Precision shims, made to your drawing
U-shim kits, shim rings, packing and levelling shims, laminated peelable shims and wedges for aerospace, defence, drones, construction, lifts and industrial machinery. Stainless steel, brass and steel, from 0.05 mm foil to 6 mm plate.
A thin, accurate spacer that sets a gap.
A shim sets a gap, aligns a machine or levels a structure. Place one under a motor foot and the shaft lines up with the pump. Place a stack under a steel column and it stands plumb before the grout goes in. Place a ring behind a bearing and the shaft runs with the right end-float.
Shims are made in thin gauges from foil to plate, in materials that suit the load and the environment. We make them in kits of gauges, or cut to your outline from a drawing.
Which shim for which job?
Start with what you need to do, and go to the shim type that does it.
| You need to… | Use |
|---|---|
| Align a motor, pump or gearbox | U-shim kits |
| Set bearing end-float or preload | Shim rings |
| Level a steel column, machine base or skid | Packing and levelling shims |
| Fine-tune tooling, dies or fixtures | Laminated peelable shims |
| Set a height smoothly | Tapered wedge pairs |
| Cut your own shapes, or send a drawing | Shim sheet and custom shapes |
Six types of shim, one fabricator.
Kits for fitters and custom shapes for engineers. Every shim is marked with its thickness.
U-shims and alignment kits
Slotted shims that slide under a foot or base without removing the bolt. Stainless, brass and steel kits in thin and heavy gauges.
ExploreShim rings (DIN 988-type)
Flat rings in stainless steel for setting end-float and preload of bearings, gears and shafts, in kits of gauges.
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Packing and levelling shims
Slotted and holed plates in steel, stainless and galvanised sheet for base plates, lift guide-rail brackets, solar structures and spacers.
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Laminated peelable shims
Bonded foil layers that the fitter peels off one at a time to reach the exact gap.
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Wedges and special shapes
Ground tapered wedges for smooth height setting; wave shims on request.
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Shim sheet and custom shapes
Flat shim sheet in a set of gauges, or any outline cut to your drawing.
ExploreShims for the industry you work in.
Aerospace, defence, drones, construction, lifts, energy and machinery each have different needs. Choose yours.
Aerospace
Gap-filling and alignment shims for tooling, jigs, ground-support equipment and prototypes
View shims02Defence and military
Shims for vehicles, shelters, mounts and ground equipment
View shims03Drones and UAV
Thin shims for motor mounts, gimbals, payloads and frame joints
View shims04Construction and structural
Packing and levelling shims for columns, base plates and machinery
View shims05Lifts and elevators
Guide-rail bracket packing shims and lift components
View shims06Solar and wind energy
Levelling shims for mounting structures, inverter bases and frames
View shims07Industrial machinery
U-shim kits, shim rings and shim sheet for alignment and maintenance
View shimsSpecifications at a glance.
Standard materials and gauges. Anything else is made to your drawing.
Gauges
| Gauge | How it is cut |
|---|---|
| 0.05 mm | Photo-etched |
| 0.1 to 0.75 mm | Laser-cut |
| 0.8 to 6 mm | Shear and turret punch |
Standard kit gauges: 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 0.8, 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 mm.
Materials
| Material | Best for | Products |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel 304 | General purpose; strong and corrosion resistant | U-shims, rings, laminated shims, sheet |
| Stainless steel 316 | Marine, coastal and chemical plants | U-shim kits, rings |
| Brass 70/30 (CuZn30) | Soft and non-magnetic; electrical machines, instruments | U-shim kits |
| Mild steel | Heavy packing under base plates and machines | Packing shims, wedges, spacer plates |
| Cold-rolled steel, zinc plated | Foot shim plates; plating adds 5 to 8 micrometres | Machine-foot shim plates |
| Galvanised (GI) sheet | Solar structures and outdoor levelling | Levelling shims |
Cut from certified stock, marked and checked.
A shim is only as good as its thickness, so the thickness is controlled from the stock to the pack.
Specify
You give the type, material, gauge, size or outline and quantity.
Certified stock
We cut from shim stock whose thickness is certified, in the material you choose.
Cut and finish
Photo-etched, laser-cut or punched, then deburred and flattened, edges broken.
Check and mark
Thickness is checked with a micrometre and marked on every shim, then packed in kits.
Shim questions
What is the thinnest shim you make?
0.05 mm. Gauges from 0.1 to 0.75 mm are laser-cut, and 0.05 mm is photo-etched. Gauges from 0.8 mm up to 6 mm are cut on our shear and turret punch.
What tolerance can you hold on thickness?
The thickness of a shim comes from the shim stock it is cut from. We use certified shim stock, mark the gauge on every shim and check it with a micrometre. If you need a particular tolerance, put it on the drawing and we confirm before quoting.
Do you make shims to DIN 988?
Our shim rings follow the published DIN 988 size tables. Tell us the standard and size and we confirm. Any other ring is cut to your drawing.
Can you make a custom shape from a drawing?
Yes. Send a DXF, DWG, STEP or PDF drawing, or a sample, with the material, gauge, tolerance and quantity. We quote from a single piece to batches.
Which materials do you use?
Stainless steel 304 and 316, brass 70/30, mild steel, cold-rolled steel (zinc plated) and galvanised sheet. Other materials on request.
Do you supply certificates?
A material certificate for the shim stock is available on request. Other documents are agreed with you for each order.
Do you make shims for aerospace, defence and drones?
Yes: to your drawing and material, in prototype and batch quantities. Programme approvals are set by your programme; we tell you plainly what we can meet.
How do I order?
Use the quote form, call or email with the type, material, gauge, size or outline, and quantity. We reply with a quotation.
Send your shim drawing or list
Tell us the type, material, gauge, size or outline, and quantity. We reply with a clear quotation, and a sample if you want one.