There are three basic reasons for designing in shims, according to Ford Component Manufacturing. These are:

• Tolerance compensation: Shims eliminate the time and cost of putting precision tolerances on mating components. They also compensate for accumulated tolerances during assembly. It is better to design in a shim than to discover later that you need one at the assembly stage.
• Precision alignment: Shims align parallel and angular surfaces when interfacing elements must be coupled.
• Wear compensation: Shims compensate for wear and are often designed to be sacrificial components so the basic equipment retains its original accuracy.

Ford Component Manufacturing offers a wide variety of options on shims, ranging from sets of solid shims in a variety off thicknesses, edge bonded shims, hybrid shims, which are part solid, part laminated, as well as the fully laminated Easipeel shim. 

Ford Component Manufacturing is based in Hebburn, Tyne & Wear, England. www.fordcomps.co.uk