Engineering Knowledge Hub
Comprehensive guides, standards, and technical documentation to help you design and specify rubber components with confidence.
Material Selection Guide
Compare elastomer properties to select the optimal material for your application requirements.
FKM (Viton®)
Fluoroelastomer with exceptional chemical resistance and high-temperature stability.
Applications
- •Excellent chemical resistance
- •High temperature tolerance
- •Superior oil/fuel resistance
NBR (Nitrile)
Nitrile rubber offers excellent oil resistance and mechanical properties at competitive cost.
Applications
- •Cost-effective solution
- •Good oil resistance
- •Wide hardness range available
EPDM
Ethylene propylene diene monomer with outstanding weather and ozone resistance.
Applications
- •Excellent weather resistance
- •Superior water/steam resistance
- •Good electrical insulation
Silicone
Versatile elastomer with extreme temperature range and biocompatibility.
Applications
- •FDA compliant grades available
- •Extreme temperature range
- •Excellent compression set
Design Recommendations
Best practices for rubber part design to ensure manufacturability and optimal performance.
Wall Thickness Guidelines
Uniform wall thickness is critical for consistent vulcanization and preventing defects. Avoid abrupt changes in cross-section.
Key Tips
- ✓Minimum wall thickness: 0.5mm for most materials
- ✓Maintain uniform thickness to prevent sink marks
- ✓Use gradual transitions between thick and thin sections
Draft Angle Requirements
Proper draft angles ensure clean part ejection from molds and prevent damage during demolding.
Key Tips
- ✓Minimum 0.5° draft for exterior walls
- ✓1-2° recommended for textured surfaces
- ✓Internal features may require 1-3° draft
Shrinkage Compensation
All rubber materials shrink during curing. Design molds with appropriate shrinkage allowances for accurate final dimensions.
Key Tips
- ✓NBR/FKM: 1.5-2.5% linear shrinkage
- ✓EPDM: 1.0-2.0% linear shrinkage
- ✓Silicone: 2.0-3.0% linear shrinkage
Industry Standards
Key international standards governing rubber component design, tolerances, and quality.
Fluid Power Systems - O-Rings
Defines inside diameters, cross-sections, tolerances and size identification codes for O-rings used in fluid power applications.
Rubber - Tolerances for Products
Specifies classes of dimensional tolerances for molded, extruded, and calendered rubber products.
Standard Classification for Rubber
Classification system for rubber materials in automotive applications based on material requirements.
Quality Management Standard
International automotive quality management system standard ensuring consistent product quality and continuous improvement.
Technical Terminology Glossary
Unified terms used across product pages, case studies, and RFQ communication.
| Canonical Term | Localized Term | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| Compression Set | Compression Set | Residual deformation after a compressed rubber sample recovers. |
| Shore A Hardness | Shore A Hardness | Indentation hardness scale commonly used for elastomers. |
| Tensile Strength | Tensile Strength | Maximum stress the material sustains before failure in tension. |
| Elongation at Break | Elongation at Break | Strain percentage measured when the test specimen breaks. |
| PPAP | Production Part Approval Process (PPAP) | Automotive submission package proving production readiness and capability. |
| FAI | First Article Inspection (FAI) | Verification of first-off samples against drawings and requirements. |
| Flash | Flash | Excess rubber at parting lines after molding, requiring trim control. |
| Tooling Lead Time | Tooling Lead Time | Time required to design, machine, and qualify production tooling. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about rubber component design, manufacturing, and quality assurance.
What is the typical lead time for custom rubber parts?
Standard lead times range from 2-4 weeks for existing tooling, and 4-6 weeks for new tooling development. Prototype parts can often be delivered within 1-2 weeks using rapid tooling methods.
How do I choose the right rubber material for my application?
Material selection depends on temperature range, chemical exposure, mechanical requirements, and regulatory needs (FDA, UL, etc.). Our material selection guide provides detailed comparison data, or contact our engineering team for recommendations.
What tolerance levels can you achieve?
We routinely achieve ISO 3302 Class M1 tolerances (±0.05mm for small parts). Tighter tolerances are possible with specialized tooling and process control - consult our engineering team for feasibility.
Do you provide PPAP documentation?
Yes, we provide full PPAP documentation including Level 3 submissions with all supporting data. Our quality management system is IATF 16949 certified, ensuring automotive-grade documentation standards.
Can you work with customer-supplied materials?
Yes, we can process customer-supplied materials or source specific grades as required. All materials undergo incoming inspection and verification before use in production.
Technical Downloads
Download comprehensive technical documentation, guides, and reference materials.
Need Custom Specifications?
Our engineering team can provide application-specific recommendations and develop custom formulations for your unique requirements.
Contact Engineering Team