DF Velomobile Hood Bungee Hold Down System

thingiverse

This project includes the .stl files necessary for printing both sides of a "squish" mold and the bungee hooks required to build the DF velomobile race hood hold downs as seen in the photo. This system is similar to the factory IntercityBike DF velomobile system, but it's generic enough that it could be used elsewhere. The mold is used to make the carbon fiber strips that serve as anchors for the 4mm bungee. To print them strongly, I recommend printing with PETG. Print the mold halves as shown with the hollow sides down and the hooks on their sides. To create the carbon fiber strips from the mold: Coat both mold halves with Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) mold release. Once it's dry, apply 1 or 2 layers of carbon fiber cloth to one side of the mold. Saturate the cloth with epoxy resin and place the other side of the mold on top. Clamp the mold halves together until the carbon fiber cures. Gently pry the mold halves apart and cut out the strips from the cured carbon fiber piece, following the shapes etched in the mold surface for guidance. Attach them to the hood by roughing up the attachment surfaces with sandpaper and using a strong epoxy adhesive. Complete the hook system with 4mm bungee. Update: New heavier-duty versions of the mold halves have been uploaded to reduce cracking risk. They are holddownMold-m-5mm.stl and holddownMold-f-5mm.stl.