Additive manufacturing for golf club shaft
A golf club shaft includes an extended body that includes an outer layer and extends between a butt end and a tip end. The extended body includes at least two unlike materials printed together, and the extended body is unitary.
1 . A golf club shaft, comprising:
an extended body that includes an outer layer and a core, wherein at least a portion of the core is a hollow tubular structure, the extended body extending between a butt end and a tip end and defining a longitudinal axis that extends centrally through the butt end and the tip end,
wherein the outer layer and the core comprise at least two unlike materials printed together, wherein the extended body is unitary,
wherein the extended body has a round cross section that gradually tapers in diameter between the tip end and the butt end, wherein an outer passage is formed between the core and an inner surface of the outer layer, and wherein the core defines an inner central passage that is intersected by the longitudinal axis and is in communication with the outer passage via a plurality of radial passages formed through the core.
2 . The golf club shaft of claim 1 , wherein the at least two unlike materials are sintered together.
3 . The golf club shaft of claim 2 , wherein the at least two unlike materials includes at least one of a nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or carbon fiber material.
4 . The golf club shaft of claim 3 , wherein the outer layer has a substantially tubular shape.
5 . The golf club shaft of claim 4 , wherein the extended body defines a longitudinal axis that intersects the butt end and the tip end, the outer layer being coaxial with the longitudinal axis.
6 . The golf club shaft of claim 1 , wherein the outer layer is coextensive with the butt end and the tip end of the extended body.
7 . The golf club shaft of claim 1 , wherein the outer layer comprises a perimeter of carbon fiber and the extended body further includes a plurality of ribs disposed inside the outer layer, wherein the plurality of ribs are formed of at least one of a nylon, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, or carbon fiber material.
8 . A golf club shaft, comprising:
a butt end;
a tip end;
an extended body that includes an outer layer and defines a length along a longitudinal axis that extends centrally through the tip end and the butt end; and
a core disposed within and along a portion of the extended body, wherein at least a portion of the core is a hollow tubular structure, wherein the length of the extended body includes a first section and a second section that are coaxial with one another relative to the longitudinal axis, wherein the first section comprises a first material that is different from a second material of the second section, wherein the first and second materials are printed together, such that the extended body is unitary, wherein the first section extends from the butt end of the shaft to the second section, and
wherein the core defines an inner central passage intersected by the longitudinal axis, the inner central passage being in communication with a plurality of radial passages formed through the core.
9 . The golf club shaft of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first material and the second material is a metal material.
10 . The golf club shaft of claim 8 , wherein the first section has a first stiffness that is different from a second stiffness of the second section.
11 . The golf club shaft of claim 10 , wherein the first section includes a plurality of ribs that at least partially fills an interior cavity of the first section.
12 . The golf club shaft of claim 8 , wherein the first material is carbon fiber and the second material is at least one of a nylon or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene material.
13 . A golf club shaft, comprising:
an extended body defining a longitudinal axis that extends centrally through a tip end and a butt end of the golf club shaft, and through which a plane extends, the plane defining a first side of the extended body and a second side of the extended body;
an outer layer disposed about the longitudinal axis of the extended body; and
a rib disposed along a length of the extended body and extending inwardly from the outer layer to an inner ring, wherein a first side of the rib is disposed proximate to the outer layer and at least partially defines an outer passage with the outer layer, wherein a second side of the rib is disposed distal to the outer layer, wherein the rib and the inner ring define an inner passage that is intersected by the longitudinal axis, the inner passage being in communication with the outer passage via a radial passage formed through the core, wherein the golf club shaft includes a first material of the outer layer and a second material of the core that is different from the first material, wherein the first material of the outer layer and the second material of the core are printed together as a unitary structure.
14 . The golf club shaft of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first material or the second material is a metal material.
15 . The golf club shaft of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first material or the second material is a non-metal material.
16 . The golf club shaft of claim 15 , wherein a length of the extended body includes a first section and a second section, and the rib is disposed in the first section.
17 . The golf club shaft of claim 16 , wherein the rib is disposed in an outer wall of the extended body.
18 . The golf club shaft of claim 17 , wherein the golf club shaft has a round cross section and tapers in diameter between the tip end and the butt end.