TJ has agreed to loan me his example, and I am in contact with a company in Seattle that would cast the item. Since I am planning on being out there next month I will meet with them at that time. I am working with them via email at this time.
Robert is this injection molding?
It would be urethane casting.
I am checking the same on my side.
So what is the difference between the Urethane and the polyester propylene that they were originally made from?
urethane is cast, polyester propylene is injection molded and much more start up expensive, but less expensive is you make tens of thousands parts.
there are many different urethane properties so one can be selected the the desired characteristics or colors.
for urethane a silicone mold can make up to @50 parts before it wears out.
to do this the original has to be 3d scanned, then corrected for wear flaws and then scaled to account to shrinkage. a part will then be 3d printed and used to make silicone molds. 1-2 parts can be cast per day. So there will still be considerable start up costs, but way less than making an injection mold.
Just got word on my side. The issues of this urethane pathway are similar to extrusion, in a way that the molding costs are prohibitively high. The actual spoiler cost adds another 100+dollar to the price.
I conclude that carbon and glassfiber are the only affordable options.
Maybe affordable enough to simply buy 2 of them, in case one busts the first one.
I will continue my research over here on the cast ones. The company I am working with also works with Daimler Trucking on air dam designs for their new generation of trucks, also worked with Kenworth Truck and Tesla Motors as well.
Best deal I could squeeze is 600usd per spoiler, ex.works, if one were able to order 50 units..
Urethane, ABS, all not a prob
In one go, that is..
Can't see myself getting a 50 unit/30.000usd order any time soon,m so I will end up choosing glass-fiber or carbon, at a mere 200usd a pop.
Let's hope you got more luck then me, Rumb.
and indeed.. the silence here has been baffling. No queues visible at 600usd a piece.