still working on my off-road, kiteskate, and powered project. I have two frames the first more curvey one is what I plan on having made. We were planning on aluminum but now are debating using high strength plastic. Anyone have ideas about plastic for such an application. Hopefuly this frame will be ready around 100 units by this summer. The first frame is the one planned, what do you think. This is not just a CAD experment as we have working prototypes.

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Thanks Rich
www.terrablades.com

basic Blue

I'm not one for camo.....

Having a background in plastics and production I would go for an engineered resin. Looking at your demo the frame looks like an easy mold to make and this would open up the color window also for production. You would be amazed at the PSI strength of plastics. Does this ride have brakes? And what are the 2 bars on the left side of the unit? Good luck with this project- it looks like it could be a good one! -Paul

Thats good info thanks! Do you know what a mold would cost? Where do I start with the road to plastic production. Have only studied metal.

The bars are standard Shimano Mountainbike brakes. They clinch the wheel

Nice designs! I wonder if the modulation on those brakes might be tough to get right. Very powerful brakes, designed for two much larger wheels, not four, may lead to seriously touchy stopping. Maybe choking up un the lever so you don't have such brake power? I'd bet a one finger lever on the handle is all you'll need. I like the blue style too.

The cheapest way to have a mold made is by casting your current prototype that you have been using then a mold could be created. Using cad drawings could get pricey for a small run of units. Some tool and die shops will work with you by taking a % of profits but you really have to have a good sale to get that deal! I would try to find a plastics molding company [injection] that has their own mold making unit and see what they say. At least it would be a starting point.

BRAKES :o
I brake by using my kite and check my speed by dragging one foot / toe behind or side slipping ? Like I do with the buggy.
When would brakes be of value with a kite . :puzzled:
To me it makes about as much sense as brakes on a buggy :!:

I hope what I said didn't come accross as mean spirited ! If you are out to make a commercial product brakes are important. Folks who want them for downhill will no doubt use them.
My experience so far is strictly with Coyotes and they have a different wheel base. They do have a creative brake system but I have never had call to use it with a kite. I'm not sure how folks on doom wheels check speed / brake. If I was building a skate like yours for kiting I'ld just forget the brake and save the money.

My Coyotes seem to run well on just 3 wheels. Are you sure you NEED 4 ? I think they fall short on sand more because they are such a narrow wheel more than the number of them.

You look to have things thought out pretty well so I shouldn't expect you haven't thought of these things. I always admire those who are out to build a better wheel !!

Thanks for feedback.

Get this took our skates to a plastics company they quoted $100,000.00 to make the mold. Tell me if you want to make it heh! Stumped in that department.

I am looking into getting my own CNC machine so can make them on a per order basis at lower cost.

Regarding the actual functioning of the skates allready have made 6 pairs and use them with kites, modified rollercycles, and down trails with great success. They float over about anything, seem to hold a decent line while kite skating and turn on a dime due to rockering. The brakes are needed for trail riding only.

my site has a tons of kiteskating videos and stuff. Not as fast as our founder Bob but quick enough for me.

Personally I really like using ski boots, a good begginner boot is light and easy to walk in (Central Entry boot or Alpine Touring boot) and you can walk around fix the kite and stuff if things go wrong. They can be really confortable if its a decent boot, all day in them never a blister. The other day drove around with the rollercycle for 30 miles with no discomfort.

We tested the coyotes the other day on the trails against my skates the coyotes bogged down and stopped many many times to the point my friend wanted to head back, while the 8 wheel 2 inch Terrablades went over everything. Charles is an Olympic skater so hes better than me but still with Coyotes he could not keep up.

The material cost is huge, Bomber Snowboard bindings, 8 air filled tires, 4 brakes and the aluminum so I don't think can get them under $450. I don't care if its just a breakeven but have to at least cover material costs. So that might scare some folks away.

Anyone that is seriously interested let me know as I want to put a list together. As I mentioned right now its not for profit really, but more orders makes my cost go down so thats good to. Up the road plan on making a few bucks but not enough to quit the day job, really just promoting the sport and paying for the habit is enough for me. But you never know off-road skating, kite skating, powered skating could become more popular.

Grass skiing was really cool its a shame it never really caught on. There is still a few resorts in Japan and Europe and one in the USA that has it but I think grass skiing never got the attention it deserved. I have allways wanted to do it more but you need perfect grassy slopes so this is a sequel to an old great sport hopefully.

R.
www.terrablades.com

Hey look around you can find a smaller shop to make that mold, or give General Composites a call in Westport, N.Y.. They proto type every day. i also think that would look better in carbon fiber. www.affordablecomposites.com