Adding O-Ring Grooves to a SOLIDWORKS Part

Working in Tech Support allows me to test new SOLIDWORKS applications, exposing me to various tools and functions. One often underutilized function is the Toolbox Grooves.

O-rings are one of the most common pieces of hardware, used for pneumatic and hydraulic systems in a variety of applications spanning nearly every industry. Their versatility can create challenges though, often requiring tedious reference to charts and tables. In SOLIDWORKS, there are several automated ways to add an O-ring groove to a part, sorted here by application.

First, let's start by opening the Groove tool via Tools > Toolbox > Grooves...+

This opens a dialog box with the standard (indicated below in red), application (blue), size (yellow), as well as a full description and illustration.

O-Ring Grooves

The tool includes 8 applications:

1. Face static groove (gas)
2. Face static groove (liquid)
3. Female Static Groove
4. Floating pneumatic groove
5. Male static groove, Recip.
6. Piston groove, Recip.
7. Rod Groove
8. Rotary Groove.

Each includes a number of groove profiles, as defined by the standard (e.g., Ansi Inch, Metric). The measurements are listed in the properties section at the bottom of the window. Adding a groove entails selecting the appropriate model face(s), then clicking Create. Pre-selecting the face will automatically filter the list for appropriate o-ring sizes.

Face Static Grooves

Select the planar bottom or end face of the hole along with the O-ring size to create a Face Static Groove. In the example below, I've selected the bottom face of a blind hole.

This process is the same for both gas and liquid static grooves.

Male Static Groove, Recip, Floating Pneumatic Groove, and Piston Groove, Recip.

The Male Static Groove, Recip. and Piston Groove, Recip are each applied to an exterior cylindrical face, as shown below.

Female Static Groove, Recip., Rod Groove, and Rotary Groove

Female Static Groove, Recip., Rod Groove, and Rotary Grooves are all defined by an internal cylindrical face, as shown in the section view below.

Final Adjustments

Each Groove is added as a feature in the FeatureManager Design Tree. To adjust its position on the selected face, simply edit the Sketch.

I hope you found this quick tip on adding Toolbox Grooves to a SOLIDWORKS Part helpful. Check out more tutorials and tips below, or check out the GoEngineer Community, where you can create forum posts, enter design contests, and answer questions from other SOLIDWORKS users.

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