What are Shim Plates? All You Need to Know

What is a Shim Plate?

A shim refers to a thin piece of material used to fill small gaps between parts in an assembly. There are two main types of shims: shim plates (flat, plate-like) and shim rings (circular or ring-shaped). Shim plates are not always rectangular; they can have holes or complex shapes to fit specific components. On the other hand, shim rings can have cuts, forming shapes like “C” or “U.”

Both shim plates and shim rings are commonly used in manufacturing and development processes. Typically, shims are metal sheets less than 1mm thick. Anything thicker than 1mm is generally referred to as a spacer.

How Shim Plates are Used

Shim plates are often used to adjust the height of tools or equipment in production environments. For example, shim plates can be placed between parts to level a jig or fixture. They can also be inserted into gaps to reduce rattling or vibrations. When tools or machines are not perfectly level, it can lead to assembly errors or reduce efficiency. Shim plates help ensure accuracy and quality in the production process.

In development environments, shim plates are often used to adjust the dimensions of prototype parts. When assembling components with slight dimensional differences, gaps can occur, leading to poor function. By inserting a shim plate, you can fine-tune these dimensions and ensure proper function. Shim plates are also used to create parts in various dimensions and evaluate which size delivers the desired quality.

Materials Used for Shim Plates at meviy

Shim plates come in various materials, each suited for specific applications:

– Stainless Steel: Strong, resistant to corrosion, and offers excellent heat resistance. Stainless steel shim plates are commonly used in machinery and are known for their precise thickness.

– Iron: Cost-effective and can be heat-treated. However, iron is prone to rust and may require coating or plating to prevent corrosion.

Key Points to Consider When Choosing Shim Plates

Shim plates typically range from 0.005mm to 1.0mm in thickness, although thicker options are available. When selecting a shim plate, it’s important to choose the right thickness based on the degree of adjustment needed.

Keep in mind that burrs or warping can affect the thickness and precision of the adjustment. It’s essential to select shim plates that are free from such imperfections or opt for deburred shim plates. If high precision is required, using materials like stainless steel, which has a consistent thickness, is recommended.

The shape of the shim plate also depends on where it will be used. For example, ring-shaped shims are suitable for shafts, while C-shaped shims are easier to remove after assembly. If you need a customizable solution, **shim tape** can be cut into any shape for your specific needs.

Processing Methods for Shim Plates

Shim plates can be processed using various methods depending on the production volume and required precision:

– Punching: This method involves using a die to shear the material and is ideal for mass production, particularly when making 1000 or more shim plates. However, initial costs can be high due to the need for custom dies, and deburring may be necessary.

– Wire Cutting: A thin wire passes an electric current to melt the material without direct contact, allowing for precise cutting of hard metals. This method is ideal for small production runs and offers the advantage of no burr formation.

– Laser Cutting: Laser processing is commonly used for thin metal sheets and allows for high dimensional accuracy and complex shapes. It’s suitable for thin materials (0.05 to 2mm) but is relatively slow, making it less ideal for large-scale production. It’s often used for small-scale components in manufacturing and prototypes.

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve explained the types, uses, materials, and processing methods of shim plates. Shim plates play an important role in manufacturing by enabling precise dimensional adjustments. Depending on the application, you may need shim plates of various shapes and thicknesses. Whether you require simple or complex shapes, there are many processing methods available to produce the right shim plate for your needs. Be sure to consider material properties and thickness accuracy when selecting the appropriate shim plate for your project.