This project takes the idea of mutiple screens on a laptop to the ultimate conclusion! Want to build one yourself? Download here!
If you'd like to help to develop the idea further please contribute within this thread. How do you think the project can be improved?
FAQ and Build Advice
Use m2.5 and m3 inserts for the smaller and larger holes on the 3D print (m2.5 for Framework screw holes and Display Control Board holes)
The leg holders need to be more robust - some improvement needed here
The iPad screens need to have the metal tabs removed first (do this by bending them repeatedly) with the cable folded like in the video (this requires the tape holding the cable down to be cut through first)
This topic was modified 2 years ago 2 times by DIY Perks
(Copied from my YouTube comment) - Do you think if you added some linear rails to the back/side you could connect them to a hinge on a keyboard housing effectively making a clamshell design like a traditional laptop but with the ability to height adjust the screens?
On the framework website it lists that all the ports are Thunderbolt 4, one thing that you can do is to replace the cables from DP-mode alt to DP tunneling ones.
The main difference from both is that DP-alt mode, "replaces the wiring" from USB to a DP one, so basically makes the USB-c to began to talk DP.
While DP tunneling makes that you sent a DP signal throught the thunderbolt connector, the advantage of it is that it let's you use all DP features(daisy-chaining, USB, PD, ...) while having a DP available, the downside is that limits the output of the DP to a lower version, as it needs to share the bandwidth with the other peripherals, of it while it is a more expensive cable/adapter.
(Copied from my YouTube comment) - Do you think if you added some linear rails to the back/side you could connect them to a hinge on a keyboard housing effectively making a clamshell design like a traditional laptop but with the ability to height adjust the screens?
Possibly! With 3D printing it's worth experimenting with - the sky's the limit!
Love it! I've been looking into this for a long time, I'm really glad you took on this project! Never thought about the "all in one" kind of approach, I was leaning more toward the briefcase until now. I really love that you used framework parts too, I've been wanting one of those, but they don't have dGPU's yet.
How would you approach two external full size screens (landscape)? It is unbelievably unbalanced as you said but I kind of need the screen space and orientation. So far I've only managed to come up with a exoskeleton kind of design.
The build is alright, however there is something you should add ! windows 10 and 11 have this option that allows you to open a virtual keyboard on your screen and use it with the help of a touch screen ! So if you manage to find a 4k 120GHz touch screen lcd and install it to the set up the portability would be even higher because you would be able to use it for simple tasks in a place with little to no space without the need of a keyboard and mouse ! It would also douple as a drawing tablet for someone that likes to draw !
I only have one thought, to reduce how much you carry and to keep the idea of it being a carry case, which is you could 3D print or create a section/pouch, which attaches to the back to carry a keyboard + mouse and also to make the computer a briefcase as well so that you only have to carry one thing
Just wanted to hop in here and say that I love your videos, but this is the first one that has gotten me to be intrigued enough to want to build it myself. I have a Framework laptop (11th Gen mainboard) and I could build this as an excuse to upgrade the laptop to 12th gen and then use the old board for this project.
Additionally, my FIRST thought when you showed the whole device opened with it's back facing the camera (before the legs were installed) all I could think was that this would be an incredible option as a digital D&D screen. Being able to essentially replace the screen + laptop system with a laptop that IS the screen would be an incredible space saver and would allow for more room to roll dice!
Kudos on the design, VERY much excited to try to do this myself.
Hey, I actually had this idea for a while of using two ipad 3/4 screens on each side of a 15-inch screen, I was never able to make it because of an issue, I guess everybody gets the same idea from time to time, I kind of hate how you did it before me, at the same time I can hate you for that, I should probably have said something on Reddit or something about this idea, I also had a second idea, I had the idea of using two iPad screen that slides out from the back, its an attachment for laptop, you probably got the idea of that video from looking at an iPad screen and saw it perfectly fits on the side of the 15-inch display and then fold it perfectly fits across the whole display
With the two extra screens is your battery life cut in half? There isn't any extra room in the case to double the framework batteries is there?
Also, would there be any potential to leverage the fact that the IPad screens are touch? Or is that a different layer that's not included in just the screen?
Final question, it looks like you might have included some speakers in the bottom front, is that correct or are those just some small pass through windows?
I just saw the video, and when I realised you used an adafruit board, most of there board designs are open source all it needs is someone proficient in KiCad to design open source board that eliminates the need for the USB-C to DP cable, and just use a short 0.3m USB C to USB C cable, and increase the compactness. I am proficient in KiCad but doing a revision of that board, might be a bit out of my comfort zone.
Are you powering the Adafruit board with 5V from the USB-C port or are you somehow triggering a higher voltage?
Just straight up 5v. The display is marginally dimmer because of this but that's a good thing as it keeps the current draw below 1.5a which is what the Framework mobo is capable of delivering to all ports (3A dynamically to only one port)
So the driver for the ipad screen, we have the schematics, I was wondering if possible to make a flexible pcb that solders to the cable on the screen with a single ubs c port
Edit: Thought for a while, there is no point, plus flexible pcb is expensive
@diyperks hello questing the 4k 120hz screen is it freesync ? also is the response time 2 milliseconds? please and thanks im looking to possible build a diy gaming screen i found a controll bored for 60$ on ebay
I am SO jazzed by this build and want to do it with my Framework.
The biggest obstacle is that special Framework cable for the display. Is there any word from Framework on if they'd make/sell more? If not is there an alternative for the main display? I might just have to use a third USB C port for the main display, it just feels silly to effectively have three USB C displays running off the main board.
Are the plans for the "Next Level Camera" ever going to be released? It has been 6 months since that video was first released. I see so many people on your YouTube channel asking about them and like them, would love to have some further instructions on how to build such a thing.
I know you were looking to scale it down to an 8 x 10 version, did you have any success? Still working on it?
