8 Square Shim Manufacturers in 2024
This section provides an overview for square shims as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 8 square shim manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked square shim companies as of November, 2024: 1.MSC Industrial Supply Co..
Table of Contents
1985-2014: Worked for Alstom Corporation, ABB Corporation, and Gadelius Corporation, designing Jungstrom air preheaters and mechanical design of diamond soot blowers. (ABB Corporation: https://new.abb.com/jp)
2014-2021: Worked as an engineering and project manager at Alvos Inc.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/yoichi-hiroki-92192394/
What Is a Square Shim?
A square shim plate is a type of shim plate with a rectangular (square) outside shape.
A shim plate is a component that is inserted between components or between components and equipment or locations to adjust the position, level, and spacing between them. Square shims are mainly classified as base shims and are used to correct and adjust the level and gap misalignment between parts during the assembly of machine components.
This adjustment reduces machine vibration and noise, prevents machine damage, and ensures stable operation.
In addition to square shims, shim plates include shim rings used for bearings and flanges, and shim tapes that can be cut to any length.
Uses of Square Shims
Figure 1. Example of square shim use
Square shims are often used as base shims for fine adjustment of levels between parts. Square shims are available in various thicknesses, for example, t0.05 to t1.0 mm for the same shape, and are adjusted to meet the required accuracy by combining one or more shims.
Square shims, in particular, are prepared in standardized dimensions in terms of size, thickness, and with or without drilling, making it easy to select the dimensions that fit. Therefore, they are used to adjust the level of general-purpose pump motors, pillow blocks, etc., and to adjust the inclination of equipment and facilities that require accurate leveling.
In the above example, a motor is used as a drive for a centrifugal fan. Angular shims (shims for the base) are inserted between the base on which the motor is installed and the motor mounting legs to adjust the tilt and level of the motor. As a result, the center of the motor output shaft - coupling - fan shaft is straight and accurate rotation is possible without vibration.
Spacers are also used to adjust gaps and spacing, but they are primarily used for adjusting the position of parts, not for adjusting the tilt and level. Liners are also used for the same purpose as shims, but with a thickness of t1.0 mm or more.
Principle of Square Shims
When high precision is required, simple installation of parts may not be enough to achieve the required accuracy. However, when the number of parts is large, it is not uncommon for the tolerance to accumulate and not be within the required accuracy after the entire assembly is completed.
Therefore, shim plates such as square shims are used for fine adjustment to ensure the required accuracy. The accuracy of the overall assembly is adjusted by inserting square shims between parts to change the tilt of the parts and the level of the parts.
The thickness of the square shim itself also requires accuracy and has a tolerance. It is important to check the thickness accuracy of the square shim to ensure that it meets the required accuracy. For the thickness accuracy, please refer to the dimensional table of each manufacturer.
Types of Corner Shims
1. Shape
Figure 2. Example of square shim geometry
The main types of corner shim shapes are as follows:
- Without mounting holes
- With mounting holes (1, 2, 4 holes, etc.)
- With mounting grooves (1, 2 groove, etc.)
- Alignment Shims
Mounting holes and slots are mainly used for machines and equipment that are mounted and assembled with bolts. Slotted mounting holes allow insertion of bolts without completely removing them.
Alignment shims also have a portion to hook a tool or other object to facilitate insertion and withdrawal operations.
2. Material
Figure 3. Material example of square shim
The following are the main types of materials used for square shims. For the selection of materials for square shims, stainless steel or aluminum is used if the environment in which they will be used, such as corrosion resistance.
- Brass
Brass C2680, C2681, etc. - Iron
Cold-rolled steel sheet and strip SPCC, etc. - Stainless Steel
Cold-rolled stainless steel sheet SUS304, SUS316, etc. - Aluminum (Al)
Aluminum and aluminum alloy sheets and strips A1050
3. Other
Other types of angular shims include:
- Surface Treatment
Treated with black dye to prevent rust. - Adhesive Application
Adhesive is applied to the surface for temporary fixing. - Laminate Type
Several ultra-thin shim plates (e.g., t0.05 mm) are pre-bonded, and the thickness can be fine-tuned by peeling off one to several shim plates at a time. - Marking
The surface is engraved and ink-marked with values such as plate thickness.
