Posted by Jody Key on | Comments Off on Advantages of Form-in-Place Gaskets
Advantages of Form-in-Place Gaskets
Form-in-place (FIP) gaskets are produced using a form-in-place dispensing process. They were originally created for the automotive market as a less expensive alternative to gaskets made by die cutting, molding, or extrusion. However, due to various advancements in the manufacturing process over the years, they now find widespread use in many other markets, including aerospace, medical, military, and telecommunications. Compared to traditional gaskets, they offer numerous benefits.
Common Features of Form-in-Place Gaskets
Some of the advantages form-in-place gaskets have over die-cut, molded, and extruded gaskets include:
Broader versatility. They can be used in a wide range of conditions and applications.
Greater design freedom. They can be created in small or large sizes and with very intricate details. Additionally, they can be produced from a variety of materials to suit different sealing applications.
Better performance. The form-in-place dispensing process allows for the manufacture of components that accommodate the need for elevation changes, uneven surfaces, and/or thin profiles. Additionally, the use of gasket shelf probing and other sensing technologies enables the production of FIP gaskets that can be used for less-than-perfect housings and as-cast metal shielding.
Higher accuracy and precision. The FIP gasket-making process can be automated with robotic systems, which enables the manufacture of highly complex and intricate components with tight tolerances, regardless of the size of the production run.
Lower inventory costs. Form in-place gaskets reduce the need for different shapes and sizes of gaskets to be kept in inventory.
Choose Form-in-Place Gaskets From H&S Manufacturing
Form-in-place gaskets benefit end-users in a number of ways. For example:
They achieve 100% surface contact, resulting in uniform stress distribution and forming effective sealing barriers.
They seal rough surfaces without risk of damage, reducing the need for machining.
They eliminate the need for multiple pre-cut gasket shapes or fragile gasket components.
They withstand use in vibration-heavy environments.
They do not carry a risk of long-term embrittlement or disintegration, meaning they are less likely to break or leak over extended use.
They do not require shimming or specialized tools to dismantle, making them easier to use and replace.
They do not relax or shrink over time, eliminating the need for retightening.
Due to their numerous advantages and benefits, form-in-place gaskets are incorporated into a wide range of industrial and consumer products, such as computer chassis, racking, and test equipment. If you’re looking for quality Form-in-Place gaskets to use as EMI shielding in your next project, the experts at H&S Manufacturing are here to help.
We utilize 3-axis robotic form-in-place dispensing equipment to make silicone-based EMI shielding gaskets for customers in the communications, electronics, energy, lighting, medical, military, and transportation industries. These components are suitable for use with metal, plastic, and plated substrates. They can be manufactured to a variety of industry specifications and standards, including AS9100, ANSI, ASTM, ITAR, Mil-spec, RoHS, and REACH. We can accommodate prototypes to production volumes.
For additional information about our FIP gasket capabilities, contact us today. To discuss your EMI shielding gasket needs with one of our team members, request a quote.
Posted by Jody Key on | Comments Off on What Are Form-in-Place (FIP) Gaskets?
What Are Form-in-Place (FIP) Gaskets?
At H&S Manufacturing, we provide custom manufacturing solutions to customers across a wide range of industries. One of our core offerings is custom form-in-place (FIP) gaskets. These components are made using form-in-place liquid dispensing, which utilizes a 3-axis CNC robot to rapidly and precisely deposit high-performance silicone-based polymers in the necessary quantities and patterns. The result is intricate gaskets that offer excellent performance and protection against electricity and heat. They serve as a leak-proof, gap-proof solution for filling the spaces between components in an assembly.
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Key Properties of Form-in-Place Gaskets
Compared to gaskets created through other manufacturing methods, form-in-place gaskets offer a number of advantages, such as:
Greater reliability. Form-in-place gaskets provide more reliable protection for compartmentalized enclosures and packaged electronic assemblies.
Better electronic equipment performance. Form-in-place gaskets can be used for EMI protection in electronic devices and systems, where they help ensure uninterrupted equipment performance.
Higher flexibility. Form-in-place gaskets are highly flexible, which enables them to flex in response to flange movements. As a result, they are less likely to fail in dynamic applications.
Larger cost savings. Form-in-place gaskets require less raw material and labor to make than other types of gaskets, which translates to lower production costs.
Lower inventory costs. Since form-in-place gaskets can be manufactured when they are needed, companies do not have to keep a stock of gaskets in a variety of shapes and sizes, which helps reduce their inventory costs.
Broader compatibility and versatility. Form-in-place gaskets can adhere to a range of metal, plastic, and plated substrates, which enables them to be used in many different applications.
Wider design freedom. Form-in-place gaskets can be made in large or small sizes and simple or intricate shapes to suit their intended applications.
Faster installation speeds. Form-in-place gaskets are ready to use once they are dispensed, which allows them to be installed much faster than gaskets produced by other methods.
Typical Form-in-Place Gasket Applications
Due to their numerous advantages, form-in-place gaskets have found use in various industries providing products with protection against water, dust, EMI, and other potentially damaging compounds and conditions. Below, we highlight some examples of typical industrial applications.
In the aerospace industry: aircraft seats, drones, flight instruments, ground support equipment
In the automotive industry: air and oil filters, doors and windows, external engine parts
In the chemical processing industry: processing equipment and systems
In the electronics industry: communication systems, electronic enclosures, semiconductors
In the energy industry: generators, transformers, alternative energy systems (e.g., solar panels)
In the medical industry: medical devices, such as dialysis machines, heart pumps, oxygenators, and ventilators
In the military industry: global positioning systems (GPS), missile guidance systems, radar systems
In the mining and oil & gas industries: communication systems, power generators, processing equipment, vehicles
In the petrochemical and deep sea industries: devices and systems that require leak-proof seals
In the mass transit industry: mechanical systems, seating, windows, and doors
Quality Form-in-Place Gaskets From H&S Manufacturing
Form-in-place gaskets are a key component of many industrial and consumer products. Since they are made using robotic liquid dispensers, they can be formed quickly without sacrificing quality, which saves users time and money.
If you need form-in-place gaskets, H&S Manufacturing is the ideal partner. We manufacture durable EMI shielding components that are compatible with metal, plastic, and plated substrates. To learn more about our capabilities, contact us today. To discuss your component requirements with one of our team members, request a quote.
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