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> I wish I could get a 4K screen, an eInk screen, a touchscreen, a Dvorak keyboard, a OLED keyboard, an IMU/GPS/barometer expansion module, a pico projector exp

> I wish I could get a 4K screen, an eInk screen, a touchscreen, a Dvorak keyboard, a OLED keyboard, an IMU/GPS/barometer expansion module, a pico projector expansion module, a software-defined-radio expansion module, a larger aperture webcam module, an IR webcam module, a depth camera webcam module, an Arduino expansion module, an IR emitter expansion module that controls TVs, etc etc etc. > But nobody seems interested in making this stuff. I guess the community that uses Framework laptops isn't really capable of that level of hardware engineering (me included) and the companies in China doing hardware haven't caught onto making stuff for Framework. I relate to your sentiment of wanting tons of modules, but I'm going to disagree on the skills of the community. For some of these options (4k/eink screens for eg), you need such a panel to be available (panelook to search -> aliexpress/ebay to buy). SDRs, IMUs & sensors could be doable relatively "easily" if they interface via USB/PCIE. There are lots of hardware tinkerers in youtube, hackaday and of course even here on HN. I'm a mechanical engineer with some electrical/electronics knowledge, and I could likely make a half-decent module if I had the time/money/reason/ethusiasm for it. There's a guy who's turned an iPad screen into the FW13 display (on the framework community). There are probably dozens of people who may read this comment who are far more skilled than I am. If you are very keen to do this yourself, you might want to start with learning 3d modelling and building up from that (from a mechanical side). 3d printing metals with something like SLS is commercially (relatively) easy and (imo) accessible compared to say 10-20 years back.

dheera 3y ago
> you need such a panel to be available Aren't they available? Just take apart a used MacBook for a retina display, or take apart a Boox 13.3" tablet for the eInk display. Or just buy this https://www.waveshare.com/13.3inch-e-paper-hat.htm https://www.waveshare.com/13.3inch-e-paper-hat.htm But good luck reverse engineering it. I wouldn't know where to start.
- user_7832 3y ago
  > Aren't they available? Just take apart a used MacBook for a retina display, or take apart a Boox 13.3" tablet for the eInk display. Yeah for sure, what I meant is that DIYing a fully custom screen with a custom resolution etc isn't very easy :) If you're buying a panel or scavenging an existing panel it's much "easier". Of course that hasn't stopped youtubers from designing their own 7-segment LCD panels... (example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zoeeR3geTA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zoeeR3geTA or https://youtu.be/ZA5vlDdpbkw https://youtu.be/ZA5vlDdpbkw)
vaylian 3y ago
> I'm a mechanical engineer with some electrical/electronics knowledge, and I could likely make a half-decent module if I had the time/money/reason/ethusiasm for it. I consider myself to be a decent software engineer. But I am inexperienced in the area of creating my own hardware. I guess a lot of things are just knowing how to stick together pre-made components like "panels, SDRs, IMUs & sensors"? But how important is it to know circuit design? There are a lot of unknown unknowns. And it is not clear what a good learning path would be to get started with hardware hacking as a hobbyist.
- user_7832 3y ago
  > I consider myself to be a decent software engineer. But I am inexperienced in the area of creating my own hardware. I guess a lot of things are just knowing how to stick together pre-made components like "panels, SDRs, IMUs & sensors"? But how important is it to know circuit design? For most of the sensors mentioned in the initial comment, I would assume there are already commercial USB/eDP/PCIE sensors/components, and at least for framework these connectors on the motherboard are clearly exposed. I'd imagine it's possible to have some RJ-xxx sensor needing a RJ-USB converter too, but with the sensor+converter I think it is as easy as "design a box, throw them in". HOWEVER - ESD is something I've heard can be pretty nasty and show up where you least expect it to. Proper grounding design would help. Beyond that, I am not aware of any "major" issues (there's also general environmental/power noise but ground could help with some of those issues like the "wonky touchscreen when charging". Also stuff like debouncing and pullup/down resistors if using buttons). My personal knowledge of circuit design isn't very good, I studied it till high school and had an intro to EE class in uni (which actually wasn't bad, learnt the basics of opamp circuits etc) but I don't remember much of those now. > There are a lot of unknown unknowns. And it is not clear what a good learning path would be to get started with hardware hacking as a hobbyist. I think if you want to get started, the most "comprehensive" way would be by looking at syllabus of undergraduate EE programs (or MechE for the physical side), and perhaps going through the relevant/interesting chapters. However the "easiest" will be by just building basic circuits - using an arduino, or making a hand-wired mechanical keyboard. Googling issues like "arduino button changes on its own" will give results like https://arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/186/button-state-changing-randomly https://arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/186/button-state... which talk about floating pins. This is as much as I know on this topic (I have "tried learning more esp. in high speed designs but that's vast), if anyone else has helpful suggestions I'll be happy to learn :)

