I’m looking into 3D printing the case for my mystery box FW16 mainboard. I’ve looked at (and also tried printing) the design available on the Github repo, but it doesn’t have all the complexity and details of the actual bottom cover kit, such as all the screw holes (and/or captive screws). Is there any chance that a more detailed version of that model could be released? The cover isn’t really usable as-is, it’s just a flat surface without any way to mount the rest of the hardware? I realize that the complex features like the locking mechanism for the expansion cards might not be practical to 3D print and expect to use without modifications, but at least a precise description of the screw holes layout would be very valuable in enabling customized designs.
I think that scanning the bottom cover kit with a HIFI scanner would produce a usable framework for a case design
You could technically do it with a HIFI scanner, but the problem I’ve ran into while trying to do that is finding a scanner both accurate enough and large enough to do it. Plus, you end up needing an unused part of whatever you’re trying to re make. I’ve been trying to make an accurate model for the top cover, but it looks like ill need to resort to just hand modeling it. the problem is that this is currently my only computer and to model that part I would need to disassemble the PC. Also using a scan alone, you cannot do any milling on CNCs so a proper file would need to be a CAD file. A framework official file would be best but if anyone reads this and has a top cover or bottom cover I could use, I would gladly model it and send it back.
Not necessarily a route you’d want to take, but I do know that the computer does work fine outside of its case (so far I’ve been using a half-assembled one with its only frame being a bent piece of cardboard it sits on), so technically you could still measure it while the computer is usable. It’s definitely understandable that you might not want to do that though.
I don’t have any of the official case parts either, unfortunately. If I did I’d be happy to try to get some measurements with calipers, try to CAD something up. I have experimented a bit with overlaying the images from framework’s shop page with the official model, but it’s tricky to get any precise measurements from that.
If I do ultimately decide to order one (which I’d been hoping to avoid by 3D printing one) and if you happen to be vaguely near me @Mathieu_Trautman (I’m in California) so shipping isn’t too expensive, I’d be happy to order one to be shipped to you, for you to forward to me after you got the measurements you needed. I’d much prefer to have official measurements or models from Framework themselves (or maybe they could volunteer to send a laptop or the relevant components to support open source development, as they’ve talked about doing for various other developers?)
I really wish framework would just give us proper files, but I assume that they didn’t for a reason seeing as we got much more with the 13. and while i would love to just take measurements with my own laptop, I’m currently in college and cant really afford to have it out of commission for more than 2-3 hours at a time. I’m in Tennessee and if you did decide to ship a top cover to me for me to measure, I’d gladly pay for the shipping back to you. But yeah, the lack of real top cover and bottom cover cad is definitely stunting the 16’s growth even more than it just naturally is.
I don’t know, but I imagine one reason they haven’t just provided files for the original shell is that, it wouldn’t be usable as-is for anyone. As the bottom shell is cast magnesium afaik. So the files would be for the negative masters to create molds. Certainly it could be used as a starting point for creating a something usable. But then there would also be significant changes needed for the weaker materials used for 3d printing. Or it was just a different issue entirely, like it being created with a partner whom they found was not agreeable to making the files open source.
Whatever is it, it sure been an annoyance that there hasn’t been official case CADs. Wish they said why.
surely the positives exist as a file. designing the fit and tolerance and heat dissipation and everything else would be done on the positive. the negative model would probably be made with the positive (after reviewing design for thixomolding constraints, and pulling any features that are milled or pressed in post production)?
There is almost definitely a positive somewhere, I’d agree that a partner probably doesn’t want to make it open source. In any case, that probably means Framework cannot support the project even if they want to, but even just the location of screw holes would make life easier.
I just did a first scan, with no anti-reflective spray. The file should be at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13HVEHraj5cN2fJ_4rzzLpm6IduBFWc3O/view?usp=sharing
but follow up on it and tell me if there’s issues. I’m going to see what I can do but I’m not sure I’ll get too much from this first run.
Not sure if it will be in the slightest bit useful to you, but I designed an alternative chassis for the FW16 including expansion bay slots and screw holes a while ago. I’ve never tested it, and it may not be quite what you’re looking for, but feel free to borrow/use/experiment with as much of it as you like, (and let me know if you find any issues🙃)
Thanks, this definitely is a good scan.
Seems that framework has finally released a 3D printable standalone mainboard case design, so that’s another useful reference. Annoyingly, only STL files are available so far, and not STEP files as were shared for the original models, so they’ll be a little harder to work with.
Thank you for letting me know, It’s amazing! Love that Framework did that
I’ve been experimenting with the official standalone case, and I’ve released a variant that’s easier to print (removing some problematic texturing from the official model) and also includes a custom stand I designed for the Framework 16 display. You can download it from Printables at Framework Laptop 16 Standalone Case and Display Stand - Improved Printability by Patronics | Download free STL model | Printables.com . I welcome any remixes or other suggestions for further tweaks or improvements.
I’m also experimenting with merging this design with the previous officially provided case, to make a truly 3d printable FW 16 laptop case, so stay tuned for updates on that! 
Wow, that is very impressive!
I’ve got a few good updates on my 3D printable case project:
First of all, I contacted Framework support and requested they upload a STEP file for the standalone case, making it easier to edit and work with than the STL files that they originally uploaded, and they came through and provided the STEP file!
Additionally, I’ve been working on getting measurements and doing test-fits for the spacing and holes for the hinge mounts, and I’ve got them snapping in place in a very satisfying way to my test prints!
Here’s a sketch with the key measurements in case they’re useful to anyone else in the future:
and the relevant portion 3D model itself, with the green circles in the above sketch all padded out by 2mm, then pocketed 3.5mm deep 2.2mm diameter holes for the screws (which I’m assuming are the M2.5 screws in the fastener set, though I can’t find any definitive documentation, so if someone could confirm that, it’d definitely be appreciated).
Now that I’ve got the hinge design and the STEP version of the standalone case, this project is fairly close to being at least vaguely usable, and I’m looking forward to printing it soon (if I can get enough free time to work on it anyway).
Turns out the STEP file had the exact same positioning as the STL I’d already imported as a reference, so it was a drop-in replacement in my design!
Here’s a screenshot of the current progress, now with a thicker body for rigidity, the motherboard mounts from the standalone case, and the hinge mounts!
I guess the next step is measuring the positioning of the holes in the midplate kit (possibly also using the measurements from this accessibility guide if they’re accurate enough), since those aren’t present in this model yet. Then it should be good to take a first pass attempt at printing!
Good job! That is the coolest thing ever, will that mean there could be a prototype case that can house a GPU for some kind of AI blade to put in a server rack?
Thanks! That’s not the focus of my design, but yeah you certainly could modify the design to fit well in a server rack, including the GPU module (or a PCIe GPU along with a PCIe breakout module as some other projects are working on)
Thank you for allowing me to modify it! I’ll see if maybe I could get it vertical instead of horizontal. it should only be like just shy of 6.5U (288mm) because the official laptop is about 270mm with the GPU. And a rack is 600 mm wide and I’ll leave about 50 mm in between each one for air and about 5mm thick each side for compartmentalization. Then, the laptop is 17mm thick, add them all together and I’ll get about 72mm per unit, so with 600/72 i’ll be able to get about 8 in there with just a little bit left over on the side, so I’ll try to see if I can squeeze 8 240 watt power bricks in there next to the laptops. Then, I want to add a little to the top for air ventilation out the back and direct it through the front with some 120mm case fans, so I’ll have to do a 25mm inset to compensate for those and maybe put some in the back for exaust. Once I have the $10,000 required, I’ll start the project.