Project Pukeko
Project Pukeko is a community project to build a laptop with a full-profile mechanical keyboard based on the Framework Laptop 13 motherboard. Created by community member Keijo from Poland and announced in January 2026, the project taps into the USB lines exposed by the Framework 13 input cover interface to drive a custom PCB handling the keyboard, touchpad, and power button1.
The project is designed around SA, DSA, OSA, ASA, and XDA keycap profiles — full-height sculpted keycap profiles that are typically incompatible with laptop form factors. Keijo chose the Framework 13 motherboard specifically because of the availability of documentation, making it the most compelling option for a custom build1.
The creator plans to release all design files publicly and intends to offer conversion kits, conversion services, and preassembled units if there is community interest. However, the files will not be hosted on GitHub — Keijo explicitly cited concerns about GitHub's use of uploaded content for LLM training as the reason for avoiding the platform1.
Design Plan
The build follows an iterative prototyping process1:
- Map out the bottom chassis in CAD
- 3D-print a prototype of the bottom chassis
- Design a PCB for the keyboard
- Map out an input cover in CAD around the designed PCB
- 3D-print a prototype of the input cover and test fit
- Move on to designing a lid
- 3D-print a prototype of the lid and test everything together
- Repeat the loop until the design is satisfactory
- Order a complete sample case from a CNC provider for the final version
Electrical Design
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Mainboard | Framework Laptop 13 motherboard |
| Interface | USB lines from the input cover connector |
| Microcontroller | RP2040 (for consistency with Framework hardware)1 |
| Keyboard | Full-profile mechanical switches (SA/DSA/OSA/ASA/XDA keycap profiles) |
| Touchpad | Integrated on custom PCB |
| Power button | Integrated on custom PCB |
| Connection | USB via pogo-pin connector, held by magnets |
| CAD tool | Open-source software only |
| PCB tool | KiCad (planned)1 |
Keycap Profile Support
The design targets these keycap profiles, chosen for the creator's personal interest, while leaving margin to support most profiles so users can bring their own keycap sets1:
- SA — tall, sculptured profile
- DSA — uniform profile, low height
- OSA — sculptured profile
- ASA — sculptured profile
- XDA — uniform profile, low height
Community Feedback Questions
Keijo asked the community for input on several design decisions1:
| Question | Options |
|---|---|
| Switch height | Switches buried below palmrest height (keys level with palmrest) vs. big ~18mm lip around the LCD on the lid |
| Layout | Staggered layout vs. Sofle/Ergodox-like ortholinear layout |
| Fingerprint reader | Integrated (adds complexity, requires USB hub chip) vs. omitted |
| Power LED | ThinkPad-style power LED on outer lid surface (adds cable routing complexity) vs. omitted |
Background
The only known precedent for a full-profile mechanical keyboard laptop is the Acer Predator 21X, which Keijo considered "not really what I would consider a mobile device." The project aims to be a community-driven effort rather than a one-off build1.
Related Projects
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| ThinkPad Keyboard Mod | Adapting a ThinkPad keyboard to a Framework 13 |
| Staggered Columnar Keyboard | Custom columnar keyboard layout for Framework 16 |
| Campus A | Redesigned Framework 13 chassis with gasket-mounted mechanical keyboard |
| Mattbook | UMPC with custom mechanical keyboard by Penk Chen |
| ThinkPad 701C Framework Transplant | Framework mainboard transplanted into a ThinkPad 701C chassis |
Technical Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Creator | Keijo (Poland) |
| Community thread | January 27, 20261 |
| Source repository | Not on GitHub (creator cites LLM training concerns) |
| File release | Planned (files, conversion kits, preassembled units) |
| Design tools | Open-source CAD and KiCad |
| Microcontroller | RP2040 |