Spring has finally arrived and if you enjoy golf that means one thing- it’s time to hit the links! Have you ever thought much about how your golf clubs are assembled? If not, here’s a lesson for you.
Any type of golf club, whether your irons, putters, woods, or wedges made by Ping, Callaway, Titleist, Mizuno or others are all assembled using cyanoacrylates, also known as super glue. The cyanoacrylate fluid is used to bond the head grommet (rubber ring) to the shaft. The cyanoacrylate adhesive reacts with moisture ions on the surface of the conjoining substrates, thus creating the bond. The cyanoacrylate bond strength is greatly impacted by the application of the cyanoacrylate to the substrates. Too much cyanoacrylate may keep the bond from curing properly while too little cyanoacrylate may cause the bond to fail.
Since golf clubs are available in many different sizes and designs, it means that different amounts of cyanoacrylate must be dispensed for each. Cyanoacrylate dispense amounts can range from .011cc-.022cc. The golf club Process Design Engineer must determine the ideal dispense of cyanoacrylate that is “spot on” and provides the best bond (not too little, not too much). Much like finding success in your golf game, golf club design manufacture is about precision and repeatability in order to produce a high quality product that is long lasting. Unless, of course, a club is thrown at a tree in a fit of rage after a missed shot!
Cyanoacrylate has the strength and curing properties to adhere disparate surfaces as long as it is dispensed with no exposure to air or moisture. The automation and timing sequences for the cyanoacrylate dispense cycle needs to be precise. The SmartDispenser® is specifically designed for cyanoacrylate dispensing as it is a positive displacement fluid dispenser that removes unreliable moisture-filled air from the dispensing process. This ensures that premature curing due to air does not occur. The end result is superior bond strength- and a superior golf club.