Backplate for the CM5 and HackerGadgets boards (copperblue)
A one-piece printed replacement back for a CM5 on the HackerGadgets adapter, clearing the NVMe board, an active cooler and the AIO v2 antenna board.
What it takes
- 3D print
- Disassembly
- Purchase required
Difficulty 2 of 3 — moderate.
Details
copperblue (bored99 on the forum) posted this as the final form of the backplate project in the 'simple extensible backplate' thread: a replacement back for a CM5 on HackerGadgets' adapter board that clears the NVMe battery board and an active cooler, with two fan-cover variants to keep fingers off the blades, a small hole to watch the NVMe activity LED, and a lip cover that makes the AIO v2 antenna board sit flush. Losing the metal back also improved WiFi.
Print it in PA12 nylon rather than PLA — the designer cites stiffness and a 175 °C deformation temperature — which costs roughly $10–25 from a print service. The earlier 'Open Backplate' with a magnetic battery cover, by the same designer, is listed under Power.
Links
Open at Thingiverse — uConsole Backplate for CM5, HackerGadget boardRelated mods
A CNC-plus-printed modular backplate for the CM5 with triple-18650 power, active cooling, up to ten antenna mounts and a mic array, sold as design files.
A commercially machined anodised aluminium back with an integrated heatsink, fan mount and magnetic battery door, sold with a fan or as a $29 STEP file.
A hinged printed case that guards the screen and body in a bag and snap-holds the four antennas of a HackerGadgets AIO board; also sold printed by G7UFO.
JGM's armour revised around the HackerGadgets AIO board: an enclosure on top holds the board and its antennas with the SMA connectors accessible.
A printed cover for the HackerGadgets antenna board in a compact version with SD access and an extended version that also covers the slot and power button.
A printed bracket that holds the HackerGadgets AC1200 card on the AIO v2's internal USB-C port and keeps it off the battery board's solder points.