Forms for PPU hives: pros and cons of use, equipment calculation

To successfully engage in beekeeping, you need to have high-quality and comfortable hives. Today, there are quite a few interesting options, one of which is PPU hives. They are made of polyurethane foam, which is often used to create frame structures. To facilitate the process of constructing the structure, it is recommended to use special molds for PPU hives.

Pros and cons of polyurethane foam hives

Hives made of polyurethane foam, made from molds, have certain advantages. These include the following:

• excellent thermal insulation performance;
• minimum weight;
• moisture resistance;
• environmentally friendly and no harsh odors;
• high strength;
• long service life;
• ease of processing and availability of repair.

Despite the large number of advantages, such designs also have some disadvantages. The main disadvantages include the following:

• susceptibility to UV radiation;
• fast flammability design;
• lack of stability in strong winds;
• high cost.

Tools and materials

For self-manufacturing of PPU hives, you need to prepare the following:

• high-quality polyurethane foam - the thickness of the material must be at least 5 centimeters;
• water-based or acrylic paint;
• brush or spray gun;
• stationary knife - the width of its blade must be more than 2 centimeters;
• tape measure or metal ruler;
• stapler with staples;
• degreaser;
• screwdriver;
• glue;
• plastic corners;
• felt pen or pen;
• self-tapping screws;
• sandpaper for surface grinding.

PPU do-it-yourself hives

Building a PPU is easy. It is important to strictly follow the instructions:

1. For a start, you should buy pine boards with a minimum thickness of 25 millimeters. It is important that they are well dried. The moisture content of the material should be no more than 15%.
2. Make a pallet with a height of 120 millimeters from the boards. It is recommended to place a grid on the floor. You also need to provide a rear door for removing debris.
3. Build the walls of the hulls using rigid polyurethane foam. It should be covered with aluminum foil. All fragments should be fixed with polyurethane glue in the groove.
4. From the outside, attach 2 wooden straps to the hive body. They perform the functions of the upper and lower frames. All elements are recommended to be fixed with glue and screws.
5. Make holes in the corners of the structure. They will help to achieve a sufficient level of ventilation. To prevent the bees from flying out, it is recommended to close the holes with a net.
6. Make a lid. To do this, you need to fill the shield on the strapping. It is important that the lid is protected from rain. Therefore, it is best made from galvanized iron or other protective materials.

Calculation of cost and equipment

Calculate the cost of manufacturing PPU hives is not difficult. As an example, consider the cost of constructing a roof.

In this case, you should focus on the following sizes:

• width - 540 millimeters;
• length - 450 millimeters;
• thickness - 70 millimeters.

The total volume of polyurethane foam with a density of 60 kilograms per 1 cubic meter is 0.01701 cubic meters. To determine the mass of fragments of polyurethane foam, you need to multiply 60 by 0.01701. The result is 1.0206 kilograms.

It is important to consider that certain losses are characteristic of each technological process. They make up 10-20% of the total values. There is also always the threat of culling. Her reasons include the following:

• insufficient heating of the mold;
• lack of poured material;
• excess material being poured into moulds.

The total mass of the beehive for bees is no more than 7 kilograms. In this case, the following dimensions should be taken into account:

1. Cover. The length is 540 millimeters, the width is 450, the height is 70. The weight of the element is 1100 grams.
2. Foundation. Its length is 560 millimeters, width - 450, height - 105. The mass of the element is 1400 grams.
3. Case. The length of the element is 540 millimeters, the width is 450, the height is 300. The weight is 2800 grams.
4. Shop. The length of the structure is 540 millimeters, the width is 450, the height is 155. The weight is 1400 grams.

To accurately determine the cost, you should study the price list of companies and contact a qualified estimator. In addition, the manufacture of hives will require special equipment for pouring. To do this, it is permissible to use the following types of steam generators:

• NAST-7M;
• NAST-10;
• TMS-5;
• UZK-22.

Hives made of polyurethane foam have a number of advantages. In addition, they can be made by hand. To get a reliable and durable design, it is recommended to prepare high-quality materials and strictly follow the instructions.

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