Tablet 12 (A Framework Laptop 12 rehousing design)

This design turns the individual parts of the Framework laptop 12 into a tablet, giving you x86 processes, stylus support, and multiple ports in a tablet form factor.  This was done through using the CAD models provided by framework for the laptop 12 and using image measuring to get some dimensions. Some dimensions may be off as I don't have good dimensions for the display and no dimensions for the Audio board, Fingerprint Board, or Speakers. However, I will be updating these dimensions as I get parts or get given dimensions by others 

Hardware Needed

• M2 x 3.3 x 3 Heatsets (15)

• M3 x 5 x 4 Heatsets (8)

• M3x6 or M3x8 FHCS (6)

• M3x BHCS (8)

• M3x5 BHCS (4)

• M3 Nuts (4)

• Hot Glue (to assist in attaching Display at current)

• Copper Tape or Aluminum tape - 1 in wide

• PU foam between 3/32" and 1/32" thick (not sure what the exact size is yet)

Framework Parts Needed

• 1x Laptop 12 mainboard

• 1x Laptop 12 Battery

• 4x Expansion Cards

• 1x Antenna Kit

• 1x Laptop 12 Display

• 1x Laptop 12 Display cable

Optional Framework Parts

• 1x Laptop 12 Audio Board

• 1x Laptop 12 Speakers

• 1x Fingerprint sensor

• Laptop 12 Top Cover Kit (gets you antenna kit, foam, and the antenna backing)

Update (9/30/2026):

• Added Assembly Guide

• Thinned Mainboard Body

• Added 2 more screws to the Rear Panel

Update (9/22/2026): 

• Added Display Cover part

• Added Display Screws (Likely locations only, I don't have a display to check them with)

• Added internal covers for the expansion cards (Contains cutouts for ease of removal)

• Added Latches for Expansion Cards and modified rear panel to allow access to latching features without removing the panel

• Added Examples of Foam and RF backing that are used by the Display and Antenna

• Modified Fan Cutout to improve airflow and make it more directional

Update (9/18/2026):

• Added a fill part in the spot for the fingerprint reader board

• Added Two models for the combined display panel side parts and motherboard panel side parts

• added M3 nut insets and small counter bores for attaching the individual sides of the combined parts

Update (9/17/2026):

• Added a power button on the back so that it can be turned on and off till the Fingerprint sensor can be mounted

Upload (9/17/2026):

Currently this is a work in progress. I'm designing it so that those with 256mm^3 beds can print it (X1/X2/P1/P2/CC/CC2) however the currently uploaded model does not have the features to connect the individual parts and I'm going to be ordering a test version of it as a single part body instead of the multi-piece construction. Currently this model is missing

• Display screw locations

• Additional Display panel backing support

• Additional Rear Cover Panel Support

• Expansion Card Locking or Expansion Card removal Features

• Fingerprint Board/Power Button Board Mounting

• Audio Board Mounting

• Speaker Mounting

• Lower Display Cover

Tablet 12

Assembly Guide

As of 09/24/2026 

Parts & Tools

Hardware

• 10x M3 Heatsets (M3 x 5mm Dia x 4mm Long)

• 15x M2 Heatsets (M2 x 3.2mm Dia x 3mm Long)

• 4x M3x5mm BHCS

• 8x M3x4mm BHCS

• 8x M3x6mm or M3x8mm FHCS

• 4x M3 Nuts

• PU foam (2mm thick)

• Metal Tape (Aluminum or Copper) 1in wide or 1.5in wide

Printed Parts

• 1x Rear Panel

• 1x Mainboard Body or

  • 1x Left Card Backing

  • 1x Right Card Backing

  • 1x Mainboard Backing

• 1x Display Body or

  • 1x Left Display Backing

  • 1x Right Display Backing

• 1x Display Cover

• 1x Power Button

• 2x Card Latches

Framework Parts

• 1x Framework Laptop 12 Mainboard (filled out with desired RAM, SSD, and WIFI card)

