United Stainless LLP is a leading Shims are precision engineered elements that are common in mechanical, structural and industrial assemblies to provide accurate spacing and alignment. Shims may be of a simple nature, but they are crucial in ensuring that equipment is stable, causes less wear, and they are also accurate in dimension. This technical manual gives details about shims and their uses such as size, material, uses and a shims weight chart of standard to use as a reference.
What Are Shims?
Shims are thin sheets of material that are fitted between two parts to provide a filler to gaps, adjust alignment, or to provide a balance in manufacturing tolerances. They are mostly employed in machinery installation, maintenance and repair where fine leveling of positioning is needed. Shims are a cost-effective, quick, reliable, and adjustment solution to expensive components re-machining would have otherwise required.
Shims are generally flat and of square, rectangular, circular or U-shaped (horseshoe) designs. Different shims can be piled up to have the desired thickness making dimensional accuracy very critical.
Standard Shim Dimensions
The dimension of shims is determined by the demands of the use. The thickness varies between 0.05 mm and 5 mm and length and width vary according to the load and alignment requirements. Typical sizes of flat shims are 25 25 mm, 50 50 mm, 75 75 mm and 100 100 mm. Shims of a precision-cut type are uniformly thick with proper load distribution and precise positioning.
During technical assemblies, strict dimensional restrictions are necessary to prevent any vibration, unequal stresses, and early failure of the equipment.
Materials Used in Shims
The choice of the shim materials is based on operating conditions, exposure to the environment and mechanical load. Typical example shim materials are:
- Carbon Steel Shims: High power and affordable as general industrial.
- Stainless steel shims are good in tough situations and have a strong corrosion resistance.
- Aluminium shims are light and non-corrosive.
- Brass Shims: Machinability and low friction.
- Copper Shims: Good electrical and thermal conductors.
- The density of each shim is varied and this directly influences the total weight of the shim.
Why Shim Weight Is Important
One of the most important technical circumstances in the bulk purchases, logistical planning, and the calculations of the structural loads is the shim weight. The knowledge of shims weight assists the engineer in assembling weight and also aids the buyer in transporting the weight and inventory. When the shim weight is cumulative in heavy-duty installations, it may affect foundation stability.
Shim Sheets – Weight Chart
|
Thickness (mm) |
MS (7.85 kg/m²) |
SS (7.93 kg/m²) |
Aluminum (2.70 kg/m²) |
Brass (8.40 kg/m²) |
Copper (8.94 kg/m²) |
|
0.1 |
0.785 |
0.793 |
0.270 |
0.840 |
0.894 |
|
0.2 |
1.570 |
1.586 |
0.540 |
1.680 |
1.788 |
|
0.3 |
2.355 |
2.379 |
0.810 |
2.520 |
2.682 |
|
0.4 |
3.140 |
3.172 |
1.080 |
3.360 |
3.576 |
|
0.5 |
3.925 |
3.965 |
1.350 |
4.200 |
4.470 |
|
0.6 |
4.710 |
4.758 |
1.620 |
5.040 |
5.364 |
|
0.8 |
6.280 |
6.344 |
2.160 |
6.720 |
7.152 |
|
1.0 |
7.850 |
7.930 |
2.700 |
8.400 |
8.940 |
|
1.2 |
9.420 |
9.516 |
3.240 |
10.080 |
10.728 |
|
1.5 |
11.775 |
11.895 |
4.050 |
12.600 |
13.410 |
|
2.0 |
15.700 |
15.860 |
5.400 |
16.800 |
17.880 |
|
2.5 |
19.625 |
19.825 |
6.750 |
21.000 |
22.350 |
|
3.0 |
23.550 |
23.790 |
8.100 |
25.200 |
26.820 |
|
3.5 |
27.475 |
27.755 |
9.450 |
29.400 |
31.290 |
|
4.0 |
31.400 |
31.720 |
10.800 |
33.600 |
35.760 |
|
5.0 |
39.250 |
39.650 |
13.500 |
42.000 |
44.700 |
|
6.0 |
47.100 |
47.580 |
16.200 |
50.400 |
53.640 |
|
8.0 |
62.800 |
63.440 |
21.600 |
67.200 |
71.520 |
|
10.0 |
78.500 |
79.300 |
27.000 |
84.000 |
89.400 |
|
12.0 |
94.200 |
95.160 |
32.400 |
100.800 |
107.280 |
|
15.0 |
117.750 |
118.950 |
40.500 |
126.000 |
134.100 |
|
16.0 |
125.600 |
126.880 |
43.200 |
134.400 |
142.560 |
|
18.0 |
141.300 |
142.740 |
48.600 |
151.200 |
160.920 |
|
20.0 |
157.000 |
158.600 |
54.000 |
168.000 |
178.800 |
Applications of Shims
Applications of Shims include manufacturing, construction, automobiles, power plants and heavy engineering. Common shim uses are to fit the motors and pumps, set machinery horizontally, adjust bearing clearances and accommodate wear. Their accuracy and versatility render industrial shims important at the installation as well as in maintenance processes.
Conclusion
Shims are small yet they have a big role in precision engineering. A clear understanding of shim dimensions, shim materials and shim weight charts help the engineers and buyers to choose the suitable product to use in their application. Proper alignment in industrial systems guarantees performance and stability in the long-term operation of systems depending on the weight data of shims.