Ace Seal is a global manufacturer of custom o-rings, seals, gaskets and other molded rubber & plastic components

Dovetail O-ring Groove Design Guide

  • tech_3_dovetail

Gland Design for a Static Application; for O-rings in Dovetail Grooves, INCHES

Dovetail grooves are used to hold the O-ring in place during installation or maintenance. This groove design is relatively uncommon as it is expensive to machine and should not be used unless absolutely required. The dovetail groove construction is only recommended for O-rings with cross sections of .139 inch (3,53 mm) and larger.

Dovetail Groove Engineering diagram
 

Surface Finish X groove top and bottom : for liquids X = 32 micro inches (0.8 μm Ra)
For vacuum and gases X = 16 micro inches (0.4 μm Ra)
Groove sides: X = 63 micro inches (1.6 μm Ra)

 

Gland Dimensions Dovetail Grooves, Inches
0-ring Cross
Section w
Gland Depth
E
Squeeze % Groove Width to
Sharp Corner
F2
Groove Radius
1/16 .070 .050/.052 27 .055/.059 .005 .015
3/32 .103 .081/.083 21 .083/.087 .010 .015
1/8 .139 .111/.113 20 .113/.117 ..010 .030
3/16 .210 .171/173 18 .171/.175 .015 .030
1/4 .275 .231/.234 16 .231/.235 .015 .060
3/8 .375 .315/.319 16 .315/.319 .020 .090