FDM5 Printing & Assembly Instructions

Note: The preferred method of assembly requires the use of cyanoacrylate (CA) glue and an accelerant. A thick construction adhesive or 2-part epoxy may be utilized in conjunction with clamp-up and sufficient cure times. Additionally, the preferred filament material is PETG. PLA may be used in lieu of PETG, but only if the assembled speaker stays indoors and away from direct sunlight.

General print settings:

  • Build Volume Required: 256mm x 256mm x 256mm
  • Nozzle Diameter: 0.60 mm
  • Layer height: 0.24 mm
  • Print temperature: 240-250°C
  • Bed material: Tempered glass or G10 composite
  • Bed temperature: 50-80°C
  • Bed adhesion: Single layer of glue stick or a polymer adhesive of your choice

Part-specific print settings:

Suggested number of wall loops and infill percentages are all minimums. All parts should have four (4) top and bottom layers with concentric infill.

  • Crossover Stand-Offs: 0% infill, 3 walls
  • Front Baffle: 15% infill (gyroid), 4 walls
  • Main Cabinet: 10% infill (gyroid), 2 walls
  • Back Plate: 15% infill (gyroid), 4 walls
  • Accent Ring: 100% infill (concentric)

Note: All our parts are designed to print without support! Orient parts on the build plate with this in mind. It will be obvious what side is up. Accent rings print "face down" so as to achieve the best surface finish.

Parts & Tools Needed For Assembling FDM5

Parts List and Assembly for Single Speaker

(Print-It-Yourself Kit includes double what is shown below)

  • Crossover PCB: x1
  • 16 Gauge Wire, 12 inches long (“Long Wire”): x2
  • 16 Gauge Wire, 8 inches long (“Short Wire”): x1
  • M3 Heat Set Threaded Inserts: x8
  • M3 x 12mm Flat Head Socket Cap Screws: x8
  • Small Female Terminal Plugs: x2
  • Large Female Terminal Plugs: x4
  • 2 Ounces of Poly-Fil Stuffing: x1
  • Binding Post Pair (Red & Black): x1
  • Foam Pads: x4
  • Tweeter: x1
  • Woofer: x1

Tools Needed for Assembly:

  • Wire Crimper
  • Soldering Iron with Heat-Set Insert Tips
  • 2mm Hex Wrench
  • Flathead Screwdriver
  • Cyanoacrylate (CA) glue and an accelerant

Don't have everything you need listed above?

Get accessories ➞

Printed Parts List for One FDM5 Loudspeaker:

  • Front Baffle: x1
  • Main Cabinet: x1
  • Back Plate: x1
  • Accent Ring: x1
  • Crossover Stand-Off: x4

Download FDM5 Files on Printables

Download FDM5 Files on Thangs

FDM5 Assembly Instructions

Follow our 10 Step Guide below to assemble your FDM5 Loudspeakers with your Print-It-Yourself Kit.

Step 1: Heat Set Threaded Inserts

Use soldering iron set to regular high temperature to press and melt inserts into front baffle and tapered end of crossover stand-offs. Threaded inserts should sit flush or sub-flush to the mounting surface. Take care to press inserts as perpendicularly to the mounting surface as possible. Straight up and down.

Step 2: Binding Posts

Tightly screw on binding posts to back plate with flange facing away from the plugs.

Step 4: Crossover Assembly

Attach four (4) crossover stand-offs to the bottom of the PCB board via four (4) screws. Ensure that stand-offs are a little tighter than “finger-tight”. Strip ¼” (6 mm) of speaker wire from all ends of pre-cut lengths. Attach and crimp the small blue female plugs to one of the two long cables, and the other two cables attach and crimp the larger female plugs. Heat shrink and trim off excess from larger female terminal plugs.

See wiring diagram to main board for other stripped end insertion to screw terminals. The short cable with pink female plugs goes to the "-IN+" terminal, the long cable with the blue plugs goes to the "-HF+" terminal, and the long cable with the pink plugs goes to the "-LF+" terminal.

Click Images to Enlarge

Step 5: Cabinet Feet

Attach four (4) soft pads to the underside of the speaker cabinet. See circular indentations.

Step 6: Crossover Installation

Bundle up wire on top of crossover. With cabinet standing on upright, apply a liberal amount of adhesive in the center of four (4) circular indentations located inside bottom of cabinet. Press and hold crossover stand-offs in position. Hold firmly until the adhesive hardens or use additional accelerant. Connect positive and negative female plugs to interior binding post male terminals, making sure to align polarity.

Step 8: Front Baffle

With the partially assembled cabinet facing upward (add a towel underneath to relieve pressure on the binding posts), apply a generous bead of glue to the inner lip of the cabinet as shown. Then, with the front baffle in hand, apply accelerant to the backside groove and place firmly and quickly into position on lip of the main cabinet. Be sure to apply even pressure all around the edges while the adhesive hardens. If using slower curing adhesives, apply a bead to the same location as before. With the assembly facing upward, apply uniform pressure via a flat and heavy object (e.g. – books, wood plank with dumbbells, etc.)

Caution: Some CA accelerants will yellow white PETG or PLA. Be sure to mask with blue painter's tape anything that you don't want to see as yellow.

Step 9: Woofer and Tweeter Mounting

Once the adhesive has properly hardened between the front baffle and the main cabinet, connect positive and negative leads of tweeter wire to tweeter and press tweeter firmly into small opening. The fit should be snug, not loose.

Note: Make sure that the metallic plugs do not make contact with the rear metallic body of the tweeter. Slightly bend them away to create clearance before pressing into the baffle opening.

Apply sealing foam ring to inner lip of larger woofer opening. Connect positive and negative leads to woofer and drop woofer into position, lining up flange holes with underlying threaded inserts. Using provided four (4) screws, fasten woofer into position. Proceed to tighten in a star pattern. Screws should be a little tighter than “finger tight.”

Click Images to Enlarge

Step 11: Connect FDM5s to an Amp & Crank to 11

Wait, I thought that this was a 10 Step guide?

Turns out that these go to 11 😎

Enjoy and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, we're here to help ensure you have a beautiful listening experience.

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