Precision Rolls for Custom Shimming & Machinery Setup

When an adjustment is measured in thousandths of an inch, material, thickness & fit all matter. Shop Aid Aluminium Shim Stock provides thin aluminium roll stock for precision spacing, machinery setup, alignment, tooling adjustments & custom shim fabrication where aluminium is appropriate for the assembly.

The current range covers seven imperial gauges: .001″, .002″, .003″, .004″, .005″, .006″ & .010″, all supplied in 6″ × 100″ rolls. This gives fitters, machinists, maintenance technicians & engineering workshops material they can cut into strips or custom profiles rather than being limited to a standard pre-cut shim shape.

Shop Aid identifies its aluminium shim material as 1100-H18 / 1145-H19. Material suitability should be established before choosing a gauge, then the required correction measured using equipment appropriate to the job. Feeler Gauges & Alignment Tools are useful companions when checking gaps, machine feet or rotating-equipment alignment.

What Is Aluminium Shim Stock?

Aluminium shim stock is thin aluminium supplied in controlled gauges so custom shims, spacers & adjustment pieces can be prepared for mechanical applications.

The Shop Aid products in this collection are 6″ × 100″ rolls, not individual metric sheets. Roll stock allows material to be cut as required for mounting points, fixtures, tooling, housings & other non-standard profiles.

The current Industrial Shed range includes:

Australian workshops commonly describe these dimensions in “thou” as well as millimetres.

► .001″ = 1 thou
► .002″ = 2 thou
► .003″ = 3 thou
► .004″ = 4 thou
► .005″ = 5 thou
► .006″ = 6 thou
► .010″ = 10 thou

One thou is one thousandth of an inch, equal to 0.0254mm. That terminology is useful when machinery documentation, existing shim packs or alignment measurements are imperial.

Why Choose Aluminium Shim Stock?

Aluminium should be chosen because its material characteristics suit the assembly — not simply because it is easier to cut than harder shim materials.

Shop Aid's aluminium range gives workshops a defined material, fine thickness increments & a long roll format for custom work.

Shop Aid 1100-H18 / 1145-H19 Aluminium

Knowing the material specification helps distinguish precision shim stock from an unidentified piece of aluminium sheet.

Shop Aid identifies this material as 1100-H18 / 1145-H19 aluminium, giving buyers a manufacturer-defined material & temper reference when checking drawings, service information or an existing shim requirement.

Lightweight Material

Aluminium has considerably lower density than steel.

That can make it useful where weight is a design consideration, but low weight alone doesn't determine whether aluminium belongs in a particular shim pack. Mechanical requirements, contact conditions, temperature, environment & surrounding materials should also be considered.

Useful Corrosion Resistance

Aluminium naturally forms a protective oxide layer & offers useful corrosion resistance in many environments.

That doesn't make it universally corrosion-proof. Stainless, nickel or another material may be more appropriate where the service environment requires different corrosion characteristics.

Thermal & Electrical Characteristics

Aluminium behaves differently from steel when heat or electrical conductivity matters.

Where those properties affect the assembly, material selection should follow the relevant design or engineering requirement rather than assuming metal shim materials are interchangeable.

Seven Fine Gauges

The range begins at just 1 thou.

That gives buyers several closely spaced options for fine adjustment before reaching the heavier .010″ gauge.

The stocked progression is:

► 1 thou
► 2 thou
► 3 thou
► 4 thou
► 5 thou
► 6 thou
► 10 thou

For applications requiring another material family, compare Shop Aid Nickel Shim Sheets for Nickel 200/201 or Shop Aid Blue Tempered Shim Sheets for hardened 1095 spring-steel shim stock.

When Should You Choose Roll Stock Instead of Pre-Cut Shims?

Choose the format around the shape of the adjustment as well as its thickness.

A pre-cut slotted shim can be convenient for routine machine-foot alignment when its dimensions already match the mounting point. Roll stock gives the workshop more freedom when the required shape isn't standard.

Shop Aid aluminium roll stock is particularly useful where the job requires:

► A custom outside profile
► Long or narrow strips
► Non-standard bolt clearances
► Shaft or housing clearances
► Fixture-specific shapes
► Tool & die adjustments
► Material cut around an existing component
► A particular aluminium material not available in the required pre-cut shape

Roll stock trades ready-made geometry for flexibility.

That distinction matters when deciding whether this collection suits the job before selecting a thickness.

Common Applications for Aluminium Shim Stock

Machinery Setup & Levelling

Small mounting-height corrections can influence the position of an entire machine.

Where aluminium is an appropriate material, known-thickness shim stock can form part of a measured correction beneath suitable mounting points, bases or other mechanical interfaces.

For broader drive-system maintenance around the same machinery, browse Power Transmission.

Motor & Pump Alignment

A correction beneath a machine foot changes shaft position at the coupling.

When the alignment procedure permits aluminium shim material, the required vertical correction should be calculated from the alignment measurements rather than estimated from the visible gap.

After adjustment & final tightening, the alignment should be checked again using the appropriate method.

Soft-Foot Correction

Soft foot occurs when a machine foot doesn't sit correctly against its mounting surface before final tightening.

