The unique aspects of rubber product design require care to prevent unforeseen problems in the performance or manufacture of a part.

The following is a list of challenges commonly experienced when designing rubber parts, and suggestions for avoiding them:

• Attempting to compress rubber (or overfilling the groove)
• Designing a rubber part which cannot be manufactured
• Lack of installation tools and/or employee training
• Failing to consider all possible chemicals/processes which may contact the rubber component
• Lack of sufficient lubrication for a seal or other dynamic rubber part
• Not allowing enough room for a seal or rubber part
• Using too small a seal or rubber part
• Using a seal as a bearing
• Not considering rubber thermal effects
• Not accounting for seal friction and power loss