Design engineers want to partner with suppliers who can support product development and meet manufacturers’ business and technical requirements.
From learning the basics of a quality rubber part to delivery of the part, Apple Rubber has you covered. Find out how with these five online resources.
1. Earn a Manufacturing Certification.
Apple Rubber Academy is a five-chapter certification course covering O-Ring design. Throughout the course, engineers can expect to learn about the makeup of rubber compounds, molding processes and shrink-rate calculations, tolerances for non-standard O-Rings, the difference between static and dynamic seals, and other industry best practices.
In each chapter of the academy, users will have access to three phases of content, a video and a 15-question quiz. Before earning the certification, engineers will have to complete a 75-question final exam. The certification courses and exam are free to take and do not expire.
2. O-Ring Gland Calculator.
Not sure how you fit an O-Ring in your device? Apple Rubber offers an O-Ring Gland Calculator that inputs sealing type, dynamic or static, hardware and O-Ring dimensions. The results will show whether the hardware dimensions and O-Ring size combination are within or exceed the recommended design values.
Design values cover percent compression, extrusion gap, percent stretch, squeeze and groove width. This calculator allows you to change the input values and simultaneously recalculates the design parameters. Seeing real time how an input affects a design parameter is an incredible comprehension tool.
3. Material Selection.
Several rubber compounds exist to cater to each unique application. Rather than researching each compound to determine if it is a match to your application, Apple Rubber generated an algorithm to narrow the selection.
The algorithm begins with temperature and durometer range inputs (this will show which compounds are capable). Then, we provide a chemical compatibility chart which shows how the rubber compound reacts with the sealing media. We even take it a step further by tabulating the general properties to their associated compounds. You can also compare the general properties of the selected compound to other compounds.
4. Engineering Action Request form (EAR)
A thorough design engineer will always have specific questions pertaining to their unique application. It is always reassuring to have the means to validate your design and have assistance in preparing for a design review. Apple Rubber responds to these needs with the Engineering Action Request (EAR). Submitting an EAR will prompt an Apple Rubber project engineer to make contact.
5. Sample Request
Once you’ve determined the accurate groove dimensions and size of your O-Ring, the next step is to get that oring in your hands. Apple Rubber offers the seal industry’s largest selection of O-Rings. With an inventory of over 300 million orings in 8,000 different sizes, it’s just a matter of completing the sample request or contacting your project engineer. Your sample will go out the next day.
Contact Apple Rubber today
Want to learn more about how we can help with your sealing requirements? Contact us online or connect with us on Twitter or LinkedIn.