Shimming may form part of the correction, but the underlying condition should first be investigated. Dirt, burrs, distorted feet, damaged bases or other mounting problems can affect how the machine sits.

Where a measured correction is required & aluminium is suitable, custom roll stock can be prepared around the mounting geometry.

Gearboxes, Compressors & Coupled Equipment

Rotating equipment needs to be considered as a mechanical system rather than a collection of separate components.

Gearboxes, compressors, pumps, motors & driven machinery may require mounting corrections as part of installation or alignment work.

For repairs extending to the shaft connection itself, browse Couplings & Clutches.

Fixtures, Tooling & Die Setup

Roll stock also suits precision work away from rotating machinery.

Known-thickness aluminium can be prepared for suitable fixture positioning, tooling adjustments, die setup & other applications requiring a controlled dimensional change.

The 6″ × 100″ format is particularly useful where a standard slotted shim doesn't match the required geometry.

Bearings & Housings

Some mechanical assemblies use shims to establish specified position, clearance or preload.

Where the equipment design calls for shimming, the service procedure should determine the required material, location & finished dimension.

If maintenance extends into the bearing system, browse Ball Bearings & Accessories.

Custom Spacing & Fit Adjustment

Not every shim corrects shaft alignment.

Roll stock can also provide known-thickness material for suitable component spacing, fitting & mechanical adjustment work where aluminium matches the application.

For broader dimensional checks around workshop components, Calipers provide another useful measurement option.

For a practical look at maintenance around demanding mechanical equipment, read Quarry Crews Crusher Maintenance.

How Do You Choose the Right Aluminium Shim Stock?

Make three decisions in order: material, thickness & profile.

Confirm Aluminium Is Suitable

Start with the machinery drawing, service information, existing specification or engineering requirement where available.

Don't substitute aluminium for steel, stainless, nickel, brass or another specified shim material simply because aluminium stock is available.

Establish the Required Correction

Measure the condition you're trying to change.

A feeler gauge may be appropriate for a physical gap. Machinery alignment may instead require dial or laser measurement to calculate the correction at individual machine feet.

The measurement method should match the application.

Select the Required Gauge

Select from the current measurement rather than assuming an old shim represents the correct specification.

Wear, replacement parts, resurfacing, movement or previous adjustments can change what the assembly now requires.

Build a Shim Stack Only Where Required

Several gauges can be combined where the equipment & procedure permit.

For example:

► .001″ + .004″ = .005″
► .002″ + .004″ = .006″
► .004″ + .006″ = .010″
► .005″ + .010″ = .015″

Where more than one combination reaches the required thickness, a simpler suitable stack is generally easier to identify, install & document.

Determine the Profile

A precisely measured thickness still needs to contact the right area.

Before cutting, consider:

► Overall contact area
► Mounting-foot dimensions
► Bolt-hole or slot position
► Shaft or housing clearance
► Edge clearance
► Whether a continuous strip is required

For suitable preparation & workholding tasks, browse Shop Presses & Vices.

Aluminium vs Other Shim Materials

Thickness tells you how much dimensional correction a shim provides. Material tells you how that shim behaves within the assembly.

A correct gauge in the wrong material is still the wrong shim.

Material substitution should therefore be deliberate rather than based only on what happens to be available in the workshop.

Expert Tips for Working With Aluminium Shim Rolls

Keep Thin Gauges Identified

A 1-thou offcut & a 2-thou offcut are difficult to distinguish visually once they're separated from the labelled roll.

Mark or segregate reusable material immediately.

Clean Before the Final Measurement

A burr, paint edge or piece of swarf can be larger than the correction you're trying to make.

Inspect & clean mating surfaces before taking the measurement used to calculate the shim.

Inspect the Whole Mounting Condition

Repeatedly changing the shim pack can indicate that something else has changed.

Check machine feet, bases, fasteners, housings, bearings & mating surfaces if the required correction keeps moving between maintenance intervals.

Protect Thin Material During Preparation

Fine aluminium gauges can be damaged or distorted by careless handling.

Use preparation methods appropriate to thin stock & inspect the finished shim before installation for unwanted folds, burrs or damaged edges.

Identify the Finished Stack

Where equipment receives recurring maintenance, record the shim material, individual gauges or total stack thickness, position & final measurement.

That gives the next technician useful information without assuming the previous setup remains correct.

For another view of day-to-day mechanical workshop work, read A Day With An Automotive Mechanic Peninsula.

What Should You Avoid?

► Don't describe this collection as metric shim stock — the stocked gauges are imperial
► Don't treat these 6″ × 100″ rolls as pre-cut flat sheets
► Don't assume aluminium is interchangeable with steel, stainless, nickel or brass
► Don't select a gauge before measuring the required correction
► Don't measure across dirt, paint build-up, burrs or damaged mating surfaces
► Don't add shim layers simply to hide an unresolved soft-foot condition
► Don't leave 1-thou, 2-thou or other fine-gauge offcuts unidentified
► Don't assume aluminium's corrosion resistance makes it suitable for every environment
► Don't treat shimming alone as a cure for vibration without identifying the mechanical cause.