• 1x Framework Laptop 12 Battery

• 1x Framework Laptop 12 Display kit 

• 1x Framework Laptop 12 eDP Cable 

• 1x Framework Laptop 12 Antenna Kit 

  • Can be substituted by: 1x Framework Laptop 12 Top Cover Kit

• Optional:

  • 1x Framework Laptop 12 Webcam Module

  • 1x Framework Laptop 12 Webcam Cable

Tools Needed

• T5 Torx Screwdriver (for Framework Parts)

• 2mm Hex Driver (for M3 BHCS and M3 FHCS)

• Hot Glue or Silicone Glue

  • Hot glue gun

• Small Knife/Blade (ex: Utility Knife or Exacto Knife)

• Soldering Iron (Preferably with Heatset tips for M2 and M3 Heatsets)

Step 1: Insert M3 & M2 Heatsets & Glue M3 Nuts in Mainboard Body

Tools Needed

• Soldering iron

  • M3 Heatset Tip

  • M2 Heatset Tip

• Silicone Glue (can be substituted with Super Glue for this step only)

Parts Needed

• 11x M2 Heatset Inserts

• 8x M3 Heatset Inserts

• 4x M3 Nuts

• 1x Mainboard Body

–Insert Image of MainBoard Body (empty) with items circled and labeled in two colors –

1. Power on your Soldering Iron with your size Heatset tip of choice attached and let it heat up

2. Insert the first set of Heatsets based on the tip size you chose

   1. Let the Heatsets heat up on the tip

   2. Press them into the designated holes

   3. Stop pushing once they appear to be flush

   4. Optional: use something like a popsicle stick to ensure the Heatset insert is flush

   5. Take care that the Heatset does not warp the standoff it’s contained in

3. Turn off your Soldering Iron & wait for it to cool, then swap your Heatset tip size

4. Turn Back on your Soldering Iron and redo point 2 with the new size of Heatset

5. Turn off your Soldering Iron

6. Put the M3 Nuts in the divots indicated in the Image

7. Put a dab of Silicone Glue or Super Glue on two points of the M3 Nuts

   1. If using super glue make sure to vent the area well to prevent the glue from leaving marks on the plastic

Step 2: Insert M2 Heatsets in Display Body

Tools Needed

• Soldering iron

  • M2 Heatset Tip

Parts Needed

• 4x M2 Heatsets

• 1x Display Body

–Insert Image of Display Body (empty) –

1. Power on your Soldering Iron with your size Heatset tip of choice attached and let it heat up

2. Insert the M2 Heatsets

Step 3: Attach Display Body to Mainboard Body

Tools Needed

• 2mm Hex Driver

• Optional: Thin Glue or Adhesive

Parts Needed

• 1x Finished Mainboard Body from Step 1

• 1x Finished Display Body from Step 2

• 4x M3x5mm BHCS

— Insert Image of Mainboard body (empty) with Screws to Display Body Circled—

1. Line up the Mainboard Body and Display Body

2. Ensure that the two bodies have their thru holes and slots lined up

3. Put the Mainboard body down against the table and put the 4 M3x5 BHCS’s into the holes marked on the Display Body

Step 4: Add Foam and Wifi Ground Plane

Tools Needed

• Knife

• T5 Driver

Parts Needed

• PU Foam

• Aluminum/Copper Tape or the metal piece from the Top cover kit

• 1x pair of Antenna’s

–Insert Image of Display Body with Foam Placements labeled with sizes–

1. Cut out the 3 pieces of PU Foam

2. Place the foam as shown in the picture

3. Place the Wifi Ground

   1. Option 1 (recommended)

      1. Remove the Wifi ground from the top cover

      2. Place it with a piece of double sided tape in the area indicated in the image

   2. Option 2

      1. Cut a length of tape that matches the length of the inside of the Display Body

      2. Cut the tape to fit around the Antenna standoffs and other items

      3. Place the tape on the Display Body

4. Place the 2 Antennas as shown in the Framework display (Black Cable on ____, White Cable on ____) 

5. Push the Cables into the Cable paths and route to the bottom left passthrough

Step 5: Insert Mainboard and Battery

Tools Needed

• T5 Driver

Parts Needed

• 1x Framework Laptop 12 Mainboard

• 1x Framework Laptop 12 Battery

–Insert Image of Mainboard Body with Mainboard and battery with all Screws Highlighted–

