Does this adapter even exist?

[Fritz]

Bought a SuperMicro X11SSH-CTF. It will only accommodate a 2260 M.2 drive which is severally limiting. The reason it won't accommodate a 2280 drive is because there's a chip sitting where the 2280 screw post would be. Is there an adapter that hold a 2280 but screws to the 2260 position? There's plenty of room for the adapter to clear the chip. I can imagine such a beast, the drive would sit high enough that a flathead screw can mount the adapter without touching the drive. Problem is, I can't find one. There are tons of adapters out there that will lengthen a short drive but not the other way around.

 

[frankharv]

The problem with an adapter becomes if the 2280 drive is single sided or chips on both sides.

I did 2280 slot to 22110 and I had to use certain drives to clear the 'wedge'. Otherwise drive rode high in the slot and I had to force it over wedge.

I used 2mm countersunk plastic screw and made a plastic extender tab with relocated threads.
The post/hold down screw on the (laptop) board was not removable so I had to use it.

 

[pimposh]

Go with 2242+extender or use double sticky 3M ;-)

 

[frankharv]

Yup or fashion a holdown finger or strap from the nearest fastener if possible..

But could be problematic with fixed holdown at 2260 depending on underside of drive..

 

[nexox]

Double sided foam tape is the way I'd do it, with a single-sided drive at least, stick it to the top of that chip that's in the way of the mount screw.

 

[Fritz]

I was hoping there was a ready made adapter for this but I guess I'll have to break out the bubble gum and baling wire.

 

[frankharv]

You might be able to use a riser to break it out..

M.2 NVME NGFF M-Key SSD Male to Female Extension Adapter with SFF-8654 Cable | eBay

Slim 4.0 Slimline SAS SFF-8654 8i 74pin to Dual 4i 38Pin PCI-E 8654 PCIE SSD. USB C OTG Cable USB C to USB 3.0 OTG 90 ＆ 180 Degree Angled Extension Data Cable. SFF-8482 SAS 29Pin to SATA 22Pin Hard Disk Drive Raid Extension Cable with Power.

www.ebay.com

Might need to shorten the host adapter to 2260

For half-miniPCie slots there are vertical adapters but I dont see them for M.2 slot.

 

[frankharv]

Couldn't you rig up something with this?

M key M.2 NVME PCIE SSD Protection Card Extension Card 2230 2242 To 2260 2280 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for M key M.2 NVME PCIE SSD Protection Card Extension Card 2230 2242 To 2260 2280 at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

You might need to craft a custom solution for the drive holdown attachment.
(Use a screw from bottomside of adapter and use jamnut to hold in place. Space on top of jamnut is your holddown. Second nut to secure drive)
Preferably plastic screw to avoid contact damage. There is not much space under adapter especially area populated with SMD.

 

[Fritz]

Haven't decided yet what type of box it's going in. If it lies horizontal then it should be an easy problem to overcome, if vertical, not so much.

 

[frankharv]

Since I am the machinist I have to give a tip how I could mod this adapter.

That adapter above is good but probably too long. Interferes with other components.(Assuming)
You could easily cut an inch off the end from where you attach holdown for 2280 drive post.(just past last full hole)
Problem is it is 'perforated' very close by and you want to preserve that area. It will break off if not careful.
So cutting it with hacksaw will be dicey. You need to clamp around the perforated part with stiffners to cut just beyond the last full hole..
Maybe vice grips with protectors top and bottom to stiffen perforated joint then cut.
Ideally put in vice and cut. Protected jaws of course to not mung up the circuit board..

So to install you would need to fit the screw for drive holdown and secure with jamnut. Ensure it fits drive.
Then install adapter on motherboard and secure 2260 holdown screw(owner furnished) and then install drive.

It would be nice to find one with hardware included.

 

[frankharv]

PCIE Drive protection extender seems to be the magic search term.

NVMe M.2 NGFF SSD Protection Card Extension Card 2230 2242 To 2260 2280 2.ou | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for NVMe M.2 NGFF SSD Protection Card Extension Card 2230 2242 To 2260 2280 2.ou at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

Dollar cheaper in US and with holdown post.

 

[frankharv]

Looking at pictures you wont have to cut anything for use on X11SSH-CTF.. It will take the full 110mm length no problem...

 

[Fritz]

I actually looked at this and it occurred to me that if there was enough room under the drive to fit a flat head screw without making contact it would work. Think I'll order it. If it doesn't work i'm not out much.

EDIT - Must be losing my mind, I did order it from Amazon. it'll be here tomorrow.

