I have a mini PC that takes M.2 SATA drives and the default size is 2260.

I have a 128GB M.2 that is 2280 so too long and a 256GB 2230 that is too
short but I understand you can get adaptor cards that just physically
fill in the missing space allowing you to use a small car in a bigger slot?

But I was wondering if you could get a 2260 to 2230 piggyback type
adaptor as there are no height restrictions and I feel it would make a
better solution?

Or maybe I could design and 3D print something, if it's just a matter of
making use of the existing mounting pillar and holding the M.2 card in
and down?

Cheers, T i m

T i m <individual@spaced.me.uk> wrote:
> I have a mini PC that takes M.2 SATA drives and the default size is 2260.
>
> I have a 128GB M.2 that is 2280 so too long and a 256GB 2230 that is too
> short but I understand you can get adaptor cards that just physically
> fill in the missing space allowing you to use a small car in a bigger slot?

It's just a mechanical adapter, so:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000337978004.html

A piggyback would seem to overcomplicate things, since you'd need a PCB with
connectors and such. Also you'd need a SATA variant.

> Or maybe I could design and 3D print something, if it's just a matter of
> making use of the existing mounting pillar and holding the M.2 card in
> and down?

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4675734
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4890234
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2260413

and others.

Theo

On 05/12/2022 14:21, Theo wrote:
> T i m <individual@spaced.me.uk> wrote:
>> I have a mini PC that takes M.2 SATA drives and the default size is 2260.
>>
>> I have a 128GB M.2 that is 2280 so too long and a 256GB 2230 that is too
>> short but I understand you can get adaptor cards that just physically
>> fill in the missing space allowing you to use a small car in a bigger slot?
>
> It's just a mechanical adapter, so:
> https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000337978004.html

Yeah, I found a UK supplier of something like that before I posted and
even asked a question but that one didn't support 30-60.

So I'm guessing you just break off what combo you need so might need
some spares to cover other combos in the future?
>
> A piggyback would seem to overcomplicate things, since you'd need a PCB with
> connectors and such. Also you'd need a SATA variant.

Yes, I appreciate that Theo but the mechanical engineer in me suggests
that maybe trying to hold a 30mm M.2 drive down in as 60mm slot might
exert some force on such an extender, unless the joining lug actually /
really extended the drive rigidly, rather than relying on the screw and
pillar to keep the combo down? Eg, those cards can be quite springy and
you would't get the same mechanical advantage compared with using the
card directly on the pillar?
>
>> Or maybe I could design and 3D print something, if it's just a matter of
>> making use of the existing mounting pillar and holding the M.2 card in
>> and down?
>
> https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4675734

Yeah, I thought of that after posting and had already downloaded that
one and sliced it before reading your reply. ;-)

Saves re-inventing the wheel etc. ;-)

> https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4890234

That should also work like the first and possibly work 'better' than the
simple snap-off spacer as it has the corner pockets to provide the
extended leverage I was mentioning.

> https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2260413

That extension appears to only be 20 long rather than the 30mm long I'd
need for a 30-60 adaption but I have more than enough choice already
thanks. ;-)

I can turn my 3D printer on remotely using Home Assistant and upload the
..gcode to my RPi Octoprint host over the LAN, and get the extruder and
bed up to temp but I still have to go up to the study and load the
filament. ;-)

<10 minutes later ...>

Right, I've just printed a couple of the 30-60 from your first link and
hope to give them a try later then the SSD I bought can go in the laptop
I've been given. ;-)

It's funny isn't it, if you compare the weight and size of a (say) 256GB
SSD to a 256GB spinning drive, especially a 3-1/4" desktop drive you
wonder at the tech. Then you see a 256GB 2230 M.2 SSD and wonder why a
2.5" 256GB SSD is so bulky. ;-)

Cheers, T i m