The modular dock repurposes Framework Expansion Cards as tools including a multimeter, programmable power supply and breadboard, while adding USB, DisplayPort and up to 100 W power delivery.
DockFrame is a modular USB-C hub that aims to give Framework Expansion Cards a use beyond the laptop chassis they were built for. According to HW Media Lab’s Crowd Supply campaign, the device is designed to accept those cards in a dock format, while also working with any USB-C host and adding ports such as USB 3.2, DisplayPort and power-delivery passthrough of up to 100 W on downstream connections.
The core idea is to turn unused Expansion Cards into bench tools rather than leaving them in storage. The company says its proprietary Tool Cards can convert the hub into a small electronics workbench, with options including a multimeter, a programmable power supply, a mini hub and a breadboard carrier. DockFrame’s documentation says the main hub has seven USB-C ports and five card slots, underscoring that the system is built around a dense, modular layout.
Among the most practical of the add-ons is the Multimeter Card, which the project says can measure DC voltage up to 60 V with ±0.5% accuracy, current up to 3.2 A with ±1% accuracy and resistance, while providing 5 kV isolation between the measurement circuit and the USB connection. The Power Supply Card is described as a programmable buck-boost module with an output range from 0.8 V to 22 V at up to 8 A, controlled over I²C and fed by USB Power Delivery. The BreadBoard Card supports the Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-C5, and the Mini Hub Card adds four USB 3.0 SuperSpeed ports at 5 Gbps.
DockFrame’s software model is intended to keep setup simple. The tools work through browser-based apps, which the project says require no installation, and those apps provide live graphs and CSV export. HW Media Lab says the firmware is open source, and the FreeCAD design files will follow after the crowdfunding campaign. That approach places the project in the growing category of open hardware aimed at community modification, with the campaign serving both as a funding mechanism and as a test of demand for a broader ecosystem of compatible cards and accessories.
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