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Cobra Debuts Metal 3D-Printed Commercial Putter via HP, Parmatech Collaboration

February 24, 2021
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Cobra Golf has unveiled its King Supersport-35 putter, developed via a 2-yr. collaboration with Cobra engineers and teams at HP Inc. and Parmatech, and featuring a 3D-printed metal body with an intricate lattice structure designed to optimize weight distribution and deliver the highest-possible moment of inertia (MOI) in a blade shape, according to Cobra officials. Using Parmatech’s production capabilities and expertise, and HP’s Metal Jet 3D Printing system, the team’s developed a unique putter design that also employs SIK Golf’s Descending Loft Technology (DLT) in the putter head’s face insert.
The new King Supersport-35 putter from Cobra Golf, developed via a 2-yr. collaboration with Cobra engineers and teams at HP and Parmatech, features a 3D-printed, latticed stainless-steel putter-head body as well as an aluminum-lattice insert. The collaboration employed Cobra’s inhouse engineering expertise as well as Parmatech’s production capabilities and HP’s Metal Jet 3D printing system.
The entire putter body is printed on the HP Metal Jet using Type 316 stainless steel, and then sintered at a high temperature to bind the metal and form the final head part. HP’s technology is able to deliver high part quality with minimal post-process finishing, according to Cobra officials, and enables engineers to print an intricate lattice structure within the body, not possible using traditional casting or forging methods. The lattice design and incorporation into the putter-head body reportedly optimizes the distribution of weight within the putter head to create the highest MOI without the need for additional fixed weights. During the final step of the manufacturing process, the surfaces of the putter are precision CNC milled to ensure precise shaping and detail while adding the finishing cosmetic touches.

“HP’s 3D-printing technology allows us to utilize a complex lattice structure to remove weight from the center of the putter head and push significant amounts of weight to the perimeter,” says Jose Miraflor, vice president of marketing for Cobra Golf. “The result is superior MOI levels and massively increased stability and forgiveness. So not only is the 3D-printed production method more consistent, but it also allows us to design products in a new and superior way.”

Adding to the innovation, SIK Golf’s DLT has been engineered into the putter’s aluminum face insert―a design that saves weight from the front of the putter to give it a softer feel than a traditional all-steel SIK putter face. 

Cobra selected HP as its partner to pioneer 3D printing, according to Cobra officials, due to the Metal Jet’s quicker processing time and greater design adaptability as compared to traditional processes and other 3D-printing technologies. This enabled Cobra engineers to design, prototype and test multiple iterations and bring the product to market much faster than via traditional manufacturing methods. 

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As shown here, engineers were able to print an intricate lattice structure within the body of the putter head, not possible using traditional casting or forging methods. Besides the softer feel, the design’s lattice reportedly optimizes the distribution of weight within the putter head to create the highest moment of inertia without the need for additional fixed weights.
p>Cobra and HP, beginning its project partnership in early 2019, by early 2020 had created 35 design iterations over the course of eight months―a testament to the design freedom and speed of product innovation inherent in 3D printing. In addition to the King Supersport-35 putter launch, the brands are working together on a strategic, multi-year product roadmap to deliver future golf equipment. Cobra has plans to launch two additional products in 2021 that feature 3D-printed technology. 

 

“At Cobra Golf, we strive to deliver high-performance products that help golfers of all levels play their best and enjoy the game,” Miraflor says. “To do that, it’s critical to use the most effective manufacturing processes to design, develop and achieve optimal results, and we’ve certainly done that with this new putter. To continue innovating and transforming the way equipment is manufactured, we worked with HP and Parmatech to take advantage of the benefits of Metal Jet technology. 3D printing is accelerating design innovation, and this breakthrough putter will help usher in a new era for the sporting equipment industry at large.” 

The King Supersport-35 is offered in limited quantities online at www.cobragolf.com, available only as a 34-in., righthanded club. And, along with pushing the technology envelope through the use of metal 3D printing, the putter boasts a lightweight polyurethane Lamkin Sinkfit Smart Grip, which comes standard with Cobra Connect. Here, sensors embedded into the grip automatically record detailed putting data, allowing golfers to track improvement after each round.
Industry-Related Terms: Center, CNC, Form, Insert, Prototype, Stainless Steel
View Glossary of Metalforming Terms

 

See also: HP Inc.

Technologies: Additive Manufacturing

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