The Importance of Precision in Custom Shims

Anyone in the industry knows that even the smallest of inaccuracies can lead to complex and costly problems in any aspect of construction or manufacturing. Details matter, and when small mistakes occur, including in precision shims, entire projects can suffer failure, delays, and costly overruns. 
Precision in manufacturing and engineering is a critical component to everything you do. With custom shims, critical components to your project, you need that precision to be on target every time. 
Does precision matter that much? To find out, read on to learn a bit more about where precision matters the most and how to ensure you always receive custom machined shims. 

Custom shims are a commonly used and necessary component in construction and the manufacturing industry. They are used to fill in gaps, adjust space, and ensure that there is superior and near perfect alignment of various applications. 
There are various ways to design custom shims. As noted, precision matters, but these items can be flat, tapered, or slotted to fit the specific application being used. In short, they are designed around the specific requirements set by the application. 
The critical benefit of shims is their very accurate fit. Anything but accuracy creates gaps and limitations. Yet, it is not easy to create such products. Standard shims, those that may be readily available, are simply insufficient for most projects. Instead, the use of custom shims that meet very specific sizing and structure requirements create a better solution, ensuring the optimal level of protection and functionality of the task. 

Precision shims are a necessary compensator used in various machinery applications. They absorb accumulated tolerances between two mating components. When in place, and precisely created, they significantly reduce manufacturing and construction time and costs. They may also eliminate the need for each component of the project to be precision machined to create the perfect fit and achieve the ideal functionality. 
There are various components to the development of industrial shims and shim machining. Remember, it is this type of superior function that makes these shims effective. Considerations include:

• Material selection: The selection of material is dependent on the project itself. These shims may be made, typically, of stainless steel, aluminum, or plastic. Typically, the material selected is dependent on necessary specifications related to durability, performance, and task.
• Manufacturing tolerances: To ensure safety and functional efficiency, manufacturing tolerances must be very precisely controlled. Tolerances impact the functionality of shims in virtually any high-precision application. Any deviation from these aspects can create critical limitations and ineffectiveness.
• Impact on Machinery and Equipment: The creation of custom shims is quite specific, and whenever very small deviations from the specific thickness or size can lead to ineffective function. This is why standard shims are simply limitedly beneficial in most machinery aspects. When there is a discrepancy present, it can lead to misalignment, vibration, or wear within the system, which leads to costly repairs and breakdowns either immediately or over time. 

Material selection is dependent on industrial applications. Yet, even with all of the exacting details understood, the creation of such precise shims is limitedly achieved unless it is done by an organization with superior industry knowledge and resources. 

When you work with a trusted manufacturer and industry supplier, you never have to worry about any deviation from specification. In other words, no matter your project, precision shims are clearly the objective. 
Consider why this is so important to get just right. Consider the following industries, all of which may require the use of machined shims, and why any deviation from precise results simply does not work. 
Aerospace: The utilization of custom machined shims in the aerospace industry is essential. When any deviation from this occurs, it can cause safety and compliance concerns for the aircraft, putting lives at risk. The performance of the aircraft will suffer, and depending on the application of the shim, this can create damage to the aircraft that is fully avoidable. 
Automotive: The automotive industry is also dependent on custom shims. They are used throughout the industry to create highly accurate machinery functions, which ultimately lead to better performance. It also plays a role in how smooth the performance is and how long the vehicles last. 
Manufacturing: Every component in a manufacturing plant has a very specific task to accomplish with precision. Any situation in which that does not occur can lead to complexities in the design and manufacturing of products. Ultimately, production quality and efficiency are directly related to these details. 

What is the true underlying impact of poorly designed or standard shims? While every situation may be a bit different, there are several common consequences that can occur when even the smallest oversights occur. 
Operational failures: Simple, the product or equipment may not work if it cannot reach specific objectives or tolerances. Increased wear and tear may also occur, which limits the overall functionality of the component. Over time, this can lead to breakdowns and safety hazards, creating risks of liability losses. 
Cost implications: When precise shims are not created and applied, it can lead to costly repair needs and downtime for equipment dependent on it. More so, if a product designed with imprecise shims reaches the public, this can lead to product recalls, a very costly outcome. 
Quality control issues: Often, a lack of precision leads to ineffective design and end quality of a product. That can transfer to customer dissatisfaction across every facet of the product’s lifecycle and ultimately tarnishes relationships as well. 

It’s clear that it is of incredible importance to get it just right. The question, then, is what makes some solutions ineffective, and why are those more effective? There are several factors that contribute to success: 
Advanced manufacturing techniques: Precision can only occur with the most advanced manufacturing technologies and techniques applied by skilled technicians. This includes the use of CNC machining and laser cutting, for example. 
Quality assurance processes: Even with exacting technology, it is critical to ensure a quality assurance process is in place to mitigate any stray concerns or oversights that could occur. This includes steps to ensure every shim is inspected for dimensions and tested for functionality. 

Critical to end-users is ensuring they are working with the most trusted professionals in the industry who are capable of meeting very precise results. Working with a trusted shim manufacturer that prioritizes precision and quality is ultimately the ideal solution in every case. 
You can get the help you need from Deslauriers. Consider the precision requirements you need for your project and then contact Deslauriers to ensure your custom shim manufacturing solutions are made to meet your very exact needs.