Patent ID: 7584531
Filing Date: 2009-09-08
Classification: A63B,B23C,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of manufacturing a golf club head with a variable thickness face plate, the variable thickness face plate including a central thickened region surrounded by a transition region tapering from the central thickened region to a thinner peripheral region, the variable thickness face plate further including a first circumferential intersection between the central thickened region and the transition region and a second circumferential intersection between the transition region and the thinner peripheral region, the method comprising: providing a face plate having an outer surface, an inner surface, and a first thickness; locating a ball end mill revolving about an axis generally normal to the inner surface of the face plate at an initial location on the first circumferential intersection; machining the inner surface of the face plate by moving the revolving ball end mill in a radial direction outwardly toward and through the transition region and the peripheral region to machine the inner surface of the face plate creating a tool channel having a width as the ball end mill traverses the transition region and the peripheral region and thereby vary the thickness of the face plate in the tool channel; raising the revolving ball end mill in a direction normal to the surface of the face plate; relocating the revolving ball end mill to a subsequent location on the first circumferential intersection adjacent to the previous tool channel; and repeating the machining, raising and relocating steps until the end mill has traversed the entire circumference of the first circumferential intersection.