A method of forming a composite shaft, comprising: unspooling a first portion of a plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips over a shaft base, the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips being unspooled from an axial fiber strip dispensing assembly; translating a first consolidation element (172, 224) axially towards the axial fiber strip dispensing assembly to couple the first portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips to the shaft base, the first consolidation element being configured to apply heat and radially inward pressure to the first portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips; translating the shaft base in a first axial direction to unspool a second portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips over the first portion of the plurality of axial fiber strips; translating a second consolidation element (182, 230) axially towards the axial fiber strip dispensing assembly to couple the second portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips to the first portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips, the second consolidation element (182, 230) being configured to apply heat and radially inward pressure to the second portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips; and translating the shaft base in a second axial direction to unspool a third portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips over the second portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips. unspooling a first portion of a plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips over a shaft base, the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips being unspooled from an axial fiber strip dispensing assembly; translating a first consolidation element (172, 224) axially towards the axial fiber strip dispensing assembly to couple the first portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips to the shaft base, the first consolidation element being configured to apply heat and radially inward pressure to the first portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips; translating the shaft base in a first axial direction to unspool a second portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips over the first portion of the plurality of axial fiber strips; translating a second consolidation element (182, 230) axially towards the axial fiber strip dispensing assembly to couple the second portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips to the first portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips, the second consolidation element (182, 230) being configured to apply heat and radially inward pressure to the second portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips; and translating the shaft base in a second axial direction to unspool a third portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips over the second portion of the plurality of circumferentially adjacent axial fiber strips.