Shim washer/extremely thin stand-off source

[Alphabits]

Greetings,

I have need for a shim washer of 1" OD, and ideally 0.9" ID, but possibly as small as 0.85" ID. Any thickness from 0.005" to 0.010" would work. Material is unimportant, other than it be reasonably tough and bondable with cyanoacrylate adhesive (loc-tite, crazy-glue, etc.).

This washer will act as a thin standoff to lift a piezo-electric buzzer off a metal surface, to generate a sounding cavity.

I've tried McMaster-Carr and Spaenaur, but can only find washers with 1" OD and 5/8" ID, which is too small a hole in the middle.

Any other suggestions? I had 20 made by a local machine shop, their best method was to stack together 20 sheets of shim stock, machine out the center hole, then put the sheets on a mandrel and turn the outside diameter down on a lathe. It made beautiful parts, but it's not a practical method for production... We'd be looking at 500-1000 pcs/month.

 

[MadMango]

Find a sheet metal house that has a laser?

Or perhaps contact a label vendor. They should be able to provide you with sheets of die-cut vinyl or similair material that is self-adhesive.

"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
Have you read faq731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

 

[aviat]

There are peelable shims that may work.

 

[btrueblood]

Go visit a sheet metal shop. They can punch a sheet with the i.d., then put a pan under the slug chute, and punch the o.d. (the resulting "slug" washer drops into the pan). Voila.

 

[MintJulep]

http://www.bokers.com/

 

[Barry1961]

I know some people who get thin shims made using an EDM and peel away shim stock.

Barry1961

 

[finman]

I've had similar shims made by a "Chemical Etching" process. It's fast and cheap and the parts are totally burr free and flat.
The only set up is some artwork of the component.

Worked well for me, it might be worth chasing up a local supplier.

 

[desertfox]

Hi Alphabits

I echo finman's advice.


regards desertfox

 

[Alphabits]

Thanks for all the replies people! bokers.com looks like an option, as might be a chemical etching process. We have another part made that way already, it didn't occur to me that it would make sense for this one as well. I'll look into it.

 

[Leo01]

No one has mentioned this but I have used end bearing shims from electric motors with good luck. And they come in all types of sizes and materials. Good luck in your search.
Lee