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.

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.

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.