PicoPod - Modular Desk Productivity Pod System

About the design

Universal snap-lock connector system for modular desk pods. The Sidecar Port is a standardized magnetic interface - same dimensions, rails, and magnet positions on every pod. Design your own pods and they connect to the entire ecosystem. The connector is the platform. Build temperature pods, notification lights, macro keypads, sensor displays - if it a Sidecar Port, it fits the system.

Each pod has four ports (top, bottom, left, right) for any configuration: stack vertically, chain horizontally, laptop mounts, desktop docks (90 degress). Magnetic alignment + T-slot mechanical lock.

Two starter pods included - Control Pod (Raspberry Pi Pico, OLED, rotary encoder, buttons) and E-Ink Pod (4.2" Waveshare display). Run standalone or connect them - one Pico controls both via JST passthrough. MicroPython software does GitHub dashboard, calendar, focus timer, media controls.

Build the desk setup you actually want, one pod at a time.

Why I Built This:

Needed GitHub notifications and media controls within reach, but hated that every desk gadget is locked to one function. Built a universal connector so I can add pods over time - same snap-lock interface, infinite expansions. Started with E-Ink for PR status because that's my daily workflow, but designed the system for anyone to build whatever pod they need.

Designer Note:

This is my first 3D design! I learned Onshape from zero, iterated through multiple connector versions, and figured out tolerances through trial and error. The entire system - Sidecar Port connector, pod housings, magnetic snap-lock mechanism - all designed from scratch, not remixed from existing models. Every dimension came from measuring actual components with calipers and testing print tolerances. Feel free to extend the idea to your own pods.