Thanks, @ccRicers! I assure you that I am just as intimidated as you about USB 3.x. Previous to this I had only ever piddled with USB 2.0. My design doesn’t include any power delivery provisions, so I can’t be of much help there.
Some updates: I’m waiting on some new parts for my 3D printer so I can do a final test print of the case before sending it off for manufacture.
I’ve put in a big push to finish up the USB hub design. It’s now at a state where I’d consider it done. Overall I’m pretty happy with it, but I’m hesitant to push the order button. I’m pretty much entirely self-taught in board design and I’ve never done anything this complex before. I’ve asked a friend who does board design professionally to review it and give me feedback. All the latest design files are in the github repo.
My friend hasn’t had a chance to review the hub design yet.
The Chinese new year added some delays to a board order I put in, so I’ve been waiting on those.
The parts for my 3D printer came in (upgraded my single head Prusa XL to a 5 head), so I got those installed and ran off a full batch of mechanical parts. I’m in the middle of doing (hopefully) a final test assembly of those parts now.
I also did a bunch of clean-up on the CAD side and uploaded all of the latest revisions to the github repo, as well as a WIP high level BOM and some annotations on which hardware goes where. I also uploaded all of my 3D scan data. Files are here: https://github.com/basketofkittens/framework701c/tree/main/Mechanical
Finished up the test assembly last night and I was satisfied enough to hit the order button on a glass-filled Nylon-12 MJF print of the bottom case from Xometry. It came out to just over $200. Should have it in my hands in a couple of weeks. The version I ordered is in the github repo.
I also assembled and tested the “USB U-turn” board that will connect the USB hub to the Framework mainboard. It’s essentially a tiny USB cable that makes a very tight 180 degree turn. The trace lengths on the diff pairs are matched, but since it’s only two layers there isn’t a hint of impedance matching. It’s not my proudest achievement, but it does work. I don’t have a fancy VNA to actually quantify the performance margins. I instead ran some DiskMark benchmarks on an external SSD and hit about 1GB/s consistently, which was the same as the commercial USB-C cable I usually use.
polymatt just uploaded a video showcasing a series of replacement 3d printed case parts he made for his 701C, which he has released the files for on printables and makerworld
Perhaps this could be the start to mass cloning of framework 701C laptops without having to find an existing 701C to cannibalize for parts?
There is still a rather large hurdle of the keyboard assembly, but I imagine that could also be 3d printed. I’ve heard that similar vintage ThinkPad keyboards use a rubber sleeve that is still being manufactured by Toshiba for their MCANPOS keyboards, so that would be one less part that would have to be manufactured from scratch, there are also commercially available trackpoint modules that are popular in the mech keyboard customization community.
I now have a 701C on the way and I intend to completely model the keyboard and publish the files for everyone to use. It’s a non-functioning unit as far as normal operation goes, so I have no qualms about disassembling the keyboard mechanism for reverse engineering.
It’s hard work if you don’t know what you’re doing in regards to dimensioning and CAD modeling, I’m a senior uni student majoring in mechanical engineering, and have done work in this vein before. Couple that with over half a decade of 3d printing experience and I think I have a pretty good shot at producing something usable.
I won a parts 701c on ebay, after seeing this project. Working on the J̶l̶c̶p̶c̶b̶ ̶o̶r̶d̶e̶r̶.
Parts are on the way, had to get the molex elsewhere so ill be putting those on by hand. The updated motherboard adapter with a usb hub I am making tweaks to, it connects to the usb4 port on a ryzen motherboard and at a minium im going to move the usb down to the slower port. Since I have the project opened up and have to reroute anyways might throw rs232 and dc power in.
I got a JIS format 701 keyboard, I’m not willing to ruin it but If you have most of the model I can’t imagine adding a few extra buttons is a large lift. I would say if the goal is to just get a 701 style split keyboards trying to make membrane switches could be hurtle. low profile mechanical switches wouldn’t look to out of place on such a thick laptop and since its all getting 3d printed the design could be tweaked or moved to membrane OEM style down the road. I’m focused on getting this first one made out of a parts laptop but I’m hoping it can be repaired by a freind of mine. also a 1995 keyboard so wouldn’t wanna type on it all day so a new build keyboard to go with the machine would be nice. The QMK adapter could get a second set of newer connectors for a 2024 made keyboard/trackpoint.
I can’t imagine adding a few extra buttons is a large lift
I’ll leave that task to you, as is there isn’t a whole lot of room for the keys on the US English layout, at current I have no idea how to account for the half-sized function keys, no companies are making compact half length mechanical key switches at the moment.
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