Fabtotum Mini Back Panel

thingiverse

The Fabtotum has several real issues with positioning the Bowden feeder's PTFE tubes in harm's way, resulting in crushed tubes, increased friction, and broken filament. One solution to alleviate this issue is running the printer with the Fabtotum's back removed. This allows the tubes to flex out of the Z-Axis's moving path. Removing the back panel presents one major problem: the power socket module, which contains both the power switch and socket, snaps and glues onto the back panel. It is possible to remove this module and use it in a similar fashion, but a cleaner approach could be to build a small plate that not only holds the module but also includes slots for the existing USB ports, Ethernet ports, and ventilation openings. Here's what I came up with. It's not nicely curved at the bottom as the Fabtotum's original back panel is nor particularly pretty, but it works quite well. The size or alignment of the ventilation holes may or may not matter, so I've made them larger and better aligned with the fan. The OpenSCAD source code has been included for easy remixing if you'd like to attempt creating that nice curve or building it using a different model from Europe. This mini back panel was printed on the Fabtotum after slicing using the Draft setting. One thing to note is this design uses the bottom screw hole from the original back panel but not the top one. Instead, there's a central screw hole that is utilized. This means you can no longer fit the left side panel correctly, so simply leave it out. Instructions To start with, print the mini back panel and clean up any lumps or excess material using a sharp hobby knife. Make sure to avoid plastic getting stuck in the screw holes by drilling them out. A 1/8 inch drill bit works perfectly well. It's now time to turn off your Fabtotum completely and unplug its power source from both the main supply and your printer. Next, remove the rear panel of your Fabtotum following the detailed instructions provided on the official forum for your model. Take a moment to identify the 3 wires connected to the power block – jot them down or snap a quick photo for future reference before you unplug them. The power block itself is firmly glued to the back panel, which means you'll need to squeeze it gently to dislodge it completely. Ensure all residual glue and plastic bits are removed carefully as they might cause problems later on. Place your new mini back panel into position by inserting the power block through one end and pushing gently until its retaining wings expand, firmly holding everything in place. Note that you can choose whether or not to reverse the original power switch – a neat touch if done correctly! Screw it all together using an 8mm screw located at the bottom and then one more half-way up. Make sure these screws match perfectly by checking your leftover parts carefully from both sides of the Fabtotum's original rear panel.