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CNC Machined Hermetic Enclosures

Pressure-rated, leak-tight sensor enclosures with precision sealing surfaces and validated hermetic integrity for aerospace, medical, industrial, and subsea applications.

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ISO 9001:2015
AS9100D
ISO 13485
NADCAP

What Makes a Sensor Enclosure Hermetic?

According to our CNC machining knowledge base, CNC machining is a computer-controlled subtractive manufacturing process that shapes materials with precision. A hermetic enclosure uses that precision to create sealing surfaces, O-ring glands, and feedthrough interfaces that prevent gas or moisture ingress. Every sealing feature—flatness, surface finish, groove depth, and feedthrough bore alignment—must be machined to tight tolerance so the enclosure can pass pressure-decay or helium leak validation.

We machine hermetic sensor enclosures from aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, Kovar, and engineering plastics, matching each material's thermal expansion and corrosion behavior to the seal type and operating environment.

±0.005mm Standard ±0.001mm Precision 5-Axis Machining CMM Inspection Leak Testing

Why CNC Machining Is Essential for Hermetic Enclosures

Hermetic seals fail when sealing surfaces are out of flat, grooves are off-depth, or feedthrough bores are misaligned. CNC machining removes those risks by holding every critical feature to programmed dimensions and producing the smooth, plating-ready surfaces that O-rings, gaskets, and glass-to-metal seals require.

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Tight Tolerances

Seal lands and O-ring grooves are held within microns so compression is uniform and leak paths are eliminated.

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Repeatability

Programmed processes ensure every enclosure copy meets the same standard—critical for validated production lots.

No Custom Tooling

CNC machining eliminates mold or die lead times, enabling rapid hermetic enclosure prototypes and design iterations.

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Material Versatility

We machine aluminum, stainless steel, titanium, Kovar, PEEK, and other plastics without changing the core process.

Smooth Sealing Surfaces

Precision machining delivers the surface finish O-ring glands and glass-to-metal seals need for long-term leak tightness.

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Complex Geometries

Multi-axis CNC machines produce intricate seal profiles, internal cavities, and feedthrough arrays in one setup.

5-Axis CNC Machining a Hermetic Enclosure Body
CNC Turned Hermetic Sensor Housing

Need hermetic enclosures that pass leak validation the first time?

Send your STEP or IGES file and our engineers will review seal geometry, material choice, and test strategy.

Request Free Enclosure DFM Review

Hermetic Enclosure Types We Machine

From O-ring sealed sensor housings to glass-to-metal feedthrough bodies, we CNC machine the enclosure geometry that keeps pressure, vacuum, and contaminants on the correct side of the seal.

Have a hermetic enclosure drawing ready?

Upload STEP or IGES and receive a detailed quote covering seal geometry, material, finish, and leak-test strategy.

Upload Enclosure CAD

Materials for Hermetic Sensor Enclosures

The material choice for a hermetic enclosure controls thermal expansion matching, corrosion resistance, weight, and seal compatibility. We machine the metals and plastics best suited to each application.

Aluminum 7075-T6 Hermetic Enclosure

Aluminum 7075-T6 / 6061-T6

Lightweight, corrosion-resistant housings with excellent anodizing response for aerospace and industrial sensors.

Stainless Steel 316L Hermetic Housing

Stainless Steel 316L / 17-4PH

Corrosion-resistant, high-strength enclosures for chemical, medical, and pressure-rated sensor applications.

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V Enclosure

Titanium Ti-6Al-4V

High strength-to-weight ratio and biocompatibility for implantable, marine, and aerospace hermetic enclosures.

Kovar Feedthrough Body

Kovar Alloy

Nickel-iron-cobalt controlled-expansion alloy for glass-to-metal and ceramic-to-metal hermetic feedthroughs.

PEEK Insulator Components

PEEK & Engineering Plastics

High-performance insulators, retainers, and lightweight housings for non-conductive hermetic assemblies.

Inconel / Hastelloy Enclosure

Inconel & Hastelloy

High-temperature, corrosion-resistant superalloys for extreme chemical and downhole sensor environments.

Raw Aluminum Bar Stock for Enclosures
Kovar Rod Stock for Feedthrough Bodies
Titanium Round Bar for Medical Housings

Not sure which material matches your seal?

Our engineers match CTE, corrosion resistance, and weight to your hermetic enclosure's environment and validation requirements.

View Material Guide Ask an Enclosure Engineer

Critical Sealing Design Features

A hermetic enclosure is only as good as its sealing features. We machine each O-ring gland, seal land, feedthrough bore, and thread interface with the precision required for pressure, vacuum, and environmental protection.

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O-Ring Groove Design

Proper gland width, groove depth, and corner radii prevent over-compression and maintain consistent sealing force across temperature cycles.

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Seal Land Flatness

Sealing faces are machined flat and smooth so O-rings and gaskets compress evenly without leak paths.

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Threaded Port Geometry

Threaded ports are machined to precise pitch diameter and class of fit for sealant, ferrule, or metal-to-metal sealing.

Feedthrough Bore Alignment

Bores for glass-to-metal or ceramic feedthroughs are positioned and finished to match the seal insert's diameter and CTE.

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Thermal Expansion Matching

Kovar, aluminum, stainless steel, and titanium are selected so the enclosure and seal expand and contract together.

