Rubber expanding seal?

matt_espinoza

I'm new to OnShape and have designed some brackets and parts for 3D printing and CNC machining, however something i'm working on requires a rubber seal that expands when compressed between two parts. I recently read about the rubber gasket feature, but am curious if OnShape supports rubber materials that can compress. Thanks!

michał_1

Some design guides:
https://www.applerubber.com/src/pdf/seal-design-guide.pdf
https://www.applerubber.com/src/pdf/iso-3601-metric-size-o-rings.pdf
https://www.applerubber.com/src/pdf/as568-standard-size-o-rings.pdf

NeilCooke

Hello @matt_espinoza and welcome to Onshape.

There is an o-ring feature, you can get it here. However, to simulate compressed materials, you have to model it that way. This is OK for off-the-shelf items like o-rings that you don't have to detail, but not for custom gaskets that you need to create a drawing of.

The way to create a custom part is to use configurations to model it in its compressed and uncompressed state, though I think this may be a little overkill for what you are trying to do.

matt_espinoza

NeilCooke said:

The way to create a custom part is to use configurations to model it in its compressed and uncompressed state, though I think this may be a little overkill for what you are trying to do.

Do you have any links that describe how to use configurations for compressed/uncompressed states? I'd like to be able to show the mechanical movement of the parts and have the seal compress and uncompress with the movement. Would this be achievable?

NeilCooke

matt_espinoza said:

Do you have any links that describe how to use configurations for compressed/uncompressed states? I'd like to be able to show the mechanical movement of the parts and have the seal compress and uncompress with the movement. Would this be achievable?

Not dynamically or for animation. If you wanted to see a seal compress in an assembly, you can only really do it at the start and end states and nothing in-between. Here's a simple (not accurate) example: https://cad.onshape.com/documents/2bf06bd604c8b62f9f17f2a0

michał_1

Some design guides:
https://www.applerubber.com/src/pdf/seal-design-guide.pdf
https://www.applerubber.com/src/pdf/iso-3601-metric-size-o-rings.pdf
https://www.applerubber.com/src/pdf/as568-standard-size-o-rings.pdf