I just took the outer housing off my Cuisinart TOA-60. It was confusing to me too until I saw the eight screws right behind the front panel (looking in from the back of the unit). I used a long (13.5 inch) phillips screwdriver (magnet head to keep screws from dropping) and removed all eight screws. Then (with gloves on due to sharp edges) I firmly wriggled up and down while pulling the case cover back away from the front panel and it finally came loose and OFF the unit. Didn't have to bend anything. It comes off straight back as it should. Those clips on the sides of it are just clips and release if you keep pulling. Now everything is open for access to the components.
Hope this is helpful. wb.
