Dell WD-15 USB-C Dock with 120mm Fan

thingiverse

Design Goal ----------------- With working from home, I'm spending more time at my desk than usual. I also find myself frequently switching between my work laptop (a Dell Latitude 7390) and personal laptop (a Dell XPS 13 9370). Having used a Dell WD-15 for years, but with the increased need to rearrange my setup due to warmer temperatures in my apartment here in Las Vegas, I opted for a new solution. Worth noting, I didn't particularly care for the Ultrawide monitor I had initially chosen, so I switched back to 16:9 format, which aligned perfectly with my initial idea of minimizing space while maintaining cooling capabilities. The design goal was straightforward: minimize the footprint of both the dock and laptop while providing adequate cooling to the laptop's underside. Since I typically keep my laptop closed while docked, if I stand everything up, it should be relatively easy to maintain a compact setup. By positioning the WD-15 dock on its side with the USB-C cable running along the back, I can place the laptop facing in the opposite direction, feed the USB-C cable through the front, and have a fan blowing against the bottom of the laptop. Design-wise, this is an incredibly simple concept. The left slot is designed for the WD-15 dock, there's a middle separator with a slot to feed the USB-C cable, and the right side serves as a resting place for the laptop. The cutout for the fan accommodates a standard 120mm computer fan (I had some spare ones lying around). There are also cutouts for nuts on the inside, but using traditional case fan self-tapping screws should work just fine. Even standard M4 screws can be used without nuts, although this might depend on your printer's tolerances. The STL file is available for modification and includes a little cubby under the fan with a cutout to route the fan's cable. There's also a small cutout near the WD-15's power button so you can still press it (albeit with slightly more difficulty). The design takes into account both my XPS 13 9370 and work Latitude 7390, although the XPS 13 is thinner, causing it to wobble around a bit more. The dock side could be made smaller for a tighter fit, but I prefer it a bit loose so that if I need to move things around, I can easily remove it. Part of the idea is also that the weight of the dock should provide sufficient counterbalance, preventing the laptop from tilting. To further secure the setup, I used some Command Strips to mount the dock in place on my desk. Some rubber feet or similar products would probably help as well. Bill of Materials ---------------- * STL file for printing * 120mm computer fan (I used one with a power adjustment knob) * 3/4pin fan to USB power adapter (I used this one from Frys.com: [https://www.frys.com/product/9085057?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG](https://www.frys.com/product/9085057?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG)) * M4 16mm screws and nuts (I had these lying around) * Case fan filter (optional) How to Use It -------------- The STL file is already oriented for printing. If your slicer imports it incorrectly, the "back" side should be on the print bed, with the shortest separator on the left and the longest (with the fan cut out) on the right. Mount the fan as you see fit. I used M4 16mm screws and M4 nuts because they were readily available to me. You can also attach a case fan filter to the fan itself using more of the same screws and nuts. Place the WD-15 dock on the left, standing up so that the side opposite the USB-C cable is facing downwards. Feed the USB-C cable through the back side of the cable route, making sure it comes out the front of the printed part. You're almost done! Simply drop your laptop onto the right-hand side with the underside facing the fan and plug in the USB-C cable. Optional but recommended: use some Command Strips or similar products to "fasten" the dock in place on your desk, ensuring that the weight of the cables doesn't cause it to tilt around too much.