This Cyberdeck Features a Slide Connector Accessory Rail

The massive growth of the cyberdeck community is attributable to the desire of makers to create devices with unique styles or features not found in consumer products. When Dell designs a new laptop, they must ensure that it appeals to as many people as possible. That tends to result in conservative design. But a maker designing their own cyberdeck build whatever appeals to them as an individual. For example, Facelesstech built this cyberdeck that features a slider connector accessory rail for attaching expansion modules.

Facelesstech has created many cyberdecks over the years, each with its own twist on the concept. Their last "Cyber Deck 2020 Extruder Edition" design was large, with a frame made from 2020 aluminum extrusion. The newest design is much more compact—just a little bit wider and longer than its 5" LCD touchscreen. A Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W connects to that screen via HDMI and a USB hub. Power comes from a 4000mAh LiPo battery through a USB-C charger/booster board. Audio pumps out through a PAM8403 3-watt amp and a small speaker from a Nintendo DS Lite.

Those parts are all par for the course in the cyberdeck world, but the unique mechanical design makes this stand out. Facelesstech 3D-printed the shell and included an interesting "slide connector." That is a simple plastic channel with a cross section profile similar to that of aluminum extrusion. It lets Facelesstech attach various modules to use with the cyberdeck. The primary module right now is a small Bluetooth keyboard for text entry. But there is also a stand module. In the future, Facelesstech can design new modules whenever they want to expand their cyberdeck's hardware.

If you want to build this cyberdeck yourself, Facelesstech was kind enough to publish the 3D-printable files over on Thingiverse.