A Modular Platform for Engineering, Prototyping, and Learning
Electronic prototypes have a habit of growing. A development board gets joined by sensors, switches, indicators and cables, and before long the workbench starts getting a little crowded.
DevBench grew out of a simple idea: organize all of that into a reusable physical platform, then create interchangeable Workdecks for whatever electronics project happens to be on the bench.
Change the project. Change the Workdeck. Keep the DevBench.
A Simple Idea
DevBench is made up of two basic pieces.
The Core is the reusable frame. It consists of two side panels, a bottom support and a back support. The parts are 3D printed and fit together without screws or other assembly hardware.
The Workdeck is where the electronics live. Each Workdeck can be designed for a particular development board, experiment or type of project.
When it’s time to work on something different, the Workdeck can be removed and another one installed in the same Core.
From a Few Printed Parts…
One of the design goals for DevBench is to keep the mechanical structure simple.
The Core pieces print flat and assemble into a rigid, angled working surface. Grooves in the side panels locate the Workdeck, while the other structural pieces lock everything together.
There are no hinges, complicated mechanisms or piles of hardware required to assemble the Core.
The Workdeck simply slides into place.
…to a Working Electronics Bench
The first full Workdeck was designed around an STM32H573I-DK development board and a collection of Grove modules.
It includes four adjustable LED modules, four pushbuttons, two slide potentiometers and a Grove interface board.
Rather than mounting everything to a generic hole pattern, the Workdeck is designed around the actual hardware. Different mounting heights make the controls easier to reach while keeping the individual modules visible and accessible.
And there are still screws where screws make sense. The Grove modules attach directly to printed standoffs using M2 × 6 screws, while assembly of the DevBench Core itself remains tool-free.
Designed to Be Used
DevBench isn’t intended to be a display stand.
The angled surface keeps the development board accessible, makes the controls comfortable to operate and leaves room for wiring and cables. Openings in the Workdeck provide additional access while avoiding a large solid sheet of printed material.
Most importantly, everything stays together.
The entire development setup can be moved as one unit instead of moving a development board, several modules and a collection of loose wiring individually.
The Workdeck Is the Interesting Part
The Core is intentionally pretty boring.
That’s actually the point.
The interesting part is what can be put on it.
A Workdeck might hold a microcontroller development board and sensors. Another could be designed around analog circuitry. Others could become robotics development platforms, communications test setups or STEM teaching tools.
The mounting arrangement, openings, controls and electronics can all change while the basic DevBench structure stays the same.
There are plenty of possibilities—and that’s where the fun begins.
Built to Evolve
DevBench isn’t being presented as a finished commercial product. It’s an ongoing electronics project intended to evolve as new ideas and new Workdecks are developed.
Future builds can explore different development boards, sensors, interfaces, electronics and applications while continuing to use the same basic platform.
Those projects, along with the things learned while building them, will be shared here as DevBench continues to develop.
For electronics hobbyists, engineers, students, makers—or anyone who simply enjoys building things—there should be plenty more to explore.
Follow the Build
New DevBench builds, experiments and project updates will be shared here on the site and on Facebook as the project develops.
