• Find an open, flat work surface with plenty of light. Kitchen table? Perfect.
• If you like your table, find something to put down to protect it while you work.
  • Newspaper is OK, but use several layers.
  • A flap or side panel from a large cardboard box is perfect.

In this first phase we'll be taking various acrylic parts for the Crowbox and assembling them into larger parts of the machine. In Phase Two we'll start using the sub assemblies from this step.

The Baseplate is the platform upon which the entire Crowbox is built. In this step we'll be adding some reinforcement to the baseplate to make it stronger at the points where the Crowbox will be screwed to a pole or platform.

All parts required for this step are Acrylic.

• Machine Baseplate x1
• Reinforcing ring x4
• Plastic cement

1. Peel the protective paper from one side of the baseplate
2. Set the baseplate, peeled side UP, on your work surface
3. Peel the protective paper from both sides of each reinforcing ring
4. For the next steps, attach one ring at a time then move on to another
   1. Apply a thin bead of plastic cement around one of the holes in the baseplate
   2. Place one reinforcing ring over the same hole and carefully adjust its position so that the hole in the reinforcing ring aligns with the hole in the baseplate.
   3. Repeat until all reinforcing rings are in place
5. Finally, double-check that none of the rings are still properly aligned, then set this sub-assembly aside to dry.

• Transparent basket faceplate
• Transparent ribs (2 pieces)
• Plastic cement
• M3x10mm machine screws (4)
• M3 nuts (4)

1. Peel protective paper from both side of the basket faceplate
2. Peel protective paper from both sides of both transparent ribs
3. Push one machine screw through each of the four holes in the basket faceplate
4. Place the faceplate flat on your work surface with the screw shanks pointing up
5. Thread one rib onto the screws by aligning the two holes in the rib with a pair of corresponding screws sticking out of the faceplate - Do not push the rib all the way down against the faceplate yet!
6. Apply a thin line of cement to the faceplate, directly below the rib
7. Gently work the rib down the screw shanks until it is flat against the faceplate and pressed into the cement
8. Repeat the previous step with the other rib
9. Thread an M3 nut onto each machine screw and hand-tighten
10. Set this sub-assembly aside to dry