License plate holder/bracket/mount for a 2018 Volkswagen Golf Alltrack. This may fit more models and years, but I am not sure. If it does, please let me know in a comment, and I will make a list here.
There are 11 possible mounting positions with the shorter standoffs using the silver trim like in the photos. The mount does allow ariflow around it so I don't think the bottom half blocking the grill will make much of a difference, if any, to the engine temperature while on the road.
The mount needs 4 12" long zip ties that are no more than 4.5mm or 3/16" wide, I found a multipack on amazon here:
As you can see, it is very sturdy when all four zip ties are tight.
Printing
Print face down as the STL is oriented.
Supports are not required
Print in PETG, ABS, or some other heat resistant filament. PLA is not recommended.
Use 3 or 4 walls or perimeters. This will be especially important when mounting the plate with screws. If you are electing to bolt it on, then less perimeters may be needed.
I used 25% gyroid infill for extra strength.
Mounting
See video. Notes are below.
You may wish to place a small mount of rubber or felt at the contact points of the standoffs to prevent scratching, if desired. The mount should not move around at all if the zip ties are tightened properly.
The way the mount is designed, the tail of the zip tie for the upper (short) mounts will need to be passed through the lower hole on the plate holder, fed through the grille under the silver trim, and then you will need to use your fingers to bend the zip tie around behind the grille and then pass through the holder again on the other size of the standoff. See pictures and video below.
See below pictures for positioning. Default position is centered inder the VW logo, and then there are five other possible positions to the left and right. Note other positions may obstruct sensors in the bumper based on the trim level of your car.
The longer (bottom) standoffs are positioned so they sit in the middle of the honeycomb grill pattern. Align the top shorter standoffs first on the silver trim and go left or right as desired.
Do not tighten down all zipties until you have the mount positioned properly. There are spots to push the head of the zip tie in order maintain a flush surface, as shown below.
Trim off the excess tail of the zip tie once all four ties are tigtened down and the mount doesnt move side to side. SIde cutter from your printer accessories is recommended to remove as much tail as possible. You don't want to cut yourself.
Use bolts or screws as desired to mount your plate. Holes for mounting your plate are approximately 3/16" or 5mm diameter, and just under 3/4" or 18mm deep.
Zip tie orientation detail:
Make sure you have a couple extra zip ties. Even I put one on the wrong way!
Design Development
I used Brichi's original design from Thingiverse. Click here to view it. His design was for a Golf R, so I wasn't hopeful that it would fit a Golf Alltrack. I was right, so I jumped into TinkerCAD to rework the design and make it work.
The honeycomb proved tricky, so I used a crayon to take a rubbing of the honeycomb grille and use for rough dimensions.
This provided a baseline, and the upper standoffs were good enough to fit the silver part of the grill, so I started interating the design in TinkerCAD.
Several versions and adjustments later I arrived at the final design. I'll admit I am not much of a CAD guru, but I know enough to be dangerous.
Several highlights included in the design:
Extra bracing in the mount face for rigidity. Probably overkill
shrunk and stretched the lower mounts to fit the honeycomb. Too lazy to design my own.
Braces on the lower mounts for extra rigitidy. Probably necessary to prevent breaking.
It took me a few hours of designing, and then time to print drafts of the mount (2 walls/top/bottom layers and 5% infill). I couldn't assume the changes I made in the second to the left were enough, and they weren't. Once I got the positinging right, I had to ensure the mount would be level. I suppose you could make it angled if desired for aero purposes, if you want to remix this.
ross549
