Bat fabrication system and method

Abstract

A bat is created using efficient and automated techniques to apply layers of composite materials onto a mandrel. The system includes a plurality of rotating wrapping mechanisms binding stages. Each wrapping mechanism rotates along a central axis while a mandrel is driven through the axis. The rotational motion allows each wrapping mechanism to wrap one or more material strips along the outer surface of the mandrel. Between each wrapping layer, a binding material such as fusible thread may be applied to fuse wrapping layers together. The wrapping may be performed for the bat barrel and bat handle. Each mandrel may form two bats, and multiple mandrels can be connected together to maximize wrapping efficiency. The wrapped mandrels are separated into bat units, a resin transfer molding is performed, and the bats are completed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for fabricating a bat, comprising:
 receiving a mandrel by a bat fabrication system;   automatically wrapping the mandrel with at least two strips of material applied by a rotating wrapping mechanism within the bat fabrication system.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mandrel is formed from wax. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mandrel includes a slot for receiving bushing. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic wrapping is performed by a plurality of wrapping mechanisms. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of wrapping mechanisms includes a first wrapping mechanism rotating in a first direction and a second wrapping mechanism rotating in a second direction. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further including adding a binding material to the wrapping applied by the wrapping mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising heating the binding material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the wrapping mechanism rotates about an axis, the mandrel driven in a direction perpendicular to a rotation plane of the wrapping mechanism, the material wrapped around the mandrel in the direction of the rotation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first mandrel is connected to a wrapped mandrel using a bushing inserted between the mandrels before the second mandrel is received by the wrapping mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the bushing is removed after a wrapping of the second mandrel 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 connecting a rod to the mandrel; and   forming a bat handle by a wrapping material over the rod by a plurality of wrapping mechanisms.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , including performing resin transfer molding on the wrapped mandrel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising performing resin transfer molding to the mandrel with bat handle wrapping. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising melting the wax mandrel after the resin transfer molding is cured.