Slotted Shim: Solution for Industrial Shaft Alignment and Leveling
Proper alignment and leveling are important for maintaining the top performance and longevity of industrial machines. Small deviations in machinery alignment can lead to costly downtime, excessive vibration, accelerated wear, and even severe equipment failure. Whether you are working in manufacturing, power generation, or any industry that depends on machines running at optimum levels, you have likely encountered the need for precise adjustment. That is where slotted shim come in.
Custom Gaskets Ltd. has long been a trusted name in industrial slotted shim, providing quality and precise products. By offering a broad range of sizes and thicknesses, our shims allow you to handle even the most demanding alignment challenges with ease.
What is Slotted Shim
Shims are thin, precision-cut pieces of metal, usually stainless steel, that have a slot or notch. This allows you to set the shim onto a bolt or stud without having to completely take the machinery foot or base apart. They are used in a number of machines, such as pumps, gearboxes, motors, compressors, and even structural components that need to be leveled precisely.
Advantage of Using Slotted Shim
- Faster Alignment: You can realign machines without fully removing the bolts. Loosen the bolt, slide the shim over it, then retighten the bolt. This is the alignment easy and quick and are less likely to lose hardware.
- Precise Adjustments: Shims can be used to correct alignment errors in steps. Shims comes in different thicknesses and dimensions to enable very precise adjustments.
- Improved Machine Performance: Improper alignment can cause excessive vibration that accelerates bearing failure and leads to other part damage. This means your machines can last longer with less downtime and operate at their best.
- Less Downtime: Having your alignment done quickly means your machines spend less time out of service and minimizes maintenance costs and maximizes productivity.
Built with Exact Precision
Custom Gaskets slotted shim is designed to meet strict tolerances and streamline equipment leveling. Here are some of it’s feature:
Radius Corners: It has rounded edges that help avoid potential cuts and scrapes, it also promote safety of handling.
Finger Tab & Hole: You can simply push each shim to position it, and use a ring or pegboard to keep them stored.
Clearly Marked Size: Each shim has its thickness and tolerance range etched on the surface of the shim. For complete information please refer to our Tolerance Rate Table.
304 Stainless Steel: Made in high quality stainless steel that is corrosion resistant and can be use for wet or harsh environments such as marine, chemical processing, and high humidity areas.
Popular Sizes and Thicknesses
Custom Gaskets carry the most commonly used shim dimensions to handle the vast majority of shims for leveling tasks. It is available in four standard sizes (A, B, C, D) with 13 different thicknesses from 0.001″ up to 0.125″.
| Size | Width | Length | Slot Width | Slot Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2″ | 2″ | 5/8″ | 1.25″ |
| B | 3″ | 3″ | 0.8″ | 1.8″ |
| C | 4″ | 4″ | 1.25″ | 2.625″ |
| D | 5″ | 5″ | 1.625″ | 3.375″ |
Shim Size and Dimension
These specifications give engineers and machinists the flexibility to solve almost any alignment challenge.
Slotted Shim Kit: All Thickness in One Package
Our slotted shim kit is a popular choice for machinists who handle alignment tasks regularly. Each kit contains a specific size and various thicknesses of shims, all stored in a convenient case. Here is why you might want to keep one in your tool chest:
- Assorted Sizes: Our sizes ranges from 2″ x 2″ up to 6″ x 6″ that come in options of 10, 20, or 25 pieces of each thickness, giving you the flexibility to choose exactly the right amount for your project.
- Range of Thicknesses: Choose from 0.001″ to 0.125″, these options provide the precision needed for fine or larger adjustments.
- Portable Carrying Case: The kit is stored in a heavy duty metal case that keeps shims safe, separated by size and thickness, preventing damage or mix-ups.
- High-Quality Steel: All kit shims are made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel 304 that meets strict industry standards.
