Tips for fabricating laminated shims
- All tools, whether punches or machine tools, must be sharp and clean.
- Punch and die clearance should be tighter than when punching solid stock.
- When machining laminated stock, back-up or waste plates should be used to prevent the outside foils of a part or stack of parts from de-laminating. The part or stack of parts must be securely clamped or fixtured.
- If foil edges are blended together by the fabrication process, laminated parts can be made very hard to peel. Sharp tools and light feed weights can minimize this.
- Lasers and EDM's are not recommended for laminated materials, as the heat of the process will often fuse the foil layers together or destroy the adhesive between the layers.
- Laminated material can split apart, or de-laminate, when fabricating stresses exceed the strength of the adhesive holding the layers together. This is especially true for very thick laminates, partially solid laminates, or when a part has a very narrow wall. Sharp tools, lubricating, and firm fixturing or hold-downs all help to minimize this.
Bolsan is an expert at the fabrication of laminated parts. The most effective method for fabrication depends on configuration, thickness, material type, quantity, tolerances, and end-use of the shim. Why not let Bolsan provide your parts complete?