reflective optic inserts

[JMohr]

I am quoting a mold for a reflector and need some direction where I can find a company that produces the reflective optics that you see in a reflector that you see on a bicycle or a side marker on a car.I know of a process of plating the actual plastic part with nickle but I think that that is too soft and may not last as long as I need it to.

 

[insideman]

Plastic parts are usually metalled by vapor deposition of aluminum, overcoated with a lacquer dip. No very durable!

 

[smokehouse]

If you are talking about the mold inserts with little "diamonds" that make/form the reflective optics, they are called Electroforms.
They are made of nickle and are a very specialized product whose methods of manufacture are somewhat secret..
The part that is plated on a reflective assembly is the lens Housing... not the lens itself.