diff --git a/src/components.scad b/src/components.scad
index d5b548e..1919b66 100644
--- a/src/components.scad
+++ b/src/components.scad
@@ -163,15 +163,32 @@ module levermountholes() {
 }
 
 module base_panel() {
-	cube([panel_x, panel_y, panel_z], center=true);
-	translate([panel_to_frame_point_x, panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
-		scale([1.4, 1.4, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
-	translate([-panel_to_frame_point_x, panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
-		scale([1.4, 1.4, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
-	translate([panel_to_frame_point_x, -panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
-		scale([1.4, 1.4, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
-	translate([-panel_to_frame_point_x, -panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
-		scale([1.4, 1.4, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
+	difference() {
+		union() {
+			cube([panel_x, panel_y, panel_z], center=true);
+			// add posts that sink into the frame, just to give
+			// a somewhat more sturdy/tight connection
+			translate([panel_to_frame_point_x, panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
+				scale([1.4, 1.4, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
+			translate([-panel_to_frame_point_x, panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
+				scale([1.4, 1.4, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
+			translate([panel_to_frame_point_x, -panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
+				scale([1.4, 1.4, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
+			translate([-panel_to_frame_point_x, -panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
+				scale([1.4, 1.4, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
+		}
+		// the posts mentioned above need space for the actual hex bolts
+		// used in connecting to the frame
+		translate([panel_to_frame_point_x, panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
+			scale([1, 1, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
+		translate([-panel_to_frame_point_x, panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
+			scale([1, 1, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
+		translate([panel_to_frame_point_x, -panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
+			scale([1, 1, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
+		translate([-panel_to_frame_point_x, -panel_to_frame_point_y, -panel_z])
+			scale([1, 1, 0.1]) frame_hex_bolt_hole();
+	}
+
 }
 
 module base_bottom_panel() {