Chemical Etched Metal Shims & Shim Washers With Tight Tolerance for the US Market

Metal Shims Overview

At Xinhaisen, we manufacture high-tolerance metal shims using advanced photochemical etching technology. This process enables the production of complex geometries, precise thicknesses, and burr-free edges in a wide range of materials, ensuring perfect fit and function in demanding mechanical, electronic, and optical applications.

Manufacturing Process

• Digital Tooling: The shim design, which can include intricate internal cutouts, tabs, or alignment features, is translated from CAD to a digital phototool.

• Material Selection & Prep: We select the specified alloy (e.g., stainless steel, copper, beryllium copper) in the required temper and thickness, followed by precision cleaning.

• Photoresist Application & Patterning: The metal sheet is coated with photoresist, exposed to UV light through the phototool, and developed to define the exact shim profile.

• Precision Etching: Controlled chemical machining uniformly removes material from both sides, forming the precise shim shape without applying any mechanical or thermal stress that could cause warping or burrs.

• Cleaning & Finishing: The resist is stripped, and shims undergo a final cleaning. Optional secondary services we coordinate include passivation, plating, heat treatment, or lamination to meet specific functional requirements.

Metal Shims Features

• Extreme Thinness & Flatness: Expertly processes materials from 0.02mm to 1.5mm while maintaining exceptional flatness and parallelism, critical for precise gap control.

• Complex Geometry Made Simple: Easily produces shims with complex outlines, internal holes, slots, and fingers that would be costly or impossible to stamp or laser-cut without distortion.

• Absolute Burr-Free Edges: The etching process eliminates all mechanical burrs and edge rollover, ensuring smooth surfaces that won't interfere with assembly or damage sensitive components.

• No Stress, No Distortion: As a cold process, it does not alter the grain structure or induce micro-cracks, preserving the material's mechanical properties and preventing warping.

• High Consistency & Tight Tolerances: Delivers exceptional lot-to-lot consistency with dimensional tolerances as tight as ±0.01mm on critical features.

• Material Versatility: Works with virtually any malleable metal, including Stainless Steels (304, 316, 17-7 PH), Copper Alloys, Aluminum, Titanium, Nickel Alloys (Inconel), and specialty materials like Phosphor Bronze and Beryllium Copper.

Metal Shims Specification

Metal Shims Applications

• Aerospace & Aviation: Precision spacing and alignment shims for engines, flight controls, and avionics assemblies.

• Automotive: Gasketing shims, sensor spacers, transmission components, and EV battery module spacing plates.

• Electronics & Semiconductor: EMI/RFI shielding gaskets, heat sink interface pads, spacer shims for PCB components, and wafer handling components.

• Medical Devices: Shims for surgical instruments, diagnostic equipment, and implantable device assemblies requiring biocompatible materials.

• Industrial Machinery & Optics: Alignment shims for bearings, gears, and pumps; precision spacers in optical mounts and laser assemblies.

Our Advantages

• Speed from Prototype to Volume: Digital tooling enables rapid prototyping in days, and our optimized production lines ensure seamless scaling to super-large orders with consistent ±0.03mm uniformity.

• Unmatched Design Flexibility: We simplify the production of complex, multi-feature shims, eliminating the high cost and lead time for complex progressive dies required in stamping.

• Material & Process Expertise: We provide expert guidance on selecting the right material and temper for your application's strength, conductivity, and corrosion resistance needs.

• Total Solution Provider: We manage the entire value chain—from rapid, high-quality material procurement to precision etching and coordinating any required finishing—ensuring a reliable single source for your shim needs.

FAQ

Q1: Why choose etched shims over stamped or laser-cut shims?
A: Etching is superior for ultra-thin materials (<0.1mm), complex designs, and absolute burr-free requirements. It prevents the distortion, stress, and edge damage common in stamping and laser cutting, ensuring perfect flatness and geometry, especially in hard or spring-temper materials.

Q2: How do you ensure the flatness of very thin shims?
A: We start with precision-rolled, stress-relieved metal stock. Our etching process is stress-free, and we use specialized handling and fixturing throughout production. For critical applications, we can implement post-etch flattening processes.

Q3: Do you provide materials with specific certifications (e.g., RoHS, Mil-Spec, ASTM)?
A: Yes. We source materials that meet a wide range of industry and customer-specific certifications. Certificates of Compliance (CoC) and Material Certificates (Mill Certs) can be provided with shipment.

Q4: What information do you need for a quote?
A: Please provide a 2D drawing (DXF/DWG preferred) with all critical dimensions and tolerances, material specification (type, temper, thickness), surface finish requirements, and an estimate of annual usage.

Welcome to contact us at any time!