I'm having a completely awful time with the clamp release puzzles with keyboard/mouse controls.

Especially with the overall (10 seconds) and individual piece time limits.

Any tips? Hell even a cheat to give me more time?

You just have to train your muscle memory to get used to pressing W = top, WD = top right, D = right, DS = bottom right, and so on, until it becomes more instinctive. If you have troubling memorizing, then put some post-it notes on the screen: put W next to the top button, and WD next to the top right button, and so on, so that the screen shows what keys you need to press.

I eventually got it but I'm not sure how and I am not sure I could do it again lol