Yes, I expect that it will become available, date TBD. This part is actually broken on my personal L5 (my device has survived numerous dramatic drops, but the internal frame has grown tired), and Purism strives for user-serviceability and longevity through easily-replaceable parts (replacement battery shipments being a little more nuanced).
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So, I did not do this. My intuition based on the shape was that the very small inward facing almost invisible tabs were more important and were losing material from friction. So I put some tape over them in the size of where they fit into the main L5, and now the backplate seems to attach reasonably tightly like how I want.
As a result it seems pretty perfect now. Haven’t encountered much in the way of signal issue (RF transparency), it’s easier to remove than the standard plastic backplate because it is less tightly connected, and hopefully it’s stronger.
Holding nylon with the slight feel of softness instead of hard plastic is maybe elegant feeling in a certain way. Seems like maybe a fun style. Definitely makes it unique. If it starts to tear apart like the standard plastic backplates, I’ll be sure to post here.
Edit: Sent from mobile while using the 3D printed backplate.
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Update: We received the supplier’s response for the original plastic L5 rear cover today and it sounds like they are charging a shockingly high price per unit. Unless there is significant interest for a group buy (200+) and folks are willing to pay $15/ea + shipping, we will likely reject the quote and search for an alternative supplier offering relatively low MOQs.
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I would be one of 200! 
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I mean, I got a free replacement from Purism with my last order, and then I ripped up that one too. I’m currently using a backplate made of 3d printed nylon that cost $70. Knock on wood, it didn’t rip yet.
But $15 seems a lot cheaper than $70. And I’m not sure I would care either way, if I could find something that doesn’t rip apart from use. Maybe using a Liberty Phone has made me blind to costs because of the sunk-cost fallacy.
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I would love an option to buy them in packs of 2 or 3.
I have the original shipped with my L5, then I ordered two more. One of those I broke immediately (my fault ), and the other I am using currently with the metal circle from the laptop kit. But, I’ve also managed to crack this recently.
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It won’t help in the short term, but shouldn’t Purism start ordering more back covers than exactly match Librem 5 production?
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One file I would really like to see that doesn’t seem to be present is the midframe… I’m planning resin printing a backplate and midframe for the L5 as well as resin printing the modem cover.
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Any word on the STL files for the midframe?
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New STEP model just dropped: https://source.puri.sm/Librem5/3D_designs/-/blob/master/Librem5-Chassis/librem-5.step
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Woo!!! That’s great news!
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Nice. Huge file with a lot of detail but someone needs to work on it to extract parts like backplate to a usable/printable .stl file.
And funny:
#1 = APPLICATION_PROTOCOL_DEFINITION('international standard',
'**automotive_design**',2000,#2);
#2 = APPLICATION_CONTEXT(
'**core data for automotive mechanical design processes**');
I suppose the iMX8 does have its roots in auto industry…
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