Spirol: Edge-Bonded Shims Minimize Assembly Costs for Manufacturers

Edge-bonded shims can reduce assembly time and minimize the costs of assembly for manufacturers when used instead of the more common surface-bonded laminated shims, according to a recent white paper by Spirol International Corp.

Shims are used in nearly every industry as compensators to absorb tolerances between mating components and can significantly reduce manufacturing costs, according to Spirol, an international supplier of fastening solutions. They do so by alleviating the need for each component to be precision machined to achieve the proper fit and function with the total assembly, as well as providing adjustment to compensate for accumulated tolerances, which also reduces the need for re-machining and assembly time.

Shims also are commonly used to preserve the faces between mating components, cutting down the required machining time during rebuilds and retrofits, the company said.

There are two types of laminated shims that can be used in the assembly process: edge-bonded shims and surface-bonded shims. Both have their merits, offering manufacturers the advantages of reducing assembly time, taking up less inventory storage space and reducing the number of line side SKUs, Spirol said in the white paper, which can be downloaded here.

However, edge-bonded shims have additional benefits for manufacturers, including speed of adjustment, operator safety, and minimizing the overall cost of assembly, according to the white paper, which describes the specifics of and differences between the two types of shims.

Laminated shims in general provide a number of advantages for manufacturers. They are built up from layers of precision-gauge metal foil and have peelable layers of metal that are removed until the shim has the proper thickness. The layers are bonded into a rigid structure that looks like a solid sheet or plate and performs similarly, according to Spirol.

To adjust laminated shims, manufacturers merely need to peel off laminations with a knife or, in the case of some materials, no tool at all, which means a single shim set can be adjusted to desired thickness and easily slipped into position. This enables variable close tolerances, which save considerable time required to pick various thicknesses of loose shims, according to Spirol. This reduces assembly time, which cuts costs. It also minimizes line side SKUs and related inventory storage space.

The difference between surface-bonded laminated shims and edge-bonded shims is that the former are adhered throughout the entire surface between each layer of material, with the layers pressed together to cure much like how plywood is manufactured, according to Spirol. The latter, on the other hand, are adhered by only the edges of the shim's profile.

READ MORE ARTICLES ON ASSEMBLY:

With surface-bonded shims, manufacturers must dispose of unwanted layers because they deform during peeling. However, with edge-bonded shims, the layers that are not needed can be preserved and used for later application, creating efficiency and cost savings for manufacturers, the company said.

Another advantage of edge-bonded shims is that multiple lamination thicknesses can be combined in the same stack. This gives the customer more flexibility for adjustment and can't be done with traditional surface-bonded laminated shims.

Additionally, edge-bonded shims provide cost savings because the materials are less expensive and the layers peeled off can be reused rather than discarded. They also have improved safety features, offering safe adjustment in seconds without use of a knife because they are much easier to peel than surface-bonded laminates, according to Spirol.

Elizabeth Montalbano is a freelance writer who has written about technology and culture for more than 15 years. She has lived and worked as a professional journalist in Phoenix, San Francisco, and New York City. In her free time she enjoys surfing, traveling, music, yoga, and cooking. She currently resides in a village on the southwest coast of Portugal.

Like reading Design News? Then have our content delivered to your inbox every day by registering with DesignNews.com and signing up for Design News Daily plus our other e-newsletters. Register here!

Design engineers and professionals, the West Coast's most important design, innovation, and manufacturing event, Pacific Design & Manufacturing, is taking place in Anaheim, Feb. 9-11, 2016. A Design News event, Pacific Design & Manufacturing is your chance to meet qualified suppliers, get hands-on access to the latest technologies, be informed from a world-class conference program, and expand your network. (You might even meet a Design News editor.) Learn more about Pacific Design & Manufacturing here.