FrameVault - Framework 12 NAS / Home Assistant / Server

A conversion to turn the Framework 12 laptop mainboard into a FrameVault home server such as a NAS or Home Assistant system. Whether you have a spare mainboard from a Framework laptop upgrade or you just want to build your own home server by buying just the mainboard, this is the perfect conversion to add some incredible capability to your office and/or home.

One of the best uses for this conversion is a NAS for storing and backing up files without the reliance on a subscription based service. The FrameVault allows for up to 4 HDD's to be installed into the unit utilizing the PCIe M.2 M key socket on the mainboard. This means a redundant HDD setup can be configured.

The other use for the FrameVault system is a home server, perhaps a media server or a Home Assistant system. Really the possibility for uses for a setup like this is very vast and allows the Framework 12 Mainboard to be repurposed into a very valuable system, adding lots of capability in an office or home.

Printing instructions

Part updates:

• FrameVault Core V2 - 28/09/2026 - Added additional cable clearance

NO SUPPORT NEEDED!!! NO MULTI-MATERIAL NEEDED!!!

This project has been designed to not need any support whatsoever, there's nothing better than being able to import a part into a slicer and be able to print it with default settings, that is all that's needed here. All the STL's have been generated to be in the correct orientation when they are imported into a slicer and will fit on a standard 20cm build plate. I have used a MK3S to print this project with the Prusa Quality preset in PrusaSlicer. I made the parts out of PLA which works fine on a project like this but feel free to use any material you feel comfortable with. 

For the different coloured parts such as the front vented panel and framework logo, the parts are separate to the main body so you can use a single colour printer for this project.

Printed parts list:

I have separated the parts out into groups below as a suggestion to the colour grouping, but really the whole advantage of being able to make this yourself is you can choose whatever whacky colour combination takes your fancy.

Colour 1:

• FrameVault Core

• FrameVault Rear Case

• FrameVault Rear Cover

• FrameVault Side Cover A

• FrameVault Side Cover B

Colour 2:

• FrameVault Cover Front

• FrameVault Cover Rear

Colour 3:

• FrameVault Cover Grill

• FrameVault Power Button

• FrameVault Logo

• FrameVault HDD Clip (Quantity 4)

Other Parts list:

• 8 x M3 x 10mm Cap Head bolts

• 4-Port M.2 to SATA Adapter Card

• 4 port Sata IDE Hard Driver power cable

• 12V 10A power supply 5525 connector

• 4 x SATA Cables

For the M.2 to SATA adapter card there have been a few people who have brought up alternative chipsets that offer potentially improved performance. If you have any other it would be great to put a comment in for them so people can try them out.

Design Overview

Cover removal:

The FrameVault uses a core structure that houses all the main components and ducts the air for cooling, then there is a cover the slides over the whole unit. This cover can easily be removed by sliding it off towards the front. This then allows the mainboard, hard drive and rear enclosures to be accessed.

Hard drive enclosure:

The FrameVault features a 4 bay HDD enclosure.

The hard drive enclosure features a quick release clip setup that allows the hard drives to easily be fitted and removed without the use of any tools. These clips are easily fitted and removed by squeezing in the arms.

Expansion Modules:

The Framework USB C expansion modules on the mainboard are maintained and still allow you to use whatever modules take you fancy. One of the most applicable ones for this conversion would be an Ethernet expansion card giving you a high speed connection, although the inbuilt WIFI on the mainboard is always available to be used.

Link to Framework Expansion Cars 

Cooling:

There is no additional active cooling devices required in addition to the built in fan on the Framework mainboard for the FrameVault. The hard drives are cooled by a passive convection setup. The cool air is pulled through the front vented panel then travels through a cooling duct underneath the hard drive enclosure. From here the cool air then travels up along the sides of the hard drives via some finned vents where the warm air then exits out of the rear of the FrameVault.

I ran a thermal test using this cooling setup with the convection cooling by transferring some large files at 120MB/s onto the hard drive in the enclosure for 3 hours straight. The temperature stabilised at 42°c on the hard drive which is a perfectly reasonable level. Each hard drive is effectively insulated from the neighbouring hard drive by the channel of air which cools it, and the natural convection means that as the temperature rises the air flow will increase through the cooling channels. 

For the cooling of the Framework mainboard the built in fan is used along with some ducts allowing clean air flow, ensuring cool air is always pulled into the enclosure. Similar to the HDD cooling, cool air is pulled through the front vented panel where it then travels into a dedicated inlet duct for the framework mainboard to the fan intake. The warm air then exits from the fan and travels to an exhaust duct where the air exits the rear of the enclosure.

Mainboard layout:

The Framework 12 Mainboard mounts into the FrameVault using the captive fasteners that are already part of the PCB. The mainboard can be easily accessed by removing the side panel. There is also the SATA adapter board mounted in this location in place of the SSD (there is a clip that can easily be removed off the mainboard to allow this covered in the build instructions below). Next to the SATA adapter is the pass through for the SATA cables to connect the the HDD's.

Rear case:

By removing the rear cover off the FrameVault you can get access to the rear of the hard drives allowing the SATA and power cables to be connected to the hard drives.

Power button:

There is a power button on the framework mainboard built in. This power button it actuated on the enclosure by using a flexure button that mounts to the casing. This then pushes on the button that is on the mainboard.

Build instructions

Step 1 - Mainboard preparation:

To allow the m.2 SATA adapter to be installed onto the mainboard some changes are required. The m.2 SSD needs removing and then the m.2 clip need to be removed from the board. This will then allow the longer m.2 SATA adapter to be installed in its place. Rather helpfully the people at iFixit have done a selection of build instruction for the Framework 12 laptop and one of those is the SSD clip replacement. Please follow steps 1-11 of the ifixit instructions on how to remove the SSD clip.

ifixit SSD Clip instructions

Step 2 - Gluing the printed sub components:

There are a few different parts that need gluing together from the set of printed parts. There are many different glues people use for 3d prints, but for this build I have used super glue. The mechanical interlocking of the parts will take up the majority of the load.

See the build video showing which different parts need to be bonded together:

Step 3 - Installing the mainboard into the core:

Use the captive fasteners already part of the Framework 12 Mainboard and bolt it into the case. The board should line up onto the posts on the case.

Step 4 - Fit the m.2 SATA board:

Fit the m.2 SATA adapter board into the slots on the Mainboard that previously had the SSD installed, the clip should have been removed in step 1. Use a M3 x 10mm screw to fasten the SATA adapter down.

Step 5 - Install the HDD's:

Installing the hard drives is easy, simply place a hard drive into one of the hard drive clips then insert it into the front of the enclosure. Pinch squeeze the hard drive clip and push it fully home until it is locked in place. This is demonstrated in the build video.

Step 6 - Cabling and rear cover:

Connect up the SATA cabling from the m.2 SATA adapter board to the 4 x HDD's using the rear for access. Also connect up the power cables and power adapter to the hard drives.

Step 7 - Install the covers:

Fit the bonded side cover over the mainboard with four M3 x 10mm screws. Then fit the rear cover with another four x M3 x 10mm screws. This is shown  in the build video.

Step 8 - Main cover:

Slide on the main cover over the whole unit from the front of the FrameVault. Once this cover has been slid over fit the power button by pushing the two pins into the holes in the cover. This is shown  in the build video.