Washers
DIN 988 shim rings are precision-engineered thin washers designed for fine-tuning axial clearance and compensating for tolerance build-up in mechanical assemblies. Produced with tight thickness tolerances from steel, stainless steel, or brass, they can be stacked to achieve precise dimensional spacing without deforming under load. They are critical in bearing assemblies, gearboxes, and electric motors to eliminate axial play and ensure accurate component alignment.
DIN 988 shim rings are precision-engineered, ultra-thin washers designed for fine-tuning axial clearance and compensating for tolerance build-up in mechanical assemblies. Unlike standard flat washers, shim rings are produced with exceptionally tight thickness tolerances, allowing engineers to stack them to achieve exact dimensional spacing. By eliminating excessive axial play and ensuring accurate component alignment, these critical components prevent premature wear and maintain the structural integrity of dynamic assemblies under load.
To meet diverse environmental and load-bearing requirements, shim rings are manufactured from high-quality steel, spring steel, and stainless steel (including A2 and A4 grades). The surface finishes available include oiled (Type BK), phosphated and oiled, passivated, polished, and natural. Additionally, thicker rings may feature ground side faces to ensure perfect parallelism and uniform load distribution across the bearing surface.
Shim rings strictly adhere to standard DIN 988, with material requirements often referencing DIN 1624 for mild steel and DIN 17222 for spring steel. A critical mechanical property is their hardness, which typically ranges from 440 to 500 HV10 (Vickers hardness), particularly for supporting rings that must resist deformation under high dynamic axial loads. These specifications guarantee that the rings provide precise spacing and structural support without crushing or yielding during operation.
Shim rings are indispensable in high-precision mechanical engineering. They are heavily utilized in bearing assemblies, gearboxes, and electric motors to eliminate axial play along shafts. They are also widely found in automotive transmissions, aerospace actuators, and heavy machinery, where precise clearance adjustments are necessary for smooth operation and longevity of rotating components.
DIN 988 shim rings provide an economical and highly accurate solution for axial clearance adjustment. Their tight tolerances and high hardness ensure reliable spacing, making them a fundamental component in precision mechanical and industrial engineering.
Our shim rings are available in a range of sizes, materials, and standards. Contact us for a detailed specifications sheet and competitive bulk pricing.
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