After completing the animatronic butterfly for The Kidzeum, and spending 12 days in Costa Rica volunteering, I am back at home in the studio considering the next project. I would like to continue creating work in the pollinator category, and I think completing a bee will be a huge step forward.
3D model of honey bee made in Blender, work in progress. Only the thoracic components have been identified.
Honey bees are part of the hymenoptera order which includes wasps and ants. These insects have four wings, complex mouth parts, long powerful legs, and most have a stinger. Although the stinger is the quintessential component that makes a honey bee, a bee, it is the last piece on my mind.
I found a dead honey bee and collected it for close examination. Using a microscope, I collected reference photos as well as downloading online references of honey bee anatomy. The furry texture of honey bees makes it difficult to see their exoskeletal bones, but that is a really fun part of this build I look forward to tackling later.
Honey bee under the microscope.
I started with the wings, and determined a model size based on the minimum quality print abilities of my FDM 3D printer. A minimum line thickness of .4mm guaranteed success with the slicer and final print. Using that as guide for final size, I also modeled the head, thorax, and abdomen from reference photos. Two micro servos can fit in the thorax of this bee, but I have yet to determine a function for them.
Instead I am focusing on creating a discreet piece for as many bones as possible. Then I will develop a method of connecting them. I hope to name and print every component and develop a kit.