M2 Steel Ball Lock Pilot Punches Round Tip XCDP Coating

Ball-lock pilot punches are commonly used in injection mold and forming tooling to locate workpieces, align mating die sets, and stabilize punch-to-cavity registration during repeated cycles.

• Automotive and appliance connector molds: Use for locating sprue-forming inserts and side-action punch elements where consistent centering reduces misalignment-related flash. The round tip supports predictable centering, while the ball-lock pilot helps maintain stable alignment under cycling.
• Electronics enclosure and snap-feature tooling: Ideal when tight registration is required for sequential operations (e.g., forming ribs, cutting openings). The light-duty configuration and M2 steel body offer steady performance, and the XCDP coating helps improve wear resistance at the pilot interface.
• Medical device housings (light-duty): Suitable for tooling layouts that prioritize precise pilot function over extremely high abrasion. The ball-lock design and controlled penetration from the coated tip help sustain location accuracy across production runs.

This series is available in M2 or PS4. M2 is a high-speed steel grade (commonly associated with AISI M2) chosen for its balance of hardness, wear resistance, and toughness in pilot/contact applications.

• Wear resistance vs. toughness: M2’s high hardness supports improved resistance to tip wear during repeated locating cycles, helping maintain alignment.
• Coating interface: The XCDP coating is applied to enhance surface wear behavior at the point contact, improving functional durability.
• Heat treatment state: The supplied specification set identifies material options (M2, PS4) and an XCDP-coated tip, but it does not list explicit hardness in HRC or a specific heat-treatment schedule (e.g., quenched & tempered vs. nitrided). Confirm hardness targets and treatment process with the supplier for your wear and deflection requirements.
• PS4 comparison: PS4 may be selected as an alternative material option for the same ball-lock pilot function; however, hardness and treatment details are not provided in the input data.

Select the correct pilot punch size by matching the shank diameter, point/length coding, and the P dimension range to the mold’s locating feature and clearance requirements.

• Shank diameter (D): Choose from 25 ~ 100 in. Verify that D fits the corresponding pilot hole/guide bushing ID with the required clearance to prevent binding while maintaining alignment.
• Standard point length L: The coded inch length options are 200 ~ 500, 200 ~ 600, 200 ~ 700, or 225 ~ 700 (depending on variant).
• Point length B & L options: Available coded ranges include 225 ~ 500, 225 ~ 600, 225 ~ 700, 225 ~ 600 and 225 ~ 700 (as listed), plus a fixed configuration with B & L = 250 ~ 700.
• P dimension (in): Select within 0.05 ~ 0.749 to meet your required pilot penetration/step engagement.