# USB C Dock ## Overview https://youtu.be/5pE4mzdc1c4 In this project we’re building a dock for dev boards with a USB C port. This simple dock lets you stand your dev board upright, making it easy to display. A USB C cable is connected to the back of the dock for charging and reprogramming. This is a great way to keep your board from slipping and sliding off your desk. This simple design is great for different board shapes making it universal. ![3d_printing_hero-wide.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/261/medium640/3d_printing_hero-wide.jpg?1721062803) ![3d_printing_back.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/262/medium640/3d_printing_back.jpg?1721062937) This project uses a USB C socket breakout board and plug breakout board to build this custom USB extension. You can personalize the 3D model and 3D print the dock in your favorite colors. ## Parts, Tools & Components You'll need just a couple a parts to build this project.  If you don't have access to a 3D printer, you can send the files to a service or check with your local hackerspace or library. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/273/medium800/3d_printing_parts.jpg?1721064600) ### Adafruit USB Type C Plug Breakout [Adafruit USB Type C Plug Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5978) Throw out all those Mini and Micro B USB cables you have in a plastic bin - the next generation of USB connectors is here with  **USB C**! You've seen these connectors pop up on all sorts of devices, as the industry moves from micro B or lightning to the new standard.... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5978) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5978/guides) ![Angled shot of USB type C breakout.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/5978-00.jpg) ### Adafruit USB Type C Breakout Board - Downstream Connection [Adafruit USB Type C Breakout Board - Downstream Connection](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4090) Throw out all those Mini and Micro B USB cables you have in a plastic bin - the next generation of USB connectors is here with **USB C**! You will start to see these connectors pop up on all sorts of devices, as the industry moves from micro B or lightening to the new standard.... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4090) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4090/guides) ![Angled shot of a Adafruit USB Type C Breakout Board.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/4090-01.jpg) ### Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 3" (75mm) [Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 3" (75mm)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1951) These female-female premium jumper wires are handy for making wire harnesses or jumpering between headers on PCB's. They're 3" (75mm) long and come in a 'strip' of 20 (2 pieces of each of ten rainbow colors). They have 0.1" female header contacts on either end... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1951) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1951/guides) ![Angled shot of Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 3 (75mm)](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1951-01.jpg) ### Pink and Purple Woven USB A to USB C Cable - 1 meter long [Pink and Purple Woven USB A to USB C Cable - 1 meter long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5153) This cable is not only super-fashionable, with a woven pink and purple Blinka-like pattern, it's also made for USB C for our modernized breakout boards, Feathers, and more.  [If you want something just like it but for Micro B, we...](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4111) Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5153) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5153/guides) ![Angled shot of coiled pink and purple USB cable with USB A and USB C connectors.](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/5153-02.jpg) ### Break-away 0.1" 36-pin strip right-angle male header (10 pack) [Break-away 0.1" 36-pin strip right-angle male header (10 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1540) Breakaway header is like the duct tape of electronics. Its great for connecting things together, soldering to perf-boards, fits into any breadboard, etc. We go through these guys real fast, and thought that given how handy they are, we'd offer them in a pack of ten! Each pack... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1540) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1540/guides) ![Break-away 0.1 inch 36-pin strip right-angle male header](https://cdn-shop.adafruit.com/640x480/1540-00.jpg) ### Part: M2.5x5mm quantity: 4 M2.5x5mm [M2.5x5mm](https://amzn.to/3XKJc4v) # USB C Dock ## 3D Printing ## 3D Printed Parts STL files for 3D printing will need to be oriented for print using either FDM or SLS machines. Parts were tested using PLA filament. Original design source files may be downloaded using the links below ![3d_printing_parts-3d.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/266/medium640/3d_printing_parts-3d.jpg?1721064018) [Edit Design](https://a360.co/3Wl9vgK) [Download STEP + F3Z.zip](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/270/original/USB_C_Dock-STEP-F3Z.zip?1721064371) [Download STLs](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6699163) ## Slice with Settings for PLA material  The parts were sliced using CURA using the slice settings below. - PLA filament 200c extruder - 0.25 layer height - 20% gyroid infill - 60mm/s print speed - 60°C heated bed ![3d_printing_slice.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/267/medium640/3d_printing_slice.jpg?1721064062) ## Supports - Placement: Everywhere - Support Overhang Angle: 80 - Support Destiny: 6% - Enable Support Interface - Enable Support Roof - Support Z Distance: .21 - Skirt: 1 ![3d_printing_slice-2.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/271/medium640/3d_printing_slice-2.jpg?1721064492) # USB C Dock ## Circuit Diagram The diagram below provides a general visual reference for wiring of the components once you get to the **Assembly** page. This diagram was created using the software package [Fritzing](http://fritzing.org/download/). ## Adafruit Library for Fritzing Adafruit uses the Adafruit's Fritzing parts library to create circuit diagrams for projects. You can download the library or just grab individual parts. Get the library and parts from [GitHub - Adafruit Fritzing Parts](https://github.com/adafruit/Fritzing-Library/tree/master/parts). ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/272/medium800/3d_printing_circuit_diagram.jpg?1721064568) Match these pins between the two boards for wiring: - **GND** - **VBUS** - **CC1** - **D- ** - **D+** # USB C Dock ## Assemble ## Solder Headers Solder the right-angle headers to the socket USB C breakout board, as shown in the photo. Solder the included straight headers to the USB C Plug breakout board as shown in the photo.   ![3d_printing_headers-solders.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/275/medium640/3d_printing_headers-solders.jpg?1721089871) ## Jumper Ribbon Peel 5 wires off the ribbon socket bundle. Plug connections into: - **GND** - **VBUS** - **CC1** - **D- ** - **D+** ![3d_printing_headers-socket-jumpers.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/276/medium640/3d_printing_headers-socket-jumpers.jpg?1721090101) ## Mount USB C Socket Breakout Use M2.5x5mm screws to mount the socket breakout board to the standoffs on the dock part.   ![3d_printing_socket-place.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/277/medium640/3d_printing_socket-place.jpg?1721090366) ![3d_printing_socket-mounted.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/278/medium640/3d_printing_socket-mounted.jpg?1721090492) ## Align USB C Plug Breakout and Connect Place the Plug breakout board over the two vertical standoffs.  Use two M2.5x5mm screws to mount the board.  Match the jumper socket connections to the headers on the board. ![3d_printing_plug-place.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/279/medium640/3d_printing_plug-place.jpg?1721090642) ![3d_printing_plug-jumpers.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/280/medium640/3d_printing_plug-jumpers.jpg?1721090724) ## Attach Case Cover Align the cutouts on the case cover part over the USB C socket.  Position the snap-fit parts on the case one side at a time. Gently fold the ribbon cable into the case while press-fitting it over the USB C Plug. ![3d_printing_cover-align.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/281/medium640/3d_printing_cover-align.jpg?1721090836) ![3d_printing_cover-attached.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/282/medium640/3d_printing_cover-attached.jpg?1721091059) ## Complete  Use a USB C cable to connect to a device, such as your computer) or power source. Plug a USB C dev board such as a Feather or QT Py in as shown and you're ready to go.   ![3d_printing_back.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/283/medium640/3d_printing_back.jpg?1721093087) ![3d_printing_hero-wide.jpg](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/131/284/medium640/3d_printing_hero-wide.jpg?1721093121) ## Featured Products ### Adafruit USB Type C Plug Breakout [Adafruit USB Type C Plug Breakout](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5978) Throw out all those Mini and Micro B USB cables you have in a plastic bin - the next generation of USB connectors is here with  **USB C**! You've seen these connectors pop up on all sorts of devices, as the industry moves from micro B or lightning to the new standard.... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5978) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5978/guides) ### Adafruit USB Type C Breakout Board - Downstream Connection [Adafruit USB Type C Breakout Board - Downstream Connection](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4090) Throw out all those Mini and Micro B USB cables you have in a plastic bin - the next generation of USB connectors is here with **USB C**! You will start to see these connectors pop up on all sorts of devices, as the industry moves from micro B or lightening to the new standard.... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4090) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/4090/guides) ### Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 3" (75mm) [Premium Female/Female Jumper Wires - 20 x 3" (75mm)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1951) These female-female premium jumper wires are handy for making wire harnesses or jumpering between headers on PCB's. They're 3" (75mm) long and come in a 'strip' of 20 (2 pieces of each of ten rainbow colors). They have 0.1" female header contacts on either end... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1951) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1951/guides) ### Pink and Purple Woven USB A to USB C Cable - 1 meter long [Pink and Purple Woven USB A to USB C Cable - 1 meter long](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5153) This cable is not only super-fashionable, with a woven pink and purple Blinka-like pattern, it's also made for USB C for our modernized breakout boards, Feathers, and more.  [If you want something just like it but for Micro B, we...](https://www.adafruit.com/product/4111) Out of Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/5153) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/5153/guides) ### Break-away 0.1" 36-pin strip right-angle male header (10 pack) [Break-away 0.1" 36-pin strip right-angle male header (10 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1540) Breakaway header is like the duct tape of electronics. Its great for connecting things together, soldering to perf-boards, fits into any breadboard, etc. We go through these guys real fast, and thought that given how handy they are, we'd offer them in a pack of ten! Each pack... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1540) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1540/guides) ## Related Guides - [Sparkle Motion Dance Shoes](https://learn.adafruit.com/sparkle-motion-dance-shoes.md) - [Color Mixing QT Py Cuff Bracelet](https://learn.adafruit.com/color-mixing-qt-py-cuff.md) - [EPCOT Spaceship Earth with WLED](https://learn.adafruit.com/epcot-spaceship-earth-with-wled.md) - [Adafruit CH334F Mini USB Hub Breakouts](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-ch334f-mini-4-port-usb-hub-breakout.md) - [Bendable Sound Reactive Lamp with WLED](https://learn.adafruit.com/bendable-sound-reactive-lamp-with-wled.md) - [Sound Reactive LED Top Hat](https://learn.adafruit.com/sound-reactive-led-top-hat.md) - [3D Printed Camera LED Ring](https://learn.adafruit.com/3d-printed-camera-led-ring.md) - [Adafruit UPDI Friend](https://learn.adafruit.com/adafruit-updi-friend.md) - [USB Rotary Media Dial](https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-rotary-media-dial.md) - [Case for HUSB238 Breakout](https://learn.adafruit.com/case-for-husb238.md) - [How to Make Animated Graphics for Hologram Displays](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-to-make-animated-graphics-for-hologram-displays.md) - [LEGO-Compatible Servo Mounts](https://learn.adafruit.com/lego-servo-mounts.md) - [How to 3D Print molds for custom Stamps @ustreasury](https://learn.adafruit.com/how-to-3d-print-molds-for-custom-stamps.md) - [Vibro-bugz](https://learn.adafruit.com/vibro-bugz.md) - [HalloWing Macintosh](https://learn.adafruit.com/hallowing-mac.md)