Single Piece Touchpad Module
The Single Piece Touchpad Module is a 3D-printed replacement for the Framework Laptop 16's multi-piece touchpad row, eliminating the visible seams and gaps between the touchpad module and its surrounding spacers. Created by community member Joseph_Schroedl (RosePeach on Printables) in July 2024, it was the first community solution to address the widely discussed touchpad spacer gap problem1.
The Framework Laptop 16 features a modular input deck that allows the touchpad to be placed in the left, center, or right position. This flexibility requires removable Touchpad Spacers to fill empty slots alongside the touchpad. However, the resulting seams between modules were a common complaint — The Verge's review noted "visible, sometimes rough seams" and that the "input modules still feel a bit prototype-y in terms of fit and finish"2. A dedicated community thread on the issue accumulated 187 replies3.
Design
Joseph reverse-engineered the Framework Laptop 16 touchpad holder — which consists of an injection-molded plastic piece glued to an aluminum facade — and extended the sides to create a single continuous palm rest piece1. The user unscrews the touchpad module and its daughterboard from the original holder, then screws them into the 3D-printed replacement.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Designer | Joseph_Schroedl (RosePeach) |
| Design tool | Autodesk Fusion 360 |
| License | Free and open source (Printables) |
| Print orientation | Flat side (palm rest) facing build plate |
| Minimum printer size | Larger than Prusa MK4 bed required for single-piece print |
| Source files | STL + Fusion 360 project file on Printables4 |
The latch mechanisms were adapted from TDCB's existing Framework Laptop 16 Trackpad Spacer model on Printables5. The Fusion 360 source file was also published, enabling users to modify the design for CNC machining from aluminum or other materials1.
Printing Notes
- The piece must be printed as a single piece to achieve the seamless design — this is the entire purpose of the project1
- Framework's screws are not self-tapping, but can cut threads into the 3D-printed plastic with even pressure. Over-tightening will strip the threads1
- Community member Wim_Godden used a soldering iron to apply heat for better thread formation in the plastic1
- NEITG demonstrated printing on a Bambu Lab P2S by orienting the part vertically corner-to-corner, requiring extensive supports. Basic PLA was used as a proof of concept1
Development History
Community Showcase (July 2024)
Joseph posted the project on July 8, 2024 with photos of the assembled module installed on a Framework Laptop 16. His Prusa MK4 was too small to print it as a single piece, so the initial photos showed a multi-part version — though the design was intended for single-piece printing1.
Community feedback included discussion about touchpad positioning preferences (centered vs. offset under the space bar), and Joseph confirmed the design could be easily adjusted for left, center, or right touchpad alignment1.
Open Source Release (September 2024)
On September 9, 2024, Joseph made the design free and open source on Printables, removing the previous purchase requirement1. The Fusion 360 project file was included, allowing anyone to modify the model.
Framework's Official Version (September 2025)
In September 2025, community member Quentin_Delannoit noted that Framework had uploaded their own official single-piece touchpad STL files to GitHub under the FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-16 repository in the Touchpad/ directory6. Framework released three variants — left, middle, and right alignment — all licensed under CC BY 4.06.
The timing coincided with Framework's August 26, 2025 YouTube video "Framework Laptop 16 - Prototypes and scrapped ideas," where Framework CEO Nirav Patel acknowledged the community's 3D-printed solutions and stated7:
"We actually saw some cool projects coming up in the framework community where people were designing 3D printed single piece solutions for that bottom row which then of course lets you 3D print custom positions based on where you want to use that touchpad. And we decided to actually just make our own version of this off of our official CAD."
Patel noted the official version "ended up being a lot more comfortable and usable than we expected it to be" and confirmed it would be published on GitHub for download7.
The Touchpad Spacer Problem
The Framework Laptop 16's modular input deck is one of its defining features, but the multi-piece touchpad row has been a consistent source of community feedback since the laptop's launch3:
- Visible seams and gaps between the touchpad module, spacers, and adjacent modules
- Height inconsistencies — some spacers sit higher than the laptop frame
- Lint and debris collecting in the gaps
- Color mismatch between metal spacers and the touchpad module
- Flex — spacers can bend upward during use, worsening the seam appearance2
Framework sells replacement Touchpad Spacers for £15/$19 each8, but these are the same multi-piece design. The single-piece 3D-printed solutions address the root cause by eliminating seams entirely.
Related Projects
| Project | Description |
|---|---|
| FrameworkComputer/Framework-Laptop-16 Touchpad | Official Framework single-piece touchpad STL files (left/mid/right), CC BY 4.06 |
| cscott/TouchpadSpacerFW16 | C. Scott Ananian's PCB-based full-width blanks, ThinkPad clickpad cutout, and 3D-printed rail/latch parts. CC BY 4.09 |
| Framework Laptop 16 Trackpad Spacer by TDCB | Improved-tolerance 3D-printed spacer models on Printables5 |
| Full Size Keyboard and Touchpad (No Spacer Seams) | Community thread requesting a no-seam solution (January 2024) |
| Issue of touchpad spacers | 187-reply thread on spacer gap issues (January 2024)3 |