List of 8 Square Shim Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
- India
- Japan
- United Kingdom
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Trinity Brand Industries, Inc.
Stainless Steel Pre-Cut Slotted Shim
Manufacturer Overview
Trinity Brand Industries, founded in 1989 and located in Burr Ridge, Illinois, is a supplier of tool room specialty products to the industrial market. The company offers a full line of tool room products, which include stainless steel shim, brass shim, aluminum shim stock sheets, titanium coils, and sheets. Its products come with traceability and a Material Test Report (MTR) included with all materials. Pre-cut slotted shims, feeler gage strips, and coils are also available. Its fabrication services include laser cutting, waterjet cutting, wire EDM, and 3D industrial printing.
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Quality Bearings & Components - QBC
Solid Stainless Steel - Alignment Shims
Distributor Overview
Quality Bearings & Components (QBC) has been a distributor of bearings and related motion control components since 1950. The company is under the Designatronics division, headquartered in New York, USA. The company supplies various bearings, such as ball, roller, thrust, and spherical plain bearings. These components are critical in reducing friction and facilitating smooth motion in machinery and equipment. The company also has other motion components, including bushings, rod ends and linkages, linear motion products, pillow blocks and flanges, and shafting. The company serves a broad customer across various industries, including manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, agriculture, and industrial machinery.
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IWATA MFG.CO.,LTD.
Shims & Spacers
Company Overview
Iwata Mfg. Co., Ltd., established in 1966 and headquartered in Gifu, Japan, is a manufacturer of commercial machinery components and power transmission equipment. The company offers a wide range of products, including bearing rollers, end plates, leveling systems, nameplates, and seals. It also provides set collars, shims, sensor brackets, and trims. Its product requires less maintenance than oil-injected air compressors because it doesn't require oil changes or filter replacements. It serves a diverse range of industries, including coating applications, refinishing applications, manufacturing, and vacuum pumps.
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Glazelock Shims Inc
Flat Shims
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The Steel Supply Company, Inc
Shaping Wedge Shims
Distributor Overview
The Steel Supply Company Inc., established in 1896 and headquartered in New York, United States, is a supplier that provides structural and miscellaneous steel fabricators with a wide range of products. The company's offerings include hooked and straight anchor bolts, threaded rods, masonry anchors, and various hardware and abrasives. These products are utilized by various industries, including construction, manufacturing, and steel fabrication. It specializes in selling standarized and customizable products, which it can provide in high volumes due to its network of warehousing and direct shipment product lines.
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MSC Industrial Supply Co.
Square Shims
Distributor Overview
MSC Industrial Supply Co. is based in New York, New York, USA, and is a distributor and supplier of metalworking products as well as maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) equipment that was established in 1941 as a subsidiary of MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. The company primarily produces holemakers such as reamers and taps, milling equipment such as face mills and indexable inserts, and fixed abrasives such as wheels and belts. It also offers safety equipment such as respirators, reflective signage, and protective eyewear. The company’s products are mainly used in industrial manufacturing operations, with additional applications in construction.
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Square Shim Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MSC Industrial Supply Co. |
100.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the square shim page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
- IWATA MFG.CO.,LTD.: 100
Newly Established Company
- Quality Bearings & Components - QBC: 1950 (74 years ago)
Company with a History
- Quality Bearings & Components - QBC: 1950 (74 years ago)
Square Shim Manufacturers in United States
*Including some distributors, etc.
Global Distribution of Square Shim Manufacturers by Country
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
United States of America
|
2 | 40.0% |
Japan
|
1 | 20.0% |
United Kingdom
|
1 | 20.0% |
India
|
1 | 20.0% |