1. Place mainboard lined up with the fan vent

2. Screw down the mainboard screws (Shown in Red on the Picture) screwing down partially in a clockwise set before screwing down fully

3. Place the Battery, ensuring that the connector is lined up and connected correctly

4. Screw down the Battery (Shown in Blue on the Picture) screwing down partially in a clockwise set before screwing down fully 

Step 6: (OPTIONAL) Add the Expansion Card locks

Tools needed

• 2mm Hex driver

Parts Needed

• 2x Card Latches

• 2x M3x5 BHCS

–Insert Image with card latches highlighted–

1. Place the Latches onto the printed standoff on the Mainboard Body

2. Screw the M3 BHCS’s in from the top of the card Latches. Take care not to tighten to hard as the threads are printed

Step 7: Place the Display

Tools Needed

• Hot Glue and Silicone Glue

Parts Needed

• 1x Framework Laptop 12 Display

• 1x Framework Laptop 12 eDP Cable

• Optional

  • 1x Framework Laptop 12 Webcam Module

  • 1x Framework Laptop 12 Webcam Cable

–Insert images from Framework 12 assembly guide, Put a Picture of the Display Body without the Display indicating the spots to put the Glue and Two pictures of the Display to Display Body connection (Section View) –

1. Attach the eDP Cable to the Display

2. Optional:

   1. Attach the Webcam Module to the Display with the webcam module screws

   2. Attach the Webcam Module to the Display with the Webcam Cable

3. Place the Glue in the indicated spots

4. Set the Display on the Display Body with the bottom edges lined up

   1. Route the eDP and the webcam cables through the lined up passthrough slot

5. Push the Display up on the Display Body until it presses against the Top edge

   1. This should leave no gap along the Top edge (see image)

6. Press lightly on the display to ensure the PU foam and the Glue are properly supporting the back of the Display

Step 8: Prep Display Cover and attach it

Tools Needed

• Soldering Iron 

  • M3 Heatset Tip

• 2mm Hex driver

Parts Needed

• 2x M3 Heatsets

• 2x M3x5mm BHCS

• 1x Display Cover

–Image of Display Cover with Heatsets and Image of Display Cover Screws–

1. Turn on Soldering Iron and let it heat up as described in step 1

2. Insert the 2x M3 Heatsets in the Display Covers. Taking care to insert as flush as possible but not any deeper

3. Turn off Soldering Iron and wait for the Heatsets to cool down

4. Line up the Display cover with the two screw holes for the Display Cover

5. Screw the m3x5 BHCS into the two M3 heatsets (done from the Mainboard Body side

Step 9: Attach Rear Panel and Power Button

Tools Needed

• Silicone Glue

• 2mm Hex Driver

Parts Needed

• 8x M3x6 or M3x8 FHCS

• 1x Rear Panel

• 1x Power Button

–Image of back panel with screws circled and Zoomed in image of power button on the mainboard with the center highlighted –

1. (Optional) Place a dab of glue on the power button and attach the Printed button on the mainboard button. Leave this to dry for a minute

2. Place the Rear Panel ensuring that the Power Button stays in place and presses down correctly

3. Screw in the 8x M3x6 or M3x8 FHCS screwing them down in a clockwise pattern to ensure that the stress on the panel does not build unevenly

Step 10: Insert Expansion Cards & Test

Tools Needed

• None?

Parts Needed

• 4x Expansion Cards

–Image of the assembled Tablet–

1. Put in your choice of expansion Cards

2. Plug in the tablet and let it charge for a bit

3. Turn on the Tablet and Start setting it up

4. Now you’re done 🙂