Answers to some common questions
First, you will need to send us the drawings of your parts, a PDF file or a step/igs/x_t file, and tell us more about the parts, their function or what is it for, and the part working condition, then we will send the quote within 1 business day after we have the info we need. So submit the form or send us an email!
Actually, we are a typical custom rubber parts manufacturer, so what we do is manufacturing, and basically all our orders are OEM orders which means the design and tool belong to our customer. So for the rubber parts, we don’t have products for sale, but we do have some silicone parts that can be sold but with a MOQ.
Sure, we can make a prototype for testing first, and then move forward to tooling if everything is good. Besides, a pre-production sample can also be made which means we made a 1 cavity simple mold to do a real test.
We are a custom rubber parts manufacturer, and the MOQ for all orders is 100PCS.
Our tooling and production are all made in-house, so we have a 3-week tooling and 3 days of production for some simple parts. For shipping, we have a very competitive shipping tunnel that makes sure customers can get the parts at a fast speed and safe shipping.
Selecting the appropriate rubber product depends on factors such as the intended use, environmental conditions (temperature, chemicals), required durability, and specific performance requirements. Consulting with a rubber manufacturer or asking us can help in choosing the right material and design for your application and meet requirements.
Rubber products offer several advantages, including flexibility, resilience, durability, resistance to water and certain chemicals, electrical insulation properties, and shock absorption.
Rubber products are typically manufactured through processes such as injection molding, compression molding and transfer molding. These processes involve shaping raw rubber materials into the desired form, which may then undergo curing or vulcanization to improve their properties.
Selecting the appropriate rubber product depends on factors such as the intended use, environmental conditions (temperature, chemicals), required durability, and specific performance requirements. Consulting with a rubber manufacturer or supplier can help in choosing the right material and design for your application.and requirements.
Developing the best custom rubber components for your applications requires using only the finest rubber materials. XT Rubber has the ability to process a variety of high-performance polymers depending on your application:
●Butyl Rubber：Lower resilience rubber
●EPDM Rubber：Ideal for outdoor applications
●Natural Rubber：An elastomer with incredible resilience
●Neoprene Rubber：Resistant to oils
●Nitrile Rubber：Exceptional chemical resistance against oils and gasoline
●Rigid & Flexible：Useful for a wide range of applications
●Synthetic Rubber：A versatile elastomer with lower overall cost
●Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE)：High resistance to flame and ozone
●Viton Rubber：Resistance to fuel at at extreme temperatures
Costs in custom rubber molding are influenced by the material chosen, design complexity, mold production, and the volume of parts produced. Understanding these factors can help balance cost with the quality and performance needs of the project. Custom Rubber can help with economical material selection and part design.
Design in custom rubber molding is a critical phase. It often involves using CAD software to create precise models, ensuring that the final product will function as intended. The design must account for the rubber's behavior during and after the molding process.
The Shore Hardness scale is a universal scale for measuring and communicating the hardness of a material, including rubbers and plastics. Since hardness is generally a subjective measurement, the Shore scale was created to give everyone a common point of reference when discussing products and applications.
The Shore A scale is commonly used for softer materials while Shore D is used to measure more rigid materials. Both scales are used in our industry, but Shore D is usually reserved for extremely rigid products like hard hats or golf balls. Most rubber products are measured on the Shore A scale.
Flash：Excess rubber around the edges, minimized by precise mold design and proper molding techniques.
Air Bubbles：Can occur during molding, prevented by ensuring proper venting and mold filling techniques.
Shrinkage：Rubber contracts upon cooling, accounted for by designing molds with appropriate shrinkage allowances
Swelling：Can occur when exposed to certain oils and chemicals. Use compatible rubber materials.
Cracking：Often due to ozone or UV exposure. Use ozone-resistant rubbers like EPDM.
Compression Set：Permanent deformation after prolonged compression. Select rubber with low compression set properties
Material Testing：Regular testing of rubber materials for properties like tensile strength, elongation, and hardness.
Process Control：Strict control over molding processes, including temperature, pressure, and curing times.
Inspection：Routine inspection of finished products for defects, dimensions, and performance
1. Definition:
Gaskets: Gaskets are mechanical components designed to fill the space between two or more mating surfaces to prevent leakage of fluids (liquids or gases) from or into the joined objects while under compression.
Seals: Seals are components designed to prevent leakage between moving parts (dynamic applications) or between stationary parts (static applications) by creating a barrier to fluid or gas flow.
2. Application Type:
Gaskets: Primarily used in static applications where there is no relative movement between the parts being sealed. Common examples include engine head gaskets, pipe flanges, and cover gaskets.
Seals: Often used in dynamic applications where there is relative motion between the parts being sealed, such as shafts, pumps, and rotating equipment. Examples include O-rings, oil seals, and rotary shaft seals.
3. Function:
Gaskets: Serve to fill irregularities on mating surfaces, providing a seal that prevents leaks of fluid or gas by being compressed between the surfaces.
Seals: Maintain a barrier to prevent the passage of fluids or gases through the clearance space between moving or stationary parts.
4. Design and Materials:
Gaskets: Typically flat and can be made from materials such as rubber, silicone, metal, cork, felt, or paper, chosen based on the application's temperature, pressure, and chemical resistance requirements.
Seals: Often have a more complex shape (e.g., O-rings, lip seals) and are made from flexible materials like rubber, silicone, PTFE, or composite materials. The choice of material depends on the dynamic movement, pressure, temperature, and the nature of the fluids involved.
5. Examples:
Gaskets: Cylinder head gaskets, exhaust gaskets, pipe flange gaskets, and valve cover gaskets.
Seals: Shaft seals, hydraulic seals, pneumatic seals, and radial lip seals.
6. Performance:
Gaskets: Performance is dependent on the compression between the mating surfaces and the material's ability to conform to surface irregularities.
Seals: Performance depends on the material's ability to maintain flexibility and form a tight barrier, often requiring lubrication to reduce wear and friction in dynamic applications.
7. Installation:
Gaskets: Typically installed between two flanges or surfaces, requiring uniform compression to ensure an effective seal.
Seals: Installed in grooves, housings, or against shafts and may require special tools for installation, especially in dynamic applications where alignment and precise fit are critical.
Key Differences Summarized:
Static vs. Dynamic Use: Gaskets are generally for static applications, while seals are for dynamic or static applications.
Design: Gaskets are often flat and simpler in shape, whereas seals can be more complex to accommodate movement.
Material Choice: Both use a range of materials, but the choice is influenced by the specific demands of the application, such as temperature, pressure, and the nature of the fluids.
