Oil & Gas Archives - Ceetak
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Category: Oil & Gas

Diaphragms for precise control in critical applications

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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. For example: Valves, actuators, pumps, pressure & flow control, pressure switches/sensors, dispensing, metering, ventilation, and media separation applications. Valves and actuators controlling … Continued

Gold plated metal seals for Oil & Gas couplings

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Our customer designs and manufactures hydraulic distribution products and systems used to control subsea production systems for the offshore energy industry globally. The application This seal application is for a range of dual resistant hydraulic couplings, designed to be suitable for make and break under full system pressure. There were three different sizes in the same … Continued

PTFE Rotary Seal for Oil & Gas drilling tool

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Our customer designs and manufactures a leading range of unique downhole technology and drilling solutions that contribute to a net zero energy industry. The Application A seal was required for the rod of a downhole drilling tool – a hydraulic dynamic (rotary) application. Our solution is a PTFE rotary seal. Read on to find out … Continued

Why use PTFE seals?

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Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a thermoplastic polymer that can be used in a variety of sealing applications; it is particularly suitable where the application conditions exceed the parameters of elastomeric seal use, but are not as highly demanding as applications that require the use of metal seals. What is PTFE? Discovered accidentally in the DuPont™ laboratory … Continued

Why use metal seals?

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The use of metal seals as an engineered sealing solution is appropriate where it is not possible to use elastomeric or polymer seals due to 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. How do metal seals … Continued

Perfluoroelastomers in valves

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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 are perfluoroelastomers (FFKMs)? … Continued

Seals for valve applications

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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, spool, check and solenoid … Continued

Seals for Oil & Gas applications

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With diverse applications in harsh environments, 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 Regardless of where seals are used in oil & … Continued

3D printing for seals

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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; with the most common application being for manufacturing. Here we discuss how our engineers use 3D printing to demonstrate a seal concept. What is 3D printing? 3D printing is typically … Continued

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; with the most common application being for manufacturing. Here we discuss how our engineers use 3D printing to demonstrate a seal concept.

What is 3D printing?

3D printing is typically the more common name used for additive manufacturing. This process involves the construction of a three dimensional shape that is 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 that is then deposited onto the 3D print bed, creating layer by layer and gradually building up the structure of the 3D model.

This is the process we commonly use to create our design and development range of 3D printed models and seal prototypes.

What material is suitable for 3D printing?

The materials used for 3D printing must of course be compatible with the process – these include a range of thermoplastic grades. 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 can be 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.

There are many benefits of using 3D printing during the initial design stages of a project. The rapid turnaround means that a simple seal design can be produced in around 15 minutes, and even more complicated parts can be manufactured in the same day. We can even print the application housings and it’s the perfect way to demonstrate to an engineer what they can expect from a seal part in terms of shape and fit for hardware without the lead time and cost of cutting a prototype tool for moulded parts.

One example of this is by quick turnaround of gasket designs typically to suit 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.

This further demonstrates to the customer that the seal has been fit checked for installation and 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