Shims are used in the shaft alignment process to correct the vertical position of a movable machine so it will be in alignment with the stationary or reference machine. Shims should be clean and flat. Shim stock or precut shims are used to raise the driver during the alignment process. When angular soft foot is present, it is advisable to cut a shim to fill in the void from the angular soft foot.
However, only one shim should be cut. Cutting shims in a “stair step” fashion is not advisable, since it is difficult to get each step shim back to the same place.
The proper shimming of the driver should occur only after the installation of the base plate has been finalized and the connection of the piping to the pump is completed. Precut shim of 304 Stainless Steel materials is available. These precut shims usually have the thickness measured and the exact thickness is etched on the shim. When using shims during the shaft alignment process it’s a good idea to limit the number of shims to 5 or less under the machine feet. Consolidate shims as much as possible as a large stack of thin shims can induce a soft foot.
However, only one shim should be cut. Cutting shims in a “stair step” fashion is not advisable, since it is difficult to get each step shim back to the same place.
The proper shimming of the driver should occur only after the installation of the base plate has been finalized and the connection of the piping to the pump is completed. Precut shim of 304 Stainless Steel materials is available. These precut shims usually have the thickness measured and the exact thickness is etched on the shim. When using shims during the shaft alignment process it’s a good idea to limit the number of shims to 5 or less under the machine feet. Consolidate shims as much as possible as a large stack of thin shims can induce a soft foot.