Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing seals (e.g., metal end cap (MEC) seals) having inner and/or outer surfaces that include grooves are provided. In particular, seal mold assemblies may include removable, flexible, non-metallic annular mold inserts (e.g., sleeves) that may be inserted into annular mold cavities of inner and outer annular mold rings. As such, the mold inserts may be used interchangeably and modularly to create many different types of grooved seals, without the need to use different inner and outer annular mold rings. Using mold inserts in this manner eliminates the need for secondary machining processes on the inner and/or outer surfaces of the grooved seals, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs and time as well as providing greater consistency and repeatability between manufactured grooved seals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing seals (e.g., metal end cap (MEC) seals) having inner and/or outer surfaces that include grooves are provided. In particular, seal mold assemblies may include removable, flexible, non-metallic annular mold inserts (e.g., sleeves) that may be inserted into annular mold cavities of inner and outer annular mold rings. As such, the mold inserts may be used interchangeably and modularly to create many different types of grooved seals, without the need to use different inner and outer annular mold rings. Using mold inserts in this manner eliminates the need for secondary machining processes on the inner and/or outer surfaces of the grooved seals, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs and time as well as providing greater consistency and repeatability between manufactured grooved seals.