders (bases that accept the included grafting cups): Press-fit design to hold 15 cups per bar. Insert the cup by pressing it in and rotating until you feel a tight hold. To remove, rotate again until it feels looser, then pull out.

- Grafting Cups: Custom-designed cups that fit the holders (not compatible with standard/common grafting cups). These cups insert into the top of the queen cage; place a hollow candy plug on top to secure the cup firmly in the cage.

- Queen Cages & Accessories:

- Individual queen cage.

- Box and lid for protecting/transporting the queen cage (simple press-fit lid design; do not carry the box by the lid).

- Single queen cage holder.

- Separate 5-queen cage holder and 15-queen cage holder for batch handling of mated queens or caged ripe cells.

### Features & Benefits:

- Modular frame design allows single-bar or multi-bar configurations, with the blank top bar enabling natural comb building when using fewer bars (add wax to the bottom of the top bar to encourage comb building).

- Hive-compatible: Fits standard deep Langstroth frames or boxes for starter/finisher colonies.

- Easy assembly: Top bar and grafting bars interlock but require glue for permanence.

- Queen cage integration: After queen emergence, remove the candy plug, take out the cup, and insert a cork plug to secure the queen.

Great for requeening, making splits, improving genetics, or producing queens nucs.

Print Recommendations:

- Layer height: 0.2 mm

- Infill: 15%

- Supports: Needed only for the rails (recommend rails face each other if printing two at the same time; use tree supports). The female interlocking parts on grafting bars do not require supports but can be used anyway for a cleaner and flush bottom.

- Material: PLA+

Files include individual STLs for each component + assembly reference renders.

Questions or feedback welcome! Happy printing and successful queen rearing! 🐝👑