Framework 12 Joycon Rail Expansion Card

The Framework 12 Joycon Rail Expansion Card is a 3D-printed proof-of-concept expansion card that lets you attach Nintendo Switch Joycons to the sides of a Framework Laptop 12¹². Designed by Sskki, it leverages the Framework 12's tablet mode to create a handheld gaming setup¹².

Proof of Concept

This is a passive mechanical holder — no charging or data pass-through yet. Charging circuitry is planned for a future revision¹².

Design

The card consists of two modules (left and right), each made of two pieces joined by a long dovetail with a locking notch². They slide into the Framework 12's expansion card slots and hold a Joycon via the standard Switch rail interface¹².

The design is specific to the Framework 12 — the Joycons face the opposite side of the keyboard, using the laptop's tablet mode. They will not fit the Framework 13 or 16².

The current proof of concept blocks the adjacent expansion card slots. Future revisions aim to slim the rails and raise the mounting points¹².

Specifications

Specification	Details
Compatibility	Framework Laptop 12 only12
Controllers	Nintendo Switch Joycons (L/R)12
Type	Passive mechanical holder (no electronics)12
Assembly	Two-piece per side, dovetail join2
Printing	No supports, 0.2 mm layer height2
Source	Printables2
License	Printables standard terms2

Future Plans

Sskki plans to add charging circuitry by reverse-engineering Nintendo's Joycon charging protocol¹. Other planned improvements include slimming the rail, raising the mounting point, adding LED visibility for pairing status, and unblocking adjacent ports¹.

Related Projects

Project	Description
Joysticks Expansion Modules	Dual joystick modules turning the Framework 13 into a handheld
PSP Joystick Expansion Card	Single-joystick card using a PSP analog stick

Footnotes

1. Sskki's Joycon Rail Cards — Framework Community (July 2025) ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰

2. Framework 12 Joycon Rail Expansion Card — Printables ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