dheera 3y ago

> you need such a panel to be available Aren't they available? Just take apart a used MacBook for a retina display, or take apart a Boox 13.3" tablet for the eInk display. Or just buy this https://www.waveshare.com/13.3inch-e-paper-hat.htm https://www.waveshare.com/13.3inch-e-paper-hat.htm But good luck reverse engineering it. I wouldn't know where to start.

user_7832 3y ago
> Aren't they available? Just take apart a used MacBook for a retina display, or take apart a Boox 13.3" tablet for the eInk display. Yeah for sure, what I meant is that DIYing a fully custom screen with a custom resolution etc isn't very easy :) If you're buying a panel or scavenging an existing panel it's much "easier". Of course that hasn't stopped youtubers from designing their own 7-segment LCD panels... (example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zoeeR3geTA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zoeeR3geTA or https://youtu.be/ZA5vlDdpbkw https://youtu.be/ZA5vlDdpbkw)

vaylian 3y ago

> I'm a mechanical engineer with some electrical/electronics knowledge, and I could likely make a half-decent module if I had the time/money/reason/ethusiasm for it. I consider myself to be a decent software engineer. But I am inexperienced in the area of creating my own hardware. I guess a lot of things are just knowing how to stick together pre-made components like "panels, SDRs, IMUs & sensors"? But how important is it to know circuit design? There are a lot of unknown unknowns. And it is not clear what a good learning path would be to get started with hardware hacking as a hobbyist.

user_7832 3y ago
> I consider myself to be a decent software engineer. But I am inexperienced in the area of creating my own hardware. I guess a lot of things are just knowing how to stick together pre-made components like "panels, SDRs, IMUs & sensors"? But how important is it to know circuit design? For most of the sensors mentioned in the initial comment, I would assume there are already commercial USB/eDP/PCIE sensors/components, and at least for framework these connectors on the motherboard are clearly exposed. I'd imagine it's possible to have some RJ-xxx sensor needing a RJ-USB converter too, but with the sensor+converter I think it is as easy as "design a box, throw them in". HOWEVER - ESD is something I've heard can be pretty nasty and show up where you least expect it to. Proper grounding design would help. Beyond that, I am not aware of any "major" issues (there's also general environmental/power noise but ground could help with some of those issues like the "wonky touchscreen when charging". Also stuff like debouncing and pullup/down resistors if using buttons). My personal knowledge of circuit design isn't very good, I studied it till high school and had an intro to EE class in uni (which actually wasn't bad, learnt the basics of opamp circuits etc) but I don't remember much of those now. > There are a lot of unknown unknowns. And it is not clear what a good learning path would be to get started with hardware hacking as a hobbyist. I think if you want to get started, the most "comprehensive" way would be by looking at syllabus of undergraduate EE programs (or MechE for the physical side), and perhaps going through the relevant/interesting chapters. However the "easiest" will be by just building basic circuits - using an arduino, or making a hand-wired mechanical keyboard. Googling issues like "arduino button changes on its own" will give results like https://arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/186/button-state-changing-randomly https://arduino.stackexchange.com/questions/186/button-state... which talk about floating pins. This is as much as I know on this topic (I have "tried learning more esp. in high speed designs but that's vast), if anyone else has helpful suggestions I'll be happy to learn :)