M2 Steel Ball Lock Pilot Punches - Round Tip, Light Duty, In

These M2 ball lock pilot punches are used to register and locate sheet metal components in light-duty inch die tooling, where repeatable alignment is critical but load levels are moderate. In progressive dies, the round tip engages mating pockets to stabilize positioning through successive stamping operations, reducing misfeeds and tooling drift.

They are also suitable for die alignment fixtures and press setups that require quick, consistent correlation between upper and lower tooling. The ball-lock feature helps maintain engagement under handling and press cycles, while the CRN-coated wear surface supports sustained locating performance.

• Progressive connector/stamping dies: round tip alignment for consistent feed-to-form positioning.
• Medical or precision housings via progressive stamping: reliable pilot location during repeated cycles.
• Die maintenance/fixture jigs: stable repeatability for setup and requalification.

The combination of M2 tool steel and CRN coating makes this variant well matched to wear-prone locating points while staying appropriate for light-duty inch applications.

This product is offered in M2 or PS4 tool steel. M2 (a high-speed steel equivalent to AISI M2) is selected for its ability to retain hardness for wear resistance at service temperatures typical of stamping and die tooling. For PS4, the specific heat-treatment and hardness profile can vary by supplier; confirm the exact state to ensure compatibility with your press loads and expected cycle life.

• Coating: CRN coating is specified to enhance wear resistance on the pilot contact area.
• Hardness: M2 is typically used in a hardened state (commonly quenched and tempered after machining), balancing hardness and toughness; exact HRC is not provided in the supplied data.
• Trade-offs: Higher hardness improves wear resistance, but can reduce toughness if not properly tempered—especially important for locating points that experience impact during die indexing.

Manufacturing generally involves precision grinding of the shank and tip geometry, followed by coating of the wear surface to protect the ball-lock locating interface.

Use the provided D (shank diameter) and the coded point length ranges to match your mold/die locating requirements. D is specified in inches as 25 ~ 100, so first determine the pilot shank diameter required by your mating locating hole or bushing spec, then select the closest available D within that range.

Next, choose the correct coded point length configuration for the engagement depth. The specification lists standard point length & L options coded in inches: 200 ～ 500, 200 ～ 600, 200 ～ 700, and 225 ～ 700. Additional variants include B & L ranges of 225 ～ 500, 225 ～ 600, 225 ～ 700, and C ranges of 225 ～ 600 and 225 ～ 700, with a fixed option of 250 ～ 700.

• Match engagement depth: ensure the selected point length provides sufficient ball-lock overlap without bottoming.
• Tolerance/fit: pilot systems are sensitive—verify your mating hole tolerance and press alignment method so the CRN-coated tip can seat consistently.
• Fixed vs configurable: D range is variable; point-length coding is available across multiple range families, including a fixed 250 ～ 700 option.