Our slotted shim kit is a popular choice for machinists who handle alignment tasks regularly. Each kit contains a specific size and various thicknesses of shims, all stored in a convenient case. Here is why you might want to keep one in your tool chest :
- Assorted Sizes: Our sizes ranges from 2″ x 2″ up to 6″ x 6″ that come in options of 10, 20, or 25 pieces of each thickness, giving you the flexibility to choose exactly the right amount for your project.
- Range of Thicknesses: Choose from 0.001″ to 0.125″, these options provide the precision needed for fine or larger adjustments.
- Portable Carrying Case: The kit is stored in a heavy duty metal case that keeps shims safe, separated by size and thickness, preventing damage or mix-ups.
- High-Quality Steel: All kit shims are made from corrosion-resistant stainless steel 304 that meets strict industry standards.
Slotted Shim Kit Size A and B
| Kit Type | Pieces per Thickness |
|---|---|
| Starter Kit | 10 pcs |
| Standard Kit | 20 pcs |
| Full Kit | 25 pcs |
| Available Thicknesses & Tolerances | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| .001″ (±.0001) | .002″ (±.0001) | .003″ (±.00015) | .004″ (±.0002) |
| .005″ (±.00025) | .010″ (±.0005) | .015″ (±.001) | .020″ (±.001) |
| .025″ (±.001) | .050″ (±.002) | .075″ (±.002) | .100″ (±.004) |
| .125″ (±.004) | |||
Slotted Shim Replacement Pack:
You might find yourself using a few thicknesses more often than others. In that case, our Slotted Shim Replacement Packs let you order extra of the shims you use the most. This option helps you maintain a balanced inventory:
- Cost-Effective: Only replace the shims you need without the need to replace the entire set if you do not need all the sizes.
- Convenient Storage: Each replacement pack is identified, making it easy to place them with your current kit for easy reference.
- Readily Available: Having some spares on hand will decrease the time of downtime for any last-minute realignments that may be required.
Custom Options
Custom Gasket also provides specialized shapes, sizes, and materials of the slotted shims – from 316 stainless steel, galvanized steel, and carbon steel, up to non-metal materials like plastic or brass. If you have a special task, our professionals will be happy to develop and manufacture the perfect shim for your application based on your requirements.
Broad Compatibility for NEMA Frames
Another one of the great features of our shims is that they are compatible with all NEMA frame sizes. NEMA stands for National Electrical Manufacturers Association, which establishes standards for electric motors and other related equipment. We created shims that can be used for almost any frame size.
| Shim Size | Slot Width | NEMA Frame Numbers |
|---|---|---|
| A | 5/8″ | 42, 48, 56, 145, 149, 162, 169, 182–189, 213–219, 1610, 1810, and 2110 |
| B | 3/4″ | 66, 253–259, 283–289, and 323–329 |
| C | 1.25″ | 203, 204, 224, 225, 363–369, 403–409, 443–449, and 504–509 |
| D | 1.625″ | 502–509, 582–589, and 681–689 |
Why Partner with Custom Gaskets?
This is what makes us different from other shim suppliers:
- Strict Quality Standards
We only use high-grade materials like 304 stainless steel and monitor thickness tolerances. Each shim is laser-cut and carefully inspected. - NEMA Frame Compatibility
You can use our shims on almost all NEMA frame sizes. - Fast Shipping and Good Stock Levels
We keep popular sizes and thicknesses in stock, so you can get what you need quickly. - Custom Solutions
We can help you come up with a custom shim if you have an unusual bolt pattern, dimension, or material request. - Customer Service
We can assist you in selecting the right material, thickness, and size for your application.
At Custom Gaskets Ltd., we want to make your alignment jobs simple and dependable. Our slotted shim is made of stainless steel. They are available in all the major sizes and thicknesses and are suitable for use in almost all applications including most NEMA frame sizes.
If you have any questions or want to explore custom options, feel free to reach out. You can also visit Custom Gaskets Ltd. – Shims for more information about our products and services.
