Golf Club Face Insert Locating Fixture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for accurately and efficiently centering and welding a face insert into a golf club head during manufacturing are inefficient for mass production, lacking precision and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A manufacturing assembly comprising a face locating fixture and a pick fixture with suction cups and alignment prongs, which securely attaches to the face insert and aligns it within the golf club head, allowing for precise placement and welding, utilizing a pneumatic system for engagement and a holding fixture for secure retention of the club head.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional manual methods are used to center and attach face inserts, then flexibility is maintained, but manufacturing precision and productivity are insufficient for mass production
Solution Approach 1:
A face insert locating fixture serves as an intermediary tool between the face insert and the club head. The fixture includes a depression that receives the face insert and multiple locating holes that engage with alignmentprongs, precisely positioning the face insert relative to the club head opening before welding. This intermediary fixture enables both high precision centering and efficient mass production by allowing rapid setup and consistent reproduction across multiple units.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical centering methods with a fixture-based system using alignmentprongs and locating holes. Instead of relying on operator skill to center the face insert, the mechanical fixture automatically positions it through the interaction of alignmentprongs engaging with locating holes, ensuring consistent precision across all production units.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual centering methods are used, then device complexity is low, but manufacturing precision and alignment accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The locating fixture acts as an intermediary device that introduces controlled complexity to achieve high alignment accuracy. The fixture's depression receives the face insert while locating holes and alignmentprongs provide precise positional constraints, ensuring accurate centering without requiring complex manual measurement and adjustment procedures.
3Productivity
If automated pickup methods are used, then productivity increases, but ease of operation may worsen due to system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The locating fixture serves as an intermediary that simplifies the automated pickup and positioning process. By providing predetermined locating holes and alignmentprongs, the fixture enables automated systems to quickly and accurately position face inserts without requiring complex programming or adjustment, thereby maintaining ease of operation while increasing productivity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables accurate and efficient centering and welding of face inserts in golf club heads, facilitating mass production by ensuring precise alignment and secure attachment, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency and quality.
Implementation Method 1
the pick fixture may comprise at least one engagement mechanism, which may be at least one suction cup, or a plurality of suction cups
Data Source
AI summary
A manufacturing assembly and a method for locating a face insert in a golf club head during manufacture are disclosed herein. In particular, the manufacturing assembly comprises a face locating fixture sized to receive a golf club face insert and a pick fixture configured to removably attach to the face insert. The manufacturing assembly may further comprise a holding fixture sized to receive a golf club head and hold it in place while the face insert is aligned with the head during assembly.