Install Dual M.2 Adapter

On the Framework Laptop 16 Expansion Bay Shell, lift the small piece of black plastic connecting the fans to the board.

Pull the black ribbon cable away from the connector on the board.

Remove the 2 screws using your Framework Screwdriver (T-5 bit)

Important Note: These screws are not captive, so be careful not to lose them as they will be used later.

Remove the Fan Board from the Framework Laptop 16 Expansion Bay Shell.

Remove the 3 screws at the top of the Framework Laptop 16 Expansion Bay Shell holding the rubber piece in.

Important Note: These screws are not captive, so be careful not to lose them as they will be used later.

Lift the black piece of rubber out of the Expansion Bay Shell by pushing the center black piece of plastic backwards; then lifting the rubber piece upwards.

Find the 2.25mm thick Thermal Pad (Bag B) and remove the clear plastic backing.

Place the 2.25mm thermal pad on the back of the Dual M.2 Adapter board between the M.2 standoff screw holes in the shown zone.

With the Blue liner backing still applied, softly push down on the backing making sure it is adhered to the Dual M.2 Adapter board.

Once the Thermal Pad is fully adhered to the Dual M.2 Adapter board, slowly remove the Blue liner backing.

Important Note: At this point, there should be no more plastic backings on the 2.25mm Thermal Pad you just applied.

Place the Dual SSD board into the Expansion Bay Shell. Make sure the screw holes are aligned before fully seating it as the Thermal Pad you just added will be touching the Expansion Bay Shell.

Important Note: Make sure the ribbon cables from the fans are on top of the Dual SSD board and not trapped below it.

Place the screws into the Dual SSD board from the same places you removed them and LIGHTLY screw each one in partially.

Once all screws are in - evenly tighten each of the 4 screws to avoid board flex.

Insert the fan ribbon cables into the Dual M.2 Adapter board and push the black pieces of plastic down to secure the cables.

The 5 screws that were removed at the beginning should be reinserted holding the device in place.

Make sure your Expansion Shell with the Dual M.2 Adapter board looks like this. If it does; you are doing great so far!

Location;

If using a 2230 size, the screw will go in the H1 or H5 labeled hole.

If using a 2242 size, the screw will go in the H2 or H6 labeled hole.

If using a 2260 size, the screw will go in the H3 or H7 labeled hole.

If using a 2280 size, the screw will go in the H4 or H8 labeled hole.

Size;

If you are using a 2230, 2242, or 2260 length, you will need to cut the thermal pad you use to size. (which thickness to use will be outlined in next step)

If you are using a 2280, you will not need to cut the thermal pad.

Now that you know what thickness of thermal pad to use and the length of your SSD/ M.2 card, remove the clear plastic backing and place the thermal pad between the M.2 connector and the standoff screw which holds the SSD/ M.2 card in place.

With the thermal pad now in place, softly push down on the Blue liner backing to make sure the thermal pad adheres to the board.

Peel off the Blue liner backing. (there should be no backings remaining on the thermal pad at this point)

For example, if I am using the WD_BLACK™ SN770M NVMe™ 2230 - 1TB SSD, the screw will go into either hole labeled H1 or H5 and I will use the 1.75mm (Bag C) thick thermal pad since it is only single sided. I will cut this thermal pad so it fits between the M.2 connector and the standoff screw which holds the SSD in place.

Additionally, if I am using the WD_BLACK™ SN850X NVMe™ 2280 - 4TB SSD, the screw will go into either hole labeled H4 or H8 and I will use the 1.25mm (Bag A) thick thermal pad since it is double sided.

Insert the SSD/ M.2 card into the M.2 slot and place the recessed portion of the standoff screw in the notch at the end of the SSD/ M.2 card.

Slowly push the end of the SSD/ M.2 card down to make it flat and parallel to the board where the standoff screw on the SSD/ M.2 card should align with the hole below it.

Tighten the standoff screw into the hole.

Important Note: Make sure not to over tighten this screw.

Repeat this same process for the other SSD/ M.2 card if you have one.

With the Framework Laptop 16 closed, line up the Expansion Bay Shell with the Dual M.2 Adapter in it with the Expansion Bay slot and gently slide it into place.

You should hear the module click into place when fully inserted.

There should be very little resistance when installing the Expansion Bay Shell with the Dual M.2 Adapter. If it is not sliding into place, do not force it. Remove the module and check that it is lined up correctly before trying again.

Remember to power off the system and unplug the USB-C power cable before you open the Interposer Door.

You can access the Interposer and change the Expansion Bay Module without removing the Mid Plate.

Flip open the Interposer Door using the pull tab provided.

Make sure that the door is closed again before closing the Laptop lid to avoid any risk of damage to the display.

Tighten the 2 captive fasteners to secure the Graphics Module in place.

Lower the Graphics Module Interposer into place, noting the orientation as shown.

Tighten the 4 captive fasteners to secure the Interposer.

Be careful not to overtighten fasteners here. This step does not require excessive force.

With the Interposer installed, close the Interposer Door.

Please see our guide here on possible Input Module configurations.

Holding from the pull tabs at the bottom of the Keyboard module, line it up with the dashed guide lines printed on the Mid Plate. Note that you can align a Keyboard so that it is either along the left edge, the right edge, or centered. With the Keyboard held at a 20 degree angle, slide it up into place.

The notches along the top of the Keyboard will fit into the corresponding alignment guides under the Ventilation Plate.

Lower the Keyboard gently into place, it should snap in place magnetically and sit flat.

Ensure that the pins in the Mid Plate to the left and right of the Input Module Connector align into the corresponding holes in the Keyboard module.

Next install, two Spacer Modules, an LED Matrix, a Numpad, an RGB Macropad, or whichever other combination of two Small or one Medium sized Input Module you have.

Slide these in at an angle and lower into place, the same way the Keyboard was installed.

Whichever Input modules you chose to install, you should have no empty spaces in the top row before proceeding to the next step.

Place the Touchpad Module flat, slightly below the Keyboard as shown.

Like the Keyboard, you can confirm it is properly aligned by lining it up to the dashed lines on the Mid Plate.

Applying gentle downward pressure to keep the Touchpad module flat, slide it up into place.

Remember that the Input Deck Latches should still be open at this point, otherwise the Touchpad Module won't slide on.

The Touchpad Module can be installed either directly below the Keyboard or offset by one space to the right. For example, the Keyboard can have the Touchpad below it, or the Keyboard can be left-aligned while the Touchpad is centered.

Just like installing the Touchpad module, place the Touchpad Spacers flat on the Input Deck, slightly below the Keyboard or Spacers above.

Applying gentle pressure, slide the Touch Module Spacers into place.

With the Touchpad Module Spacers installed there should now be no empty spaces on the Input Deck.

Once all Input Modules are installed, close both Input Deck Latches to secure them in place.