Ikea LIVBOJ wireless charger case

LIVBOJ is low-power wireless USB-C charger. Drop-in shell does not modify charger in anyway, only changes esthetics. Lid thickness is kept to the minimum to not interfere with the power transfer.

Check out alternative circular design.

Working with the veneer is delicate process. veneer is prone to warping, mechanical and humidity damage. You can use cork based veneer instead or simply use fully printable lid and add stick-on vinal instead.

Bill of materials

• Ikea LIVBOJ wireless charger

• 4x M3x8 Hex. Socket head screws (6 a 4mm lengths would also work)

• 0.6mm wood veneer, optional if use lid_full instead for fully printable version

• printed body and lid components

• epoxy glue

• 8mm silicone sticky pads (optional)

Tools needed

• sandpaper

• sharp blade

• hex socket wrench

• weights (food or small paint cans work great)

Build instructions

• Print the body and lid parts (lid_weener if wood weener is used, lid_full for fully printable version).
  
  Use normal 0.2 layer height for the cleaner printing of the screw holes. No supports are required. For body component, check the position of he seem. It should be aligned though middle of the USB socket. Use provided .3mf file or rotate the part so that USB is facing back of the printer and use Seam position: Rear
  
  

• Cut veneer to slightly bigger size then lid (5mm on each side).
  
  

• Mix glue and spread a thin layer that covers all of the lid top surface. Glue the veneer square on top.
  
  Put the part down on flat surface and add weights on top. Ideally, there would be a tiny bit of glue squeeze-out all around the circumference of the part. Let the glue cure completely.
  
  

•  Using very sharp blade, trim excess veneer closer to the part. You do not need cut exactly to the plastic part, you will adjust fit with sandpaper in the next step. 
  
  Start cutting with direction of the grain. Veneer is very weak in that direction and splits easily, do not cut too close to the part to avoid tearing the wood.
  
  

• Lay sandpaper on the flat surface and send rest of the weener using plastic as a guide. You do not need to apply too much force. Avoid sending into plastic. To clean-up the edges, rotate sandpaper 45° and give veneer a light chamfer all around the part.
  
  You can send top of the a little if veneer surface is too rough. After that add wood surface treatment of you choice (if any), but avoid staining or any other water-based treatments. Wood veneer of this thickness will warp.
  
  

• Align LIVBOJ USB connector with cutout in the body part and gently but firmly push charger into the part.
  
  

• Add prepared lid part on top and use 4 screws to secure it. Screws will tap themselves into the plastic of the Lid part. Tighten screws until they are flush with first layer of the silicon pad cut-outs.
  
  

• Add silicone pads on top of the screw heads.

Disassembly

• Remove silicon pads.
  
  

• Loosen and remove 4 screws.
  
  

• Holding rim of the body part with thumbs of both hands, push on the charger through cutouts in the bottom of the body part.
  
  

• Lid and charge will pop-up from the body.