Shim Washers
Metric Shim Washers are often referred to as support washers, and are generally used as ‘spacers’, meaning that they’re designed to take up excess space or play in gaps between assemblies.
Where two parts of a piece of machinery are made separately, it is very unlikely that they’ll match up exactly. There will always be some sort of gap or space, and this can cause problems. If there are fast-moving parts or lots of vibration is likely, a less than perfect fit could cause parts to degrade far more quickly than they otherwise might. In addition, the leaking of gases and liquids is also far more likely.
Metric Shim Washers get around that problem by being designed to specific sizes and thicknesses, effectively taking up the space or gap to ensure a tight fit between the two parts of the assembly.
Measuring Metric Shim Washers
Although shim washers have been traditionally measured in the imperial style — along with most other things in the UK — measuring shim washers in metric units gives a far more accurate sizing. In applications where a specific thickness of shim is required, being able to provide metric shim washers is an enormous advantage.
The material used in shims can vary wildly, depending on your specific requirements. If large amounts of vibration are likely, rubber or cork shims may be used in order to help absorb some of the impact and vibration as well as taking up the excess space. If a watertight seal is required, a plastic shim might well be more suitable.
As one of the leading suppliers of washers, shims and gaskets, we are able to advise you as to the best type of metric shim washers to use for your specific requirements, and our team are ready and waiting to take your call. If you have any questions, they’ll be more than happy to help you.
As an ISO 9001:2000 accredited company, we have been recognised for our commitment to excellence in both our products and services as well as our business practices, which means you can have the utmost confidence in Stephens Gaskets to provide you with a service and product which will exceed all expectations.
Take a look at our previous blog on Shim Washer Manufacturers here.