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How to Achieve a Fully Waterproof Enclosure Design

How to Achieve a Fully Waterproof Enclosure Design
How to Achieve a Fully Waterproof Enclosure Design

No matter the product or its material, waterproof must mean waterproof, and that means you must have the materials required to seal off your product without a trace of leakage. Waterproof enclosures are required for proper safety conditions to be met in some applications processing dangerous materials. Across all industries, products often require a watertight enclosure, and there are specific proven materials to enable you to achieve this.

Creating a Fully Leak-Proof Seal Design

To seal an enclosure off and make it watertight, you’ll need a seal that is fully leak-proof so that water can’t get in, even under pressure. There are two seal types to consider:

Face Gaskets

Face gaskets are mechanical seals made of metal, which work differently from other seals. They have holes which bolts can enter and lock into to close the gap. Gaskets require perfecting not just the size, but also the alignment of the parts, because the bolts must fit correctly into the holes for the seal to work.

O-Ring Seals

O-rings are a seal technology that has been used in aerospace-grade applications for decades, and are well-known to work very effectively in being leak-proof and air-tight. Silicone o-ring seals are one material commonly used, because it’s able to be made to the most accurate shape and size of the point it needs to seal. You can find silicone o-rings in a wide range of sizes, measured based on their inside diameter (ID). Silicone o-rings are the best option for food applications, because it’s a food-grade material safe to use for food processing, even at high temperatures.

O-Ring Seal Design Best Practices

Choosing the right size of a silicone o-ring is critical. Look for the ID number of a seal to match with the internal diameter of your seal’s application. When designing a seal with an o-ring, you’ll need to know the percentage stretch and percent squeeze of the o-ring, to ensure the seal is the right size under pressure.

The cross-sectional diameter (known as the o-ring width) can also be measured to help with finding the right size and applying it with the right measurements respective to surrounding parts in the system. To use a silicone o-ring seal, you’ll need to include a grooved seat in your design where the o-ring can sit. Once you’ve determined the o-ring width, you’re able to determine the width of the groove you need to design for it. Groove width will be 1 to 5 percent larger than the o-ring width. This way, you’re able to get a watertight fit that can withstand pressure without leaking.

Getting The Right Waterproof Seal for Your Application

To ensure you get the right watertight enclosure seal for your application, look to a leading manufacturer that supplies a variety of seals, such as Apple Rubber. As a supplier of gasket seals, silicone o-rings and other sealing devices, Apple Rubber can help you double-check that you’re getting the right seal for your application. With the right size match for your application and a brand that has been trusted in aerospace applications for decades, you can be certain your waterproof seal is reliable and durable for long-lasting, leak-free use.

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