Done by regularly square cut but at the corner half round (radius) cut, so we can be known as Radius Cut Shims. Looking at it more in-depth, main uses of shims in a mechanical assembly are for Tolerance compensation: - Shims are used during the design stage to compensate for precision tolerances during its assembly. Wear compensation: - This refers to the function of shims to compensate for wear, helping the machinery to keep its desired accuracy and reducing the need to replace parts that have suffered from wear.