Eclipse Engineering Blog

2021/11/22 | Doug | Seals

Spring Energized Polymer Seals and O-Rings are very different products, yet they can ultimately accomplish the same goal of sealing a system. The humble O-Ring is, in simplest terms, a ring of rubber. A Spring Energized Seal consists of an engineered plastic jacket, usually a PTFE blend or UHMW-PE, and a metallic spring element. One is made in quantities of […]

2021/10/21 | Doug | Seals

While seal performance, leakage control, and wear-life characteristics are frequently discussed, one critical aspect of a successful sealing system is often overlooked — how a seal is contained in the hardware.  Whether you want to call it a gland or a groove, the physical space for housing a seal is an important part of the system’s performance. […]

2021/09/17 | Doug | Seals

Spring Energized Seals can be found in all kinds of applications across the spectrum of industries and sectors. While the pros and cons of the different spring types contained in the seal are often discussed, the style of sealing lips can also have a significant impact on performance. Every spring type has at least 4 […]

2021/08/11 | Doug | Seals

Controlling friction using the properties of Teflon® and adjusting the durometer of an energizing elastomer allows us to adjust the load and control the force the seal applies. Seals are often used as a barrier or exclusion device. When considering a device that becomes sterilized, seals often protect the internal components of that device. Some […]

2021/07/19 | Doug | Seals

Author: Doug Montgomery The machining of polymers such as PTFE, still remains somewhat of a specialty operation. While there are a plethora of machine shops dotted across the country focused on metal turning and milling operations, few specialize in plastics. Only someone experienced in metalworking might call machining something like PTFE easy. PTFE is much […]

2021/05/10 | Doug | Seals

Eclipse Engineering designs and builds many types of seals for all kinds of applications. Whether it be a simple O-Ring energized seal ring or multi-lip cased rotary seal, Eclipse covers the spectrum in polymer-based seals for all projects. With all the seal varieties available in the market today, spring energized seals represent a significant portion […]

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 […]