Gasket Project
Measuring, drawing, CAD modeling, CAM programming, and machining a gasket to fit a metal part
Feb. 3rd, 2023
Nathan Sun
Problem Statement
![IMG_9634.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce9cba_172c26039dff4f469c3c26c0cc9b1ef3~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_328,w_3024,h_2701/fill/w_568,h_507,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/IMG_9634.jpg)
Figure 1. The Metal Part
A gasket is a sealing part often seen put in between two mated metal parts to prevent leakage; in this project, a gasket was designed based off of a metal part (part shown in Figure 1.), drawn on CAD and CNC machined using PVC boards. As an engineer, having the skill set to be able to accurately measure a given part and reverse engineer to create its design files is crucial.
Measuring & Sketching
![Sketch.png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce9cba_93f65fea1c3c4975a823bf61c3a19a25~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_598,h_485,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Sketch.png)
Figure 2. Sketch of Metal Part with Measurements
A Vernier caliper was used to acquire accurate measurements and relations for future CAD drawings, after careful measurements and utilization of tricks such as diagonal measuring to calculate the draft lengths, a sketch with information enough to reproduce the part is drawn, as shown in Figure 2.
CAD Modeling & Drawing
![image (24).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce9cba_47a6662c50a2419692ded68cd66884c7~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_105,y_0,w_1795,h_1101/fill/w_381,h_234,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/image%20(24).png)
Figure 3. CAD Sketch
![image (25).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce9cba_20ffa0236c83477392c9d89041526c80~mv2.png/v1/crop/x_76,y_0,w_1223,h_753/fill/w_382,h_235,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/image%20(25).png)
![image (23).png](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce9cba_8737c86f08a84290a28c5d14da9f80d8~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_538,h_417,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/image%20(23).png)
Figure 5. CAD Drawing
Figure 4. CAD Gasket Part
Using the relations and dimensions provided by the hand sketch, a CAD sketch was drawn in SolidWorks and extruded into a 1/16'' gasket (shown in Figures 3 and 4), and the CAD drawing (Figure 5.) clearly labeled all dimensions for easier identification.
Machining & Final Part
![1675200114872.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce9cba_5edc784f0cf04e698fc56b5688d2b5d0~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_428,y_756,w_2253,h_2253/fill/w_446,h_446,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1675200114872.jpg)
Figure 6 CNC'd Gasket Prototype
![1675200114638.jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ce9cba_809dee464e194df4a80ef48360edf3d4~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_227,y_675,w_2253,h_2253/fill/w_446,h_446,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/1675200114638.jpg)
Figure 7 CNC'd Gasket Prototype
After conversion from CAD to GCode for CNC milling machining, a PVC board was machined into the gasket. As shown in Figures 6 & 7, the gasket was a good fit to the metal part, with ideal tolerence designs.