The O-Ring generator is a great idea, and it's great that it includes the Parker #2 series. I design fuel valves for aircraft, so I can have anywhere from 5 to 10 o-rings in one design. There are a lot of improvements that should be made to the o-ring generator:
- Allow for some tolerance in the diameter of the bore/groove. If it's not exactly to the parker book, Inventor can't solve it. I had a mil-spec end fitting that required an O-Ring at its shoulder. It was off .001" from a parker bore measurement (for the -023 O-Ring) and it wouldn't solve it. There are tolerances in the Parker spec, so they should be reflected here.
- Following No.1's idea, add calculations for O-Ring stretch so that if your diameter is too big for one size o-ring and too small for the next size, you can understand if the O-Ring will still work, or if you need to change your design. This should be reflected graphically in the model as well.
- Continuing down this path, there are a lot of calculations that go into selecting an O-Ring, in addition to stretching. Things like material selection calculations should be available, such as compression load per linear inch, compression loss due to stretch, volume change, groove free space at compresison, etc. This should be more intuitive than just picking any old o-ring that fits your cylinder. It should have the level of calculation that the bolted joint generator does.
- Should be able to install O-Ring without groove being modeled in. There are many more cases where o-rings are used than just along a nice flat surface or bare shaft that's just screaming for an o-ring. There are a lot of mil-spec fittings, ports, etc. that require O-Rings that don't need grooves; AS4395 end fitting and AN5202 Port relationship is an example.
- Choose specific materials. This goes right in line with No.3. Using calculations and inputs, such as temperature range, fluid medium., materials should be given as options. The sizes in the parker book are just sizes, not actual o-rings. the Material plays a huge part in selecting and desiging in the right O-Ring.
- Not all Ring Seals are shaped the same, add specifications that allow for other cross sections than just a solid, circular "O-Ring".
