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

This heavy-duty pilot punch variant is used in precision progressive die and stamping tooling where consistent cavity-to-cavity alignment is critical. The ball-lock locating action helps maintain repeatable positioning during repeated punch cycles, reducing the risk of drift between feeding, blanking, and forming stations.

Common scenarios include automotive connector and terminal stamping, where round-tip pilots improve the start of engagement and support controlled alignment for thin-gauge components. It is also suitable for general blanking/progressive dies that require stable indexing across multiple steps, especially when die motion and wear can affect pilot accuracy.

For best results, select the M2 steel construction with the appropriate shank diameter and coded lengths to match your press and die interface envelopes, ensuring the pilot maintains fit stability under wear-prone operation.

• Progressive die pilot positioning (blanking/forming stations)
• Stamping for electrical/automotive components requiring consistent start alignment
• Indexing applications where ball-lock retention supports repeatable engagement

These pilot punches are manufactured in M2 steel (also offered in PS4), selected for durable performance under tooling wear. M2 is a high-speed steel grade typically chosen for its high hardness and wear resistance in cutting and piercing-related applications.

Heat treatment is commonly supplied in a working hardness condition suitable for pilot engagement: after machining, the punches are generally heat treated (e.g., quench and temper) to balance hardness (HRC), wear resistance, and toughness. In practice, higher hardness improves scuffing and abrasion resistance, while lower hardness can improve resistance to chipping or edge damage from misalignment.

• M2: high wear resistance; suitable for long tooling life where pilots experience repeated contact.
• PS4: an alternative material option; typically selected when a different toughness/wear balance is required for specific press conditions.

Confirm the supplied hardness and treatment state for your exact SKU during specification sign-off.

Select dimensions by matching the pilot’s shank and point engagement requirements to the die’s guide and cavity interface. This product offers D (shank diameter): 37 ~ 125 in, with coded inch point lengths: 250 ~ 600, 250 ~ 700, 275 ~ 700, and 300 ~ 700 depending on configuration.

To size correctly:

• Match D to the receiving bore/guide diameter in your press or die interface to maintain a stable fit and avoid side loading.
• Choose the coded point length (L) range that provides adequate pilot engagement depth without overextending into areas that could interfere during die closure.
• Use the appropriate point length coding set (B/L and C/L options) that corresponds to your required tip reach.

P dimension (0.061 ~ 0.999 in) should be aligned to the engagement/offset requirement of your locating system. Because close fits can be affected by wear and thermal growth, verify tolerance capability in your die design and maintain clearance where required for smooth ball-lock seating.