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Surface Finish Control

Controlled Ra on sealing surfaces improves O-ring life and supports reliable glass-to-metal and epoxy bonds.

O-Ring Groove Cross-Section Detail
Flat Seal Land Machining
Feedthrough Bore Alignment Check

Need help designing a leak-tight seal?

Our engineers review groove geometry, material CTE, and finish before machining to reduce validation risk.

Submit Seal Design for Review

Surface Finishes for Hermetic Enclosure Durability

The right finish protects sealing surfaces from corrosion, galling, and environmental attack while preserving the dimensional precision needed for hermeticity. We match each finish to the enclosure material and operating environment.

Hard Anodizing
Type III, MIL-A-8625
Wear & corrosion protection for aluminum housings
Electroless Nickel
AMS 2404
Uniform coating inside bores and grooves
Passivation
ASTM A967
Stainless steel corrosion resistance
Bead Blasting + Anodize
Type II Matte
Aerospace cosmetic + protective finish
PVD / Gold Plating
MIL-G-45204
Low-contact resistance, inert surfaces
Ask About Enclosure Finishes
Hermetic Enclosure Surface Finishing Line
Helium Leak Testing a Hermetic Enclosure

Quality Assurance & Hermetic Validation

Every hermetic enclosure is inspected where it matters most: seal land flatness, O-ring groove dimensions, feedthrough bore position, surface roughness, and final leak rate. We document each critical dimension and test result so your enclosure can move straight into qualification or production.

  • ISO 9001:2015 / AS9100D / ISO 13485 quality systems
  • CMM measurement to ±0.001mm
  • Surface roughness verification on sealing faces
  • Pressure-decay and helium leak testing
  • First-article inspection reports with every order
View Quality Systems
CMM Inspection of Seal Land Flatness
Pressure-Decay Leak Test Setup

Need hermetic validation support?

We can coordinate helium leak testing, pressure cycling, and thermal shock validation through approved partner labs.

Discuss Validation Plan

Hermetic Enclosure Production Process

1

DFM Review

Engineers review seal geometry, material CTE, and test requirements before any chips fly.

2

CNC Machining

Milling, turning, and 5-axis profiling produce the enclosure body, grooves, and feedthrough features.

3

Surface Treatment

Anodizing, passivation, electroless nickel, or plating is applied to protect sealing surfaces.

4

Inspection & Leak Test

CMM, surface roughness, pressure-decay, and helium leak testing validate hermetic integrity.

DFM Review of Hermetic Enclosure
CNC Machining in Progress
Final Leak Test Station

Want visibility into every step?

We provide first-article reports, in-process photos, and full inspection documentation with each shipment.

Request Full Traceability

Frequently Asked Questions About Hermetic Enclosures

A hermetic sensor enclosure is a sealed housing that prevents gas or moisture from entering or leaving, protecting the sensor and electronics inside. CNC machining creates the precise sealing surfaces, O-ring grooves, and feedthrough bores that make this protection possible.

According to our knowledge base, IPx7 indicates protection against immersion in 1 meter of water for 30 minutes, while IPx8 indicates protection against continuous immersion at a specified depth. With proper seal design and machining, our enclosures routinely meet IP67/IP68 and can be tested to IPx9 for high-pressure washdown.

Material choice depends on the seal type and environment. Aluminum 6061-T6 and 7075-T6 are common for lightweight aerospace and industrial housings. Stainless steel 316L and 17-4PH resist corrosion in chemical and medical applications. Titanium offers strength-to-weight and biocompatibility. Kovar is essential for glass-to-metal hermetic feedthroughs due to its low CTE matching borosilicate glass and ceramics.

According to our knowledge base, Kovar is a nickel-iron-cobalt controlled-expansion alloy with a coefficient of thermal expansion of 4.6–5.4 ppm/°C at 30°C. Its low thermal conductivity and tendency to work-harden require specialized tooling, controlled cooling, and careful feeds and speeds to maintain the surface finish and dimensional accuracy needed for a reliable hermetic seal.

Standard hermetic enclosure features are held to ±0.005mm. Critical seal lands, O-ring grooves, and feedthrough bores often require ±0.001mm with surface roughness controlled for the specific seal material. Every critical dimension is verified on CMM.

Our knowledge base identifies several leak-testing methods including pressure decay, bubble testing, ultrasonic detection, and helium leak testing. We typically use pressure-decay screening for production parts and helium leak testing for the most stringent hermetic requirements.

Yes. We machine titanium and stainless steel implant-grade enclosures under our ISO 13485 quality system, with biocompatible finishes and full material traceability. Laser-weld preparation and clean-room-compatible cleaning can be coordinated.

Upload your CAD file through our contact page and include quantity, material, finish, IP or leak-rate requirement, and any feedthrough or port details. Our engineers will return a detailed quote and DFM feedback within 24 hours.

Have a hermetic enclosure question not listed?

Talk directly with an applications engineer who specializes in sealed sensor housings.

Ask an Enclosure Question

Ready to CNC Machine Your Hermetic Enclosures?

Get a production quote, enclosure DFM review, and leak-test strategy in one business day. We support prototypes, qualification runs, and high-volume production with consistent hermetic quality.

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