Stepping through GASKET DESIGN

摘要

Engineers need to think about gaskets early in the design process to save time and money. One way to make sure this happens is to develop a gasket strategy that steps through the four requirement areas: function, materials, mechanical, and manufacturing. The first step in gasket design is defining what the gasket will be expected to do. Because a gasket's primary task is to protect components, it must withstand its operating environment. With hundreds of materials and material combinations to choose from, picking the most cost-effective one that meets your application's requirements can be challenging. Properties you should look at include polymer cellularity, durometer hardness, and compression-force deflection. Mechanical-design factors such as housing rigidity, gasket compression limits, gasket thickness, and fastener pattern should also be taken into account. During gasket design, don't forget to consider how the gaskets will be made and how they'll fit into assembly. Common gasket-manufacturing techniques include high-speed die cutting, waterjet cutting, roll slitting, injection molding and material lamination.