Dovetail

It is sometimes necessary to add a retention feature to a face seal gland.  The result is a dovetail and half-dovetail.  This shape may also be called an undercut.

It should be noted that although this method has been used successfully, it is not generally recommended. The inherent characteristics of the groove design limit the amount of void area. Normally acceptable tolerance extremes, wide service temperature ranges, and fluid media that cause high swell of the elastomer are conditions that cannot be tolerated in this type of groove design.

Dovetail Groove	Half Dovetail Groove