3D interactive
Hive Builder
Assemble a hive component by component and get the bill of materials.
The parameter panel still works
The 3D assembly view needs WebGL and a wider screen. The panel below still produces the material list, the cost estimate and the capacity figures.
Educational model — dimensions are indicative
About this model
Planning, not engineering
The builder is for the decision you make before you spend money: how many boxes, which timber, what it will roughly cost, and whether the cavity is big enough for the colony you intend to keep. It uses cavity volumes for the standard configurations and a timber cost multiplier, and it states both plainly.
It is not a cutting list. Dimensions vary between manufacturers, and a millimetre of error in a frame rest is the difference between a loose frame and a glued one.
Why cavity volume matters
A colony occupies roughly one litre of cavity per 60–90 bees once comb, stores and clustering space are accounted for. Too little room and the colony swarms early; too much and it struggles to keep the nest warm.
Cost figures are indicative
The cost estimate is a relative figure based on box count, frame count and a timber multiplier. It is not a quote, and it varies enormously by region and supplier.
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