FarmBot Genesis comes with two tool bays. These simple hardware components act as holsters for your tools and are shaped in such a way that FarmBot can automatically mount and dismount tools from the bay.

Assembly Instructions

40 minutes

This is the estimated time it will take to assemble both tool bays

Step 1: Gather the parts and tools

Gather all the tool bay parts from the table below and lay them out in a logical manner. To complete the assembly, you will also need the following tools:

  • 3mm hex (allen) driver
  • Drill with a #2 phillips driver bit or a #2 phillips screwdriver
Qty. Component
2 20 x 40 x 300mm Aluminum Extrusions
2 Tool Bay Plates
4 Tool Bay Mounting Plates
16 M5 x 10mm Screws
16 M5 Tee Nuts
8 Wood Screws

Step 2: Attach a tool bay plate to the extrusion

Use four M5 x 10mm screws and M5 tee nuts to attach the tool bay plate to one of the 20mm sides of the aluminum extrusion.

Step 3: Attach the tool bay mounting plates to the extrusion

Use four M5 x 10mm screws and M5 tee nuts to attach the tool bay mounting plates to the 40mm side of the aluminum extrusion that is underneath the tool bay plate.

Step 4: Mount the Tool Bay

Attach the tool bay to your supporting infrastructure using the four wood screws.

Orientation matters

Keep in mind that FarmBot’s tools are designed to be mounted by the UTM in only one orientation so that the electrical pins and magnets match up. The text on the front of the tools should line up with the FarmBot logo on the front of the UTM. Because tools can only slot into the tool bay in two orientations, you must orient your tool bay with the longer edge parallel to the gantry main beam.

Note: It is possible to orient the long edge parallel with the tracks, though that would require changing the orientation of the UTM by 90 degrees as well.

Within reach and squared up

Ensure that you mount the tool bay in a location that FarmBot’s UTM can get to. Keep in mind that the UTM needs to be able to slide tools all the way into the bay, all the way out, and be able to mount and dismount tools from above. Make sure you verify this for each of the tool bay’s slots.

The tool bay plate must be square with the rest of FarmBot (all three axes) in order for tools to be properly mounted and dismounted. Use shims or extra washers to make fine adjustments to the angle of your tool bay.

Step 5: Repeat steps 2 through 4 for the second tool bay

Two bays not enough?

If you are interested in using more than six tools and seeds bins at once, you will need to purchase or make more tool bays. Check out our online shop!

Change Log

  • Decreased the length of the tool bay for ease of tumble polishing. It now accommodates only three tools instead of five, though each FarmBot kit will now include two tool bays instead of one for a net gain of one tool slot.
  • Increased the depth of the tool bay so that the UTM can more easily reach the tools with the standard tool bay mounting position.
  • Introduced small mounting plates and an extrusion for mounting the tool bay to the raised bed.

Room for Improvement

Nothing to see here!