select
navigate
switch tabs
Esc close
E-Books & Guides
Create Topic

O-ring seal design for removable marine sensor housing

0
H
2

Hi! My project is a small-scale marine sensor housing; it needs to stay functional when briefly submerged (around 0.5 m depth) or exposed to heavy splashes on a boat deck. I’m using a machined aluminum cylindrical base and a clear polycarbonate cover — both have the same diameter (95 mm). The cover should be easy to remove for battery swaps, but I still need to keep a reliable seal when closed. Any advice on an effective O-ring groove design or alternative sealing approach that would allow repeated opening without losing waterproof integrity?

    • H

      Hi! My project is a small-scale marine sensor housing; it needs to stay functional when briefly submerged (around 0.5 m depth) or exposed to heavy splashes on a boat deck. I’m using a machined aluminum cylindrical base and a clear polycarbonate cover — both have the same diameter (95 mm). The cover should be easy to remove for battery swaps, but I still need to keep a reliable seal when closed. Any advice on an effective O-ring groove design or alternative sealing approach that would allow repeated opening without losing waterproof integrity?

      0
    • D

      Since this is low-pressure sealing, you can keep it pretty simple, and just use a face seal, or, potentially, a radial seal. The radial might be better to use as the o-ring will stay in the channel, whereas with a face seal, the o-ring could fall out if you open the enclosure while on the water.

      Select the groove depth so that it allows about 25% compression of the o-ring when closed. Good practice is to chamfer the edges of the groove so that there’s less risk of damaging the o-ring when opening, closing, re-seating, etc.

      If you do go for a radial seal on the aluminum base, be aware of the movement of the o-ring when opening and closing the seal, that it doesn’t get caught in the clearance between the aluminum and the polycarbonate (an extrusion gap).

      0
      Reply
    • H

      The only alternative sealing arrangement to an o-ring that I can think of is a gasket, but I wouldn’t recommend that for your application here. Gaskets have to be seated correctly, and if you’re going to be opening the enclosure regularly, there’s a chance it won’t seat correctly each time.

      Stick with the o-ring idea. Just be sure that whatever design you choose, that it fits a standard o-ring size that’s easily sourced. You don’t want to be stuck trying to replace it with a strange size in a few years’ time.

      0
      Reply
O-ring seal design for removable marine sensor housing
Your information:




Suggested Topics

Topic
Replies
Views
Activity
High resolution scan to fully transparent object?
Is there a possibillity to make my handmade objects into aquaria? I need fulley transparent material UV resistant, no scratches very strong 1 meter in height, what kind of meterial would i need and... read more
m
3
205
Jul 08
1. Product Photography:
Angle: The part should appear as the protagonist of the story. Use low angles to confer prestige, or very close angles (macro) to showcase the quality of the craftsmanship, welds, and gear teeth. Lighting:... read more
a
0
385
Mar 28
Flatness GD&T for 6061 plates
For a mounting plate for a precision sensor (about 200 mm × 200 mm) I was going to call out a flatness of 0.05 mm, but my senior engineer says that’s overkill and will double the machining... read more
K
E
U
3
3.0k
Mar 14
ISO 2768-mK vs specific tolerances
Hey guys, I’m getting some pushback from our shop lead. I’ve been dimensioning every single feature on a new manifold block because I’m paranoid about fitment, but he says the drawing is "unreadable" and... read more
l
P
2
2.3k
Mar 14
Thermal expansion modelling for a braced rectangular steel tank
hi, for a welded steel coolant reservoir for a test stand - 4 m × 2 m × 1.5 m with internal bracing I need to account for thermal expansion. Fluid runs at 80–90... read more
B
Q
L
2
2.4k
Feb 04