PandaDock: Tiltable Panda Touch Dock

Frank Gregor 23.10.2024

This is the detailed assembly documentation for the PandaDock - The Tiltable Panda Touch Dock. You will find the model @MakerWorld.

The Idea

The Bambu Lab P1S (and the P1P, too) is a great 3D printer. Unfortunately, it has a very poor display. There are a few projects that aim to improve this, such as the open-source project xtouch or BigTreeTech's Panda Touch. This model is about the latter.

BigTreeTech offers a display for Bambu Lab printers, which provides pretty much the same interface as an X1C. But it can do more. The Panda Touch can also operate several printers simultaneously, up to 10. Included is a very rudimentary dock that is supposed to be stuck on top of the printer, over the original display.

I didn't like that. I wanted a version that worked similarly to the display on the X1C. It should be able to be swiveled. And the model I am offering here does exactly that.

Bill of Material

| Name | Pieces | Description | Source |
|------|--------|-------------|--------|
| M4x30 hexagon socket screw | 2 | Needed to mount the display plate to the base. | [Amazon 🇩🇪](https://amzn.eu/d/avuNPu9) |
| M4 hexagon locknut | 2 | Needed for the 2 *"M4x30 hexagon socket screw"* mentioned above. | [Amazon 🇩🇪](https://amzn.eu/d/0jLALME), [Amazon 🇺🇸](https://a.co/d/6pYcqSF) |
| M4x9 washer | 2 | Needed for the 2 *"M4x30 hexagon socket screw"* mentioned above. | [Amazon 🇩🇪](https://amzn.eu/d/6xIB1px), [Amazon 🇺🇸 (Carbon Steel)](https://a.co/d/doUusfe), [Amazon 🇺🇸 (Nylon)](https://a.co/d/9puyrjt) |
| M3x10 hexagon socket head machine screw | 2 | To mount the base to the printer. | [Amazon 🇩🇪](https://amzn.eu/d/7PMv6BK), [Amazon 🇺🇸](https://a.co/d/3KwJ86J) |
| 10x2 Neodymium magnets (10x3 will also work) | 4 |   | [Amazon 🇩🇪](https://amzn.eu/d/9sB5kAu), [Amazon 🇺🇸](https://a.co/d/ePAJwNf) |
| USB-A to USB-C charging cable (only two wires for 5V and GND are needed) | 1 |   |   | 
| Heat-shrinking tubing | 3 |   |   |  
| Panda Touch | 1 |   | Direct from [BigTreeTech](https://biqu.equipment/products/bigtreetech-panda-touch-5-display-for-bambu-lab-printers). |

The Components

The picture shows all the parts needed for this dock (unfortunately I forgot to add the two self locking nuts).

The Assembly

First, you need to remove the original display from your P1S/P1P. To do this, simply push it to the right (it may be a bit hard to move). Then you can easily move it away from the printer.

Now remove the plug from the back of the display.

Next you should prepare the USB-A to USB-C charging cable (as mentioned in the bill of material, a cable with only two wires for 5V and GND is good). Cut the cable at the USB-A end about 5-10cm from the plug. Depending on how long your cable is, you may need to trim the other part. Overall, a length of about 30cm should be sufficient.

Then take the Dock Base, feed the display cable from the printer through the back and screw it to the printer with two M3x10 socket head screws.

Now pass the part with the USB-C plug through the front of the printer (where the cable for the display comes out) and slide it to the right until it comes out again on the inside near the USB-A socket. The two pieces of cable must now be soldered together again.

Important: Don't forget to pull the heat-shrink tubing over the wires and the cable beforehand!

NOTE: All the images above are from the v1 Dock. However, for this part of the tutorial, it doesn't matter, because the assembly/preparation steps are the same.

After preparing the printer to attach the base, we can now move on to the display mount. It only takes a few steps to get it ready to be mounted on the base. You will find brief explanations in the captions below each picture.

Display plate from the back side and back lid.

Insert the USB-C PCB from the original Panda Touch Dock into its place.

Use the original screws from the USB-C PCB to secure the circuit board at the dock. Be VERY careful! Don't overtiden the screws, otherwise you might push them through the front!

Use the two securing knobs and insert it into its holes. Depending on the filament you used, you may need to use a little superglue.

The best way to place the magnets is to let them fall onto the Panda Touch first. This way, they align themselves.

Then place the magnets in the screw holder with the side facing away from the Panda Touch and screw them into the plate.

When all magnets are screwed in, it should (or may) look like this.

A quick test to see if the rear lid also fits...

...then everything should be ready. The front looks really tidy, doesn't it? 😍

The Marriage

Okay, “Marriage” is a bit of an exaggeration. But we are now joining the display holder to the base that is already attached to the printer. The last step to the best dock for the Panda Touch! 😃

It should now look like this at the printer. Everything is mounted, the original display is connected and the base is plugged in. Only the USB-C cable should still be visible.

Before you insert the USB-C connector into the power board, you should slide the back lid onto the cable. Make sure you do it the right way.

Thread the cable around the two lugs in the display holder and guide it back up. Then you can push the back lid backwards and press it into the case. If everything works, it should look like this.

Position the display holder on the base so that the hinge parts fit together. Take the prepared M4x25 screws and washers, and insert them into the hinges from the outside, one on each side.

Where are done

When all the mechanical preparations are done, we are now finished and it should look like this.

Important Notice

I tested this dock with different filaments and discovered that not all of them are equally suitable. Bambu Lab PETG-HF (the best!) and Bambu Lab PLA Matte performed particularly well. The set dimensions could be reproduced very well. I also tested Prusament PETG Matte Black. In this case, the parts (Locking Knob and Magnets Screw) did not fit together at all. Perhaps this can be fixed with a custom print profile. I would be very grateful for any suggestions.