When the thickness drops to just 0.05mm, manufacturing a shim to spec becomes a highly technical task. Here’s a look behind the scenes at what it takes to produce ultra-thin shims with the precision and consistency that critical applications demand:
1. Choosing the Right Material
It starts with raw material selection. Not all materials behave well at these thicknesses – some warp, others tear – so material quality and consistency matter from the start. Datum specialises in precision shim manufacturing in stainless-steel as well as producing shims from a wide range of alloys such as Aluminium, Alloy 42, Nickel, Nickel Alloys and Nickel-coated steel all application specific.
2. Precision Cutting and Forming
Cutting a 0.05mm shim without distortion takes specialised equipment such as laser cutting, chemical etching or stamping. Each method has trade-offs in edge quality, speed, and cost – but the key is to minimize stress on the material during processing.
3. Flatness and Tolerance Control
At this scale, many variables can throw off a measurement. We handle and the shim in a controlled environment and use a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) to verify thickness and flatness. The CMM plays a critical role in quality control by verifying that parts conform to design specifications. Tolerances are often in the micron range, and we ensure that all parts meet the design tolerance specification.
4. Surface Finish and Cleanliness
Surface condition isn’t just cosmetic. A rough or contaminated surface can cause issues in high-precision assemblies. Datum ensures all parts are clan, grease, scratch and burr free on inspect. Datum offer a wide range of additional services including coating, painting, tempering or hardening.
5. Quality Checks at Every Stage
Before anything ships out, we run a final inspection – checking dimensions, verifying material certs, and confirming every part meets the spec.
A 0.05mm shim might be small, but the work behind it isn’t. It takes careful engineering, tight process control, and attention to detail at every step.
| Material Selection | -Stainless steel -Aluminium -Alloy 42 -Nickel -Nickel alloys -Nickel-coated steel |
| Prototyping | Laser cut prototype to test design |
| Production | Chemical etching, laser cutting, or fine stamping |
| Flatness and Tolerance Control | CMM - to check measurements |
| Surface Finish | Clean and burr free |
| Additional Finishing | Coating, painting, tempering or hardening |