i have a sick idea for a ultra light/strong cone.. it will take some R&D to get it right but its strength to weight ratio could easily surpass the normal cured fiber cones. its an ingenious idea and i was saving it for my woofers but if someones willing to give me some royalties ill be glad to help...
you use the same concept everyday in a tool you use.. as for soft parts the best way IMO with cloth is to simply make the strands larger in diameter.. if it wouldn't be so costly you could use microprocessor controlled dampeners like those found in Cadillac cars.hehe.. there are better colutions than cloth but there going to cost an arm an a leg to machine.. im talking more than the motors themselves..