A method for manufacturing a tennis ball by additive printing, and a tennis ball thus manufactured

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a tennis ball by additive manufacturing, comprising the following steps: a) Digital modeling of the ball with an internal structure including a gyroid filling generated by 3D slicing software; b) Generation of G-code optimizing the material distribution according to mechanical constraints; c) Additive manufacturing of the ball in one or more elements, using a flexible and impact-resistant polymer material; d) Assembly and finishing of the ball, including a post-treatment step involving heat or chemical processing to improve mechanical properties and bounce. The invention also relates to a tennis ball manufactured in this manner.