 

[stin187]

Sounds like a perfect job for a 3D printed solution.

Some ideas here

42 mm m 2 ssd

Find 1291232 42 mm m 2 ssd 3D models for 3D printing, CNC and design. My father-in-law Steve came up with this idea out of necessity because his motherboard only accepted 60mm M.2 SSDs, but he had a 42mm one lying around. He figured an extender would easily cost $10 on the market, so why not...

www.stlfinder.com

 

[Fritz]

Sounds like a perfect job for a 3D printed solution.

Some ideas here

42 mm m 2 ssd

Find 1291232 42 mm m 2 ssd 3D models for 3D printing, CNC and design. My father-in-law Steve came up with this idea out of necessity because his motherboard only accepted 60mm M.2 SSDs, but he had a 42mm one lying around. He figured an extender would easily cost $10 on the market, so why not...

www.stlfinder.com

Interesting but my problem is the opposite. I need to fit a longer drive in a space for a shorter one. 2280 drive where only a 2260 will fit. Problem is there's a chip where the screw hole for a 2280 would go. A 2280 would easily fit if there was a screw hole for the hold down as the drive easily clears the chip. Given that there aren't any suitable 2260 drives available as far as I'm concerned, this was an engineering blunder on Supermicro's part.

 

[stin187]

Interesting but my problem is the opposite. I need to fit a longer drive in a space for a shorter one. 2280 drive where only a 2260 will fit. Problem is there's a chip where the screw hole for a 2280 would go. A 2280 would easily fit if there was a screw hole for the hold down as the drive easily clears the chip. Given that there aren't any suitable 2260 drives available as far as I'm concerned, this was an engineering blunder on Supermicro's part.

I was thinking maybe the "arm" to bring the fastener closer for a smaller drive could also swing out the other way to provide a support for the end of the longer drive while using the existing stud.
Im probably not explaining what's in my head well. If I get a free second I can draw something up quick and dirty.

*editied for spelling (sausage fingers)

 

[Fritz]

I was thinking maybe the "arm" to bring the fastener closer for a smaller drive could also swing out the other way to provide a support for the end of the longer drive while using the existing stud.
Im probably not explaining what's in my head well. Info get a free second I can draw something up quick and dirty.

I understand what you mean. I think that arm would raise the drive too far above the stud to work but I could be wrong. Anyways, the adapter I ordered will work provided a screw head will fit under the drive without making contact. I'll know for sure when it arrives tomorrow.

 

[PigLover]

I have the same board and the same problem (well, X11SSH-TF, without the "C" so no SAS ports). Supermicro actually has the adapter you want and included it with new boards near the end of their production run. Unfortnately, after going back and forth with SM support a few years ago, we confirmed that it does not have a part number and can't be ordered seperately.

For a while I went extreme Rube Goldberg using a bent paper clip (use your imagination and try not to barf!). It worked but did not cause happieness.

I don't remember where I got this 3d printable design but it is dead simple. Needs two M3 heat-set inserts. You screw one end to the board in the 2260 retention screw hole and the other provides retention for the NVM.

M2 2260 to 2280 retention bracket by PigLover | Download free STL model | Printables.com

Bracket to allow installation of M.2 2280 SSD in the M.2 2260 slot on SuperMicro X11SSH-TF/CTF motherboard | Download free 3D printable STL models

www.printables.com

 

[Fritz]

Awesome. Thank you sir.

 

[Fritz]

OK guys, I now understand why the seller off loaded this board. This 2260 M.2 only is a stupid and serious limitation. My faith in SM has been shaken.

First off, the 2260 hole does not line up with the motherboard mount because the head of the adapter isn't compensated for when drilling the holes. I had to drill my own hole which was half way between 2 holes in the adapter. Ghetto for sure.

Then it was obvious I was dealing with a catch 22. You have to mount the adapter to the MB before you install the 2280 because you can't install and tighten the screw with the 2280 installed. This created another problem. The hold down for the drive mounts using a screw that goes in from the bottom. which is not accessible after the adapter is installed in the MB. So what I did (for nothing) was used a thin piece of tape and screwed the brass portion onto the screw and it worked by some miracle. Then I found that the hole was drilled too far back. This rendered the hold down ineffective. So I then used double sided tape.



It's in there but do I trust it? Hell no.
I'm still waiting on parts to complete this build. The CPU is coming from China and won't be here for another couple of weeks so I have time to rethink this. Putting it back up on eBay is an option and so is using a slot adapter (which I might do). I feel like I was caught in a trap.