Building an eHive scale is not just assembling parts. It is a sequence of connected steps where each one matters for the result. We buy the base components, electronic parts, material for the frames and printed circuit boards. Everything else we do here in Sedliacka Dubova in Orava.
Mechanics: a frame that has to last
We machine the frames on a small CNC machine. The reason is similar to 3D printing: we can quickly change the shape and construction without expensive reprogramming. It also lets us do things that would otherwise be difficult, such as routing the cabling directly into the frame, which simplifies both assembly and the final design.
Plastic parts, covers, holders and bushings, are made with 3D printing. It lets us quickly change the shape, strength and material during development while also keeping spare parts available even for older generations of scales.
Electronics: assembly, startup, inspection
We assemble the PCB through a solder paste stencil and bake it in a reflow oven. The result is even and repeatable soldering without cold joints. After baking comes visual inspection, startup of the board by uploading the firmware, and a functional check to verify that the accuracy and stability of the load cell measurement are correct.
Load cells: thermal chamber
This is a step most manufacturers do not do at all. We test every load cell in a thermal chamber across the full operating temperature range.
Why? The planar sensors used in bhScale have a reputation among competitors for worse temperature stability. Reported drift is often 30 to 50 g per °C. And they are right, because manufacturing variability is high. A sensor that measures correctly at room temperature may start to show drift under load, continuous measurement and changing temperature, an apparent weight change that has nothing to do with what is really happening in the hive. By testing every unit in the thermal chamber, we can detect and reject sensors that would cause problems in the field. Together with software compensation, we achieve drift of only 10 g per °C, significantly better than what is common for planar sensors. The result is direct: the changes you see in the graph reflect what is really happening in the hive, not fluctuations in ambient temperature.
Firmware, app, website and server
We develop the whole software chain internally. Firmware, the program running directly in the scale's microcontroller, the app for Windows, Android and iOS, and even the web server. One team, one responsibility.
The practical consequence is simple: when a mobile operator changes network behaviour, when Android releases a new version, or when a customer discovers an edge case that testing did not catch, we can fix it quickly without depending on an external supplier.
Assembly, functional test and calibration
After assembly comes the functional test and calibration. Calibration is the moment when mechanics and electronics become a measuring instrument. We verify weight measurement accuracy, communication and stability under load. Every scale leaves with its own calibration coefficient that reflects the properties of its sensors.
The scale is designed in a modular way: the sensor part on the frame is separate from the control electronics and the battery holder. For us, that simplifies manufacturing and combining different variants. For you, it is an advantage during service. In case of failure, the whole scale does not need to be replaced.
Compliance and legislation
For a device to be sold legally, it is not enough that it measures well. We handle compliance requirements, safety, EMC and the radio part for Bluetooth and the GSM module. These are things the customer does not see in everyday use, but without them the product is not a product in the legal sense.
In practice, that means documented procedures, traceable production changes and the discipline that small-batch production must consciously maintain.
Service after years
Because we have the whole production chain, from mechanics to the server, in our own hands, we can stand behind the product even after years. Service, refurbishment and spare parts are a natural consequence of knowing the system in detail.
If you choose eHive, there is someone behind it whom you can still contact five years from now.