In the world of mobile robotics, the skeleton oil seal its performance has a direct impact on the robot’s long‑term reliability. The skeleton oil seal must cope with a constantly changing mix of dust, moisture, chemicals, and mechanical shock. Its ability to adapt to these variations determines whether the drive system can operate smoothly over time.
From an engineering standpoint, adaptability is not achieved through a single feature. It is the combined result of material resilience, lip geometry, and the stability of the shaft–seal interface. Different floor conditions introduce different types of contaminants, each affecting the sealing lip in its own way. A well‑designed seal must therefore retain enough flexibility—both in material behavior and structural design—to maintain performance across environments.
In clean indoor facilities such as electronics manufacturing or automated warehouses, the primary challenge comes from fine dust. These particles are small but persistent, requiring a sealing lip with consistent contact pressure and good wear resistance. NBR or HNBR compounds, paired with a light dust‑lip design, typically provide adequate protection.
Outdoor mixed‑surface environments—such as industrial yards or loading
zones—present a more demanding combination of mud, water, and coarse particles.
Here, the seal material must withstand weathering and moisture. FKM or reinforced HNBR compounds are often preferred, and a dual‑lip configuration
helps block mud and water. Corrosion‑resistant metal cases also become
important.
In high‑humidity or chemically active environments, such as food processing or chemical storage areas, the seal must resist cleaning agents, steam, and corrosive media. Material selection becomes critical. EPDM, FKM, or specialty chemical‑resistant elastomers can significantly extend service life. Increasing the lip preload helps the seal withstand high‑pressure washdowns.
Heavy‑duty AGVs and fork‑type AMRs introduce another challenge: frequent micro‑movements of the shaft caused by load variations. These dynamic shifts can accelerate lip wear. A reinforced metal case, stronger garter spring, and abrasion‑resistant lip materials help maintain sealing stability under such conditions.
Experience across the industry shows that long‑term reliability is achieved
not only through material selection but through a system‑level approach. This
includes:
— Defining environmental categories during the selection phase
—
Allowing sufficient axial and radial stability in the mechanical design
—
Implementing periodic inspection during maintenance
When these elements work together, AGV/AMR platforms can maintain consistent sealing performance across a wide range of floor conditions.
