Eclipse Engineering Blog

2021/03/23 | Cliff | Seals

In 2004, NASA sent the rovers Spirit and Opportunity to our neighboring planet Mars. It was an exciting day for the world, and also for us at Eclipse Engineering. We were honored to supply the seals that kept the Martian soil from damaging bearings on the overhead trunnion camera mounts. This was pivotal for keeping […]

2021/03/17 | Cliff | Seals

Every day at Eclipse Engineering we’re faced with sealing challenges coming from numerous application requirements and operating conditions — whether it’s extreme temperatures in an oven or deep cryogenics in a laboratory. From radical rotational speed in a one-time use medical drill to half-a-century service intervals in a dam spillway gate. Difficult seal applications come […]

2021/01/26 | Cliff | Seals

When it comes to designing dynamic seals, the two most important application parameters are the pressure and the speed of the motion. These two factors chiefly determine the type of seal, design geometry, and seal materials you should choose. When dynamic speeds and system pressures become elevated, determining the life expectancy of the seal becomes […]

2020/12/11 | Cliff | Seals

If you have an application with a rotating shaft, you likely need a seal. Rotary shaft seals often take the form of what is commonly known as an “oil seal.” These usually consist of an elastomeric sealing lip, with a molded-in-metal case to facilitate a press-fit into the hardware. Oil seals are typically mass-produced, and […]

2020/11/25 | Cliff | Seals

We recently wrote about processing PTFE, or Teflon, from the drum of raw material to a finished rod or tube. But what’s involved in creating a seal from inception to completion? We receive literally hundreds of requests a month for a seal or related product. Some never get past the inquiry stage, as the clients’ […]

2020/10/27 | Cliff | Seals

Below, we’ll explore how Teflon is processed for sealing purposes, and why we sometimes see variation in surface quality and/or cracks in finished Teflon seals. The Two Ways to Process Teflon® for Seals There are different grades of Fluoropolymers that can be used to manufacture seals. There are melt processable fluoropolymers, which are rarely used […]

2020/10/05 | Cliff | Seals

When considering polymer jacketed seals — especially PTFE-based products — some form of energizer is typically required. These types of seals are usually specified to operate both in very high pressures, low pressures, or even in a vacuum.   At some pressure (typically above 100psi), the system pressure will energize the seal and prevent leakage. But at […]

2020/09/23 | Cliff | Seals

“How much pressure can this seal handle?” This is one of the most common and frequently asked questions here at Eclipse. The answer to this question depends on a number of parameters and conditions. But the principle limiting factor in the pressure handling of any seal system is the extrusion gap. Commonly referred to as […]

2020/09/03 | Cliff | Seals

An accumulator is an apparatus for storing energy or power. This is an obsolete term for a capacitor, which is commonly used in electrical engineering. In hydraulic systems, we use accumulators for two very specific purposes: To store energy for use either in an emergency or to give a momentary surge of power due to the loss […]

2020/09/01 | Cliff | Seals

When it comes to maintaining a high-functioning rotary shaft, you need to select the appropriate lip seal. The shaft seal protects the rotary shaft from contaminants such as dust and dirt, and it keeps water out and lubricant in. A rotary seal, also known as a radial shaft seal, typically sits between a rotary shaft […]