lets get some iX mudflaps made. Who can help?

[ghatid]

hi....
you need pictures ?

I couldn't get anyone to send me their flaps, but it would be great if you had photos of the hardware so I could see what it looks like.

I'm still pretty sure I can mold these (not perfectly, but reasonably so) if I had a set, but I don't have any to try.

[SilberSurfer]

hi....
you need pictures ?

[ghatid]

Anyone have input on the hardware for the front mudflaps? I can't seem to find a part number, or even a clear picture showing what they look like. From my search, it looks like they aren't that different from the regular front e30 mudflaps, which I also can't seem to find available online...

I'm working on calculating the cost per part right now, waiting for a fellow r3v to send me the flaps, but if I'm successful, I'm still gonna need to get some hardware to kit with the flaps for people to be able to get them on their cars.

[z122643]

I have seen over the years on this thread that people have scanned the front mud flaps. WHERE ARE THE SCANS! Can someone make the scans available so we all have at least a small chance in hell in making these?

pretty please cherry on top...

[ghatid]

If someone has a pair, at this point, I'm willing to shell out the money to try to get it made. I think I could mold it, if not, I'd send it out for some professionals. By my guesstimation, using the methods/materials I'm thinking of, I think it could make sense at ~$120-150 a pair if I make 20. They won't look as good as the original, but they should do well. Also, some of you all are talking about 3d printing them, and I don't think that's a good idea at all...3d printed materials are just not going to withstand outside use.

If someone is willing to let me borrow their for a month (hopefully less), I would love to give it a shot. I could give them a deposit of some sort as a symbol of good faith.

[Chris Spiegl]

just saying i would pay a good amount for a nice set of these

[ghatid]

So... is this dead?

Also who has scans of the front mudflaps? Otherwise I have to design them from scratch, and I'm lazy.

I think so, but I still think the easiest way would be to make a mold out of someone's relatively decent shaped flaps.

Designing them from scratch would be pretty neat. You could make them however you'd like and then sign your name on the back:).

[z122643]

So... is this dead?

Also who has scans of the front mudflaps? Otherwise I have to design them from scratch, and I'm lazy.

[2002tiiguy]

I am in the process of rebuilding the brackets for the front, they are the same as the regular ones but they have a spacer, once i finish the bracket i can show you pictures, the brackets for the rears can be had but as far as i know, you can only get them with the rear flaps as a set. pm me if you have any other questions

[ghatid]

i spent a lot of time looking into this a year ago. there was no suitable 3d printer material available at that time that was flexible enough and able to handle the temperature extremes from say -30 to 120f. getting dies made for injection molding will be an expensive proposition. depending on the quality of the dies, they could cost a lot.

3d printed dies would be about 12-1500 dollars. apparently they won't last very long. machined sets would cost over 3 grand.

I work with 3d printing stuff on a daily basis. I think the cheapest way to do it would be to get the flaps from someone, make a silicone mold with them, and cast urethane parts. You don't need to do any kind of 3d printing, and the parts that come out won't be amazing, but they'll be better than a 3d printed part that was printed using a part file someone CADed by making measurements off of the actual part.

Something like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zs9SBpday84

Except, I would make the top half of the mold first and then mold the bottom half of the mold so that I can control the parting line.

Cost wise, it would be very reasonable. The cost of Silicone is expensive, but not crazy. I've worked with Oomoo 30 and I've gotten good results:

https://www.smooth-on.com/products/oomoo-30/

And then you would use some kind of urethane which mud flaps are often made of (of course there are about 1.25 million types of urethane so they aren't all the same).

Maybe something like this?

https://www.zoro.com/devcon-liquid-rubber-1-lb-15800/i/G1048756/?gclid=Cj0KEQjwhtO7BRCtwuO9gfTH-fQBEiQAdJ8FY5xudaFcdGa0nwZREH3cHZHZEgzxYkn4uOmoG3WRH6saApj28P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

That last one I'm the least sure about.

One of the problems with this route is that whoever makes them can probably only make 1 set a day per mold. Also, the material cost per flap is not negligible (as most things are when you mold them, but it's a bigger part). But other than that, it should be pretty easy to do, if you have a set of flaps.

Hrm, I guess I can offer my services if someone wants to send me flaps. I have a sand blaster (I'd use soda blast for the plastic), so I'd be able to get anyone's set pretty clean, and I am kind of between jobs right now. Anyone looking for a medical device mechanical engineer?

Also, how complicated is the hardware? From the photos online, it looks like we'd be able to make do with just a laser cut sheet metal and nuts/screws.

[flyboyx]

I am serious, but need to research the available materials to confirm they are suitable. We'd all be better off with someone making a mold, not 3D printing parts.

i spent a lot of time looking into this a year ago. there was no suitable 3d printer material available at that time that was flexible enough and able to handle the temperature extremes from say -30 to 120f. getting dies made for injection molding will be an expensive proposition. depending on the quality of the dies, they could cost a lot.

3d printed dies would be about 12-1500 dollars. apparently they won't last very long. machined sets would cost over 3 grand.

[bradnic]

I am serious, but need to research the available materials to confirm they are suitable. We'd all be better off with someone making a mold, not 3D printing parts.

[2002tiiguy]

if your serious ill send mine

[bradnic]

Indeed. So many false starts. Hell I have a commercial grade 3D printer at my office. Somebody send me their front flaps and I'll get some scans done and print samples made

[EyExR]

Might as well delete this thread. It's a lost cause...