Detailed Program of the 22nd ISC 2024

Functional testing of additively manufactured hydraulic rod seals

Summary

Hydraulic rod seals are crucial machine elements in a lot of applications [1]. The malfunc-tion of rod seals can cause, among other things, huge economic loss by long shutdown times for repair. In addition, the last years have shown that geopolitical incidences, such as a war or a pandemic, can have a huge impact on international channels of trade. To avoid or at least minimize machine shutdown times, it seems desirable to have local pro-duction solutions for rod seals by using easy-to-handle machinery and a single, simple raw material. A possible solution to circumvent delivery challenges can be the use of an additive manufacturing (AM) method. The research question addressed in this study is whether it is possible to produce functional rod seals using a simple AM method. The functional tests conducted on a rod seal test rig showed that the research question can be answered in an affirmative way for tested pressures up to 15 MPa. Even in a long-term test, the function of the additively manufactured seals met the demands.

Parts that are produced by using the Fused Filament Fabrication method are never fully dense due to the process. Nevertheless, the functional tests conducted on a rod seal test rig showed that the research question can be answered in an affirmative way for tested pressures up to 15 MPa. Even in a long-term test the function of the additively manufactured seals met the demands.