Oil & Gas Archives - Ceetak
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Category: Oil & Gas

Diaphragms for precise control in critical applications

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Diaphragms for precise control in critical applications In applications that require precise and rapid pressure responses, our diaphragms offer an engineered sealing solution for high performance valves and actuators. Why use diaphragms? Diaphragms provide excellent sealing results in multiple applications. These include valves, actuators, pumps, pressure & flow control, pressure switches/sensors, dispensing, metering, ventilation, and … Continued

Gold plated metal seals for Oil & Gas couplings

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Gold plated metal seals for Oil & Gas couplings Our customer designs and manufactures hydraulic distribution products and systems. These are used to control subsea production systems for the offshore energy industry globally.  We explore here how our gold plated metal seal solution suited the application due to its malleability and suitability for slightly dynamic operation. … Continued

PTFE Rotary Seal for Oil & Gas drilling tool

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PTFE Rotary seal for oil & gas drilling tool Our customer designs and manufactures a leading range of unique downhole technology and drilling solutions that contribute to a net zero energy industry. Read on to find out about our PTFE rotary seal solution for their application. The application Our customer tasked us with developing a … Continued

Why use PTFE seals?

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Why use PTFE seals? Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a thermoplastic polymer. PTFE seals can be used in a variety of sealing applications. It’s suitable when application conditions exceed parameters of elastomeric seal use but not to the extent of a metal seal. What is PTFE? It has a high melting point (342 °C) and morphological characteristics. … Continued

Why use metal seals?

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Why use metal seals? Using metal seals as an engineered sealing solution is appropriate when it’s not possible to use elastomeric or polymer seals. This will be because of extremely demanding application requirements. For example, these could include applications with extremely high temperatures (300°C upwards) and pressures, intense radiation, cryogenic conditions or highly aggressive chemicals. … Continued

Perfluoroelastomers in valves

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Perfluoroelastomers in valves Is it time to re-visit using perfluoroelastomer seals in your valves? First developed by DuPont™ in the late 1960s, perfluoroelastomers (or FFKMs), are now widely known and understood in a variety of markets. But for those that may be less familiar with these high performance materials, here is a quick recap… What … Continued

Seals for valve applications

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Seals for valve applications Valves are imperative for isolation and control functions, and can be found in a broad range of industries such as Oil & Gas, Water & Wastewater, Food & Beverage and Hydraulics & Pneumatics. We supply seal products into valve applications in a variety of styles including ball, gate, flap, plug, butterfly, … Continued

Seals for Oil & Gas applications

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Seals for Oil & Gas applications The Oil & Gas industry presents some of the most challenging demands on engineered sealing solutions.  Our collaboration with Parker Seal Group allows us to integrate their materials and sealing expertise to meet our customer demands. Characteristics of oil & gas sealing The safe, dependable and efficient operation of a huge … Continued

3D printing for seals

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3D printing for seals 3D printing has developed significantly and now performs a crucial role in many applications. 3D printed products vary from fully functional to purely aesthetic applications – commonly for manufacturing. Here we discuss how our engineers use this technology to demonstrate a seal concept. What is 3D printing? The typically common name … Continued

3D printing for seals

3D printing has developed significantly and now performs a crucial role in many applications. 3D printed products vary from fully functional to purely aesthetic applications – commonly for manufacturing. Here we discuss how our engineers use this technology to demonstrate a seal concept.

What is 3D printing?

The typically common name for additive manufacturing is 3D printing.  The process involves the construction of a three-dimensional shape designed and generated from a computer aided design program (or CAD). The most typical process used for 3D printing is FFF (Fused Filament Fabrication) or FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling).

The FDM process uses a continuous filament of a thermoplastic material. It’s then deposited onto the 3D print bed, creating layer by layer, gradually building up the 3D model structure. We commonly use this process to create our design and development range of 3D printed models and seal prototypes.

What material is suitable for 3D printing?

Material compatibility with the process is imperative and a range of thermoplastic grades are used. Typical suitable material grades include; Polylactic acid (PLA), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), Nylon and Polypropylene (PP).

The most common grade we use for 3D printing is PLA – for its great strength and stability. We’ve also adapted our design process to use more TPU based material grades, as it loosely demonstrates the same properties as elastomer grades and is better for using in prototype programmes where mechanical fit in groove is tested.

Why use 3D printing for seals?

3D printing is used for a variety of designs and seal types. From O-rings, gaskets and lip seals – to grommets, multi shot mouldings and large seal assemblies.

Using 3D printing during the initial design stages of a project comes with many benefits. The rapid turnaround means a simple seal design will be produced in around 15 minutes. Additionally, even more complicated parts can be manufactured in the same day. We can even print the application housings – a perfect demonstration to an engineer what they can expect from a seal part. They will see the shape and fit for hardware without the lead time and cost of cutting a prototype tool for moulded parts.

This solution is particularly suitable for quick turnaround gasket designs. For example for automotive applications or similar critical markets. Our engineers can design the concept and then 3D print a rapid prototype of a gasket to suit a 3D printed gauge groove.

Demonstrating to our customers that the seal has been fit checked for installation, builds further confidence in the design recommendation. Our engineers combine the 3D print with FEA simulation reports to offer a fully engineered sealing solution.

Learn more about our design and simulation service HERE