Campus
Campus is a custom laptop built by community member Flurples (Reddit: flurpyflurples) that completely redesigns the Framework Laptop 13 chassis to house a gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard. Starting from a stock Framework 13, Flurples reverse-engineered the entire chassis, designed custom CNC-milled aluminium housing, and built a fully custom mechanical keyboard PCB from scratch — resulting in a machine that resembles a 1990s-era laptop with modern internals12.
The project was documented in a 30-minute YouTube video published September 12, 2025, which amassed over 192,000 views and 11,600 likes3. It received coverage from Tom's Hardware, Notebookcheck, Hackaday, Yanko Design, TechEBlog, and MiniMachines45678.
Motivation
Flurples, a keyboard enthusiast whose YouTube channel focuses on mechanical keyboard projects, found the Framework 13's membrane keyboard to have an underwhelming typing feel and sound compared to standalone mechanical keyboards2. Rather than accepting the compromise, he set out to rebuild the entire laptop from the ground up, keeping the Framework's modularity while adding an enthusiast-grade typing experience1.
Design & Build Process
Reverse Engineering
Framework provides open-source CAD documentation for many Framework 13 components, which served as the starting point. However, several parts — including the audio board and fingerprint sensor — were not documented and had to be measured manually with calipers, a process that took hours of precision work26. Every dimension was recorded on an iPad to create a complete reference library7.
Three-Part Chassis
Using Fusion 360 as his CAD software, Flurples designed a three-part chassis7:
| Part | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Bottom tray | Houses the mainboard, battery, and expansion card slots |
| Input cover | Contains the mechanical keyboard, rotary encoders, and trackpad |
| Top cover / lid | Holds the display, camera, and Wi-Fi antennas |
The bottom housing replicates all original mounting points for the Framework 13 motherboard, battery, hinges, and trackpad. The input cover is the focal point of the design, housing the mechanical keyboard and three rotary encoders2.
Prototyping & Manufacturing
Parts were first 3D-printed to verify fit and ergonomics before being CNC-machined from solid aluminium blocks for the final build25. To prevent wear on the aluminium threads from repeated screw insertion/removal, 3D-printed mounting brackets were attached to the aluminium chassis — these are easier to replace if damaged and can accept metal inserts for greater durability8.
The "Campus" name and branding were laser-engraved onto the aluminium chassis as a finishing touch7.
Display Bezel
The Framework 13's original bezel uses a magnet-secured design requiring precision injection moulding — not feasible for a one-off build. Flurples instead 3D-printed the bezel, secured it with double-sided tape, and sanded and painted it gloss black to match the original. The webcam and microphone privacy switches were omitted as their small size made them impossible to 3D-print7.
Keyboard
The keyboard is a fully custom design — no existing PCB supported the three required features simultaneously: low-profile switch compatibility, rotary encoder mounting points, and an HHKB layout4. Flurples designed and manufactured the PCB from scratch.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Layout | 60% HHKB (inspired by HHKB Hybrid Type-S) |
| Switches | Kailh Choc Sunset (tactile, low-profile) |
| Keycaps | MBK profile, with dyed orange Escape and Shift keys |
| Mount | Gasket-mounted (silicone O-rings between switch plate and screws) |
| Hot-swap | No — switches soldered directly to PCB |
| Firmware | QMK (fully programmable) |
The gasket mount uses silicone O-rings as a soft buffer between the switch plate and mounting screws, creating a consistent typing feel across the entire keyboard and eliminating the uneven sound/feel that plagues standard laptop keyboards where edge keys differ from centre keys7.
Why Not Hot-Swap?
Flurples chose soldered switches for two reasons1:
- Acoustics — soldered connections to the PCB produce a slightly better sound than hotswap sockets
- Simplicity — soldering Kailh or Mill-Max hotswap sockets would have been additional work for minimal benefit, since he was confident in his Kailh Choc Sunset switch choice
Rotary Encoders
Three low-profile rotary encoders are integrated into the right side of the input cover, sitting flush with the chassis surface. Custom knobs were CNC-milled to match the aluminium finish7. Each encoder controls a different function:
| Encoder | Function |
|---|---|
| 1 | Volume |
| 2 | Screen brightness |
| 3 | Keyboard backlight brightness |
The encoders forced a speaker arrangement redesign — speakers were moved from their original position next to the battery (now occupied by the encoder area) to the top cover above the battery, requiring longer speaker connector cables6.
QMK Firmware
The keyboard runs QMK firmware, enabling advanced configuration including programmable layers, home row mods, mod tap, and tap dance — all of which help expand the functionality of the compact HHKB layout5.
Internal USB Hub
One of the Framework 13's four expansion card slots was sacrificed for an internal USB hub that connects the keyboard to the motherboard. Flurples designed the hub to also provide additional ports56:
| Port | Location |
|---|---|
| microSDXC card reader | Chassis side |
| HDMI | Chassis side |
| USB Type-A (external) | Chassis side |
| USB Type-A (internal) | Mouse dongle hider |
However, in the final build the USB hub proved problematic — despite significant time and investment, Flurples was unable to get it powered and functioning correctly. The laptop remains fully functional without it, but the additional ports are not operational58.
Ergonomic Changes
Several adjustments were made compared to the stock Framework 137:
- Trackpad repositioned — moved slightly off-centre for better hand alignment when typing
- Keyboard depth reduced — the half-height function row was eliminated, creating more palm rest space
- Hinge spacing adjusted — slightly repositioned to accommodate the thicker bottom housing
- Display recessed — the bezel was thickened to recess the display into the lid, providing clearance for keycaps when closed
Retained Framework Features
Despite the dramatic transformation, the Campus preserves key Framework features1:
- Expansion card slots — three of four slots remain functional
- Simple disassembly — the same screw-based assembly as the original
- Modular internals — mainboard, battery, and other components are stock Framework parts
Known Issues
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| USB hub non-functional | Internal hub could not be properly powered; additional ports not working58 |
| Wi-Fi signal degradation | Relocating the antenna within the aluminium chassis reduced wireless reception compared to the original78 |
| Significantly thicker | Much bulkier and heavier than the stock Framework 137 |
| CAD files not shared | Flurples stated the models are too unrefined to release publicly at this time1 |
Media Coverage
The Campus project received extensive coverage in the tech press1:
| Publication | Date |
|---|---|
| Notebookcheck | September 13, 2025 |
| Tom's Hardware | September 15, 2025 |
| Yanko Design | September 15, 2025 |
| MiniMachines | September 16, 2025 |
| Hackaday | September 16, 2025 |
| TechEBlog | September 16, 2025 |
| iXBT | September 17, 2025 |
Related Projects
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| ThinkPad Keyboard Mod | Adapting ThinkPad keyboards with TrackPoint for Framework laptops |
| FrankenPad | Converting Framework 13 with alternative keyboards and chassis |
| MNT Reform | Open-hardware laptop with mechanical keyboard |
| Designing a deeper chassis | Community thread on deeper chassis for mechanical keyboard modules |
Technical Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Creator | Flurples (YouTube) / flurpyflurples (Reddit) |
| Base hardware | Framework Laptop 13 |
| Chassis material | CNC-machined aluminium (final), 3D-printed (prototypes) |
| CAD software | Fusion 360 |
| Community thread | 19 replies, September 20251 |
| YouTube video | 192,400+ views, 11,600+ likes3 |
| CAD files | Not publicly released1 |