Snap-In Mount for Apple Magic Keyboard A3118 (Touch ID, USB-C)

Two identical glue-on clips that hold an Apple Magic Keyboard with Touch ID (USB-C, model A3118) on a flat vertical surface: a metal plate, panel, desk side, monitor stand and so on. No screws, no tools. The keyboard snaps in and pulls out by hand.

How it works

• Each clip is a 10 mm wide strip with a ledge and a lip at the bottom and a small flexible snap hook at the top.

• Hook the bottom edge of the keyboard under the lower lip, tilt the top toward the surface and press until it clicks.

• To take it off, pull the top edge gently away from the surface.

• The keyboard sits about 2 mm off the surface, on the back strip of the clips.

• The thin front edge of the keyboard goes at the bottom, with the keys facing out.

Where to glue the clips

Glue the two clips about 10 mm in from each end of the keyboard, at exactly the same height. The distance between the outer edges of the two clips is the keyboard width minus 20 mm. For the A3118 (278.9 mm wide) that is 258.9 mm, or 248.9 mm between the centres. I used 3M VHB double-sided tape. Degrease the surface first. The flat back face of each clip is the glue face.

Fit

Designed around the real measurements of my keyboard: depth 114.5 mm, edge thickness 4.0 mm at the bottom (front) and 9.5 mm at the top (back). Apple lists 278.9 x 114.9 x 4.1 to 10.9 mm. I tested it on the A3118 only. The A3119 (with numeric keypad) has the same depth and thickness in Apple's specs, so it should fit but it is untested; you only need a wider spacing (width minus 20 mm).

Keyboards differ a little, so print the 3 mm fit-test slice first if you are unsure. It takes a few minutes.

Printing

• Print 2 clips. Print them exactly as supplied: lying flat, no supports. The 10 mm height is the width of the clip, so the layers run in the direction the hook bends and the hook is strong.

• PETG is what I used and recommend. The hook flexes, so I would avoid brittle materials.

• Tested on a Bambu Lab A1 with a 0.4 mm nozzle and Bambu's stock 0.20 mm Standard profile: 2 walls, 15% grid infill, no supports. No special settings are needed, even though the hook arm is only 1.2 mm thick.

Customizing (OpenSCAD source included)

• KB_D, KB_T0, KB_T1: keyboard depth, bottom edge thickness, top edge thickness (mm)

• CLR_Y: vertical play. Raise it if the keyboard is hard to get in.

• CLR_BOT, CLR_TOP: play at the bottom lip and at the top hook

• LIP_BOT: how far the bottom lip reaches over the keyboard (3 mm)

• LIP_TOP: how far the top hook reaches over the keyboard (1.5 mm). Smaller = easier snap in and out, larger = holds tighter.

• ARM: thickness of the flexible hook arm (1.2 mm). Thinner = softer, thicker = stiffer.

• CATCH, TIP, RAMP: hook shape. A longer CATCH makes removal easier, a longer RAMP makes pushing in easier.

• W: clip width (10 mm)

Apple, Magic Keyboard and Touch ID are trademarks of Apple Inc. This is an independent accessory and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple.