M2 Steel Ball Lock Pilot Punches - Tapered Tip (Inch)

These M2 steel ball-lock pilot punches with a tapered tip are used to establish controlled alignment in injection molding and other plastic forming tools where repeatable locating is critical. The tapered geometry improves initial entry into the mating pocket, helping prevent misalignment and providing a stable “lock-in” for downstream forming/assembly steps.

• Automotive interior/exterior component molds: Use when high-cycle tool operation demands consistent starts and reduced locating wear; the heavy-duty design supports reliable positioning during cavity/core actuation.
• Appliance and consumer housing tools: Ideal for multi-part molds that require tight registration across subsequent operations (e.g., inserts, slides, or post-form assembly), where ball-lock engagement helps maintain part location.
• Electronics and connector housings: Suitable for precision assembly features that benefit from repeatable pilot entry and stable lock under production loading.

The XNM coating is selected to improve wear resistance at the contact region, supporting longer tooling life and dimensional stability across production runs.

This variant is manufactured from M2 steel, a high-speed steel grade known for elevated hardness and good wear resistance in locating interfaces. In practical mold steel equivalence terms, M2 aligns with the AISI M2 / similar high-speed tool steel family characteristics—delivering strong edge stability for repeated pilot engagement.

• Coating: XNM coating is used to further reduce surface wear on the tapered tip and contact areas.
• Hardness & performance balance: M2 steels are typically heat treated to high hardness (commonly in the ~60 HRC class for wear-focused tooling). Expect strong wear resistance, with toughness tailored by tempering to manage chipping risk at the tip.
• Comparison vs PS4 option: When PS4 is selected, it represents an alternative material offering different heat treatment/usage characteristics; choose based on the tool’s wear vs. toughness priorities and available processing routes.

Most applications use a quenched and tempered condition to achieve the target hardness while preserving adequate toughness for repeated load cycles.

Selection starts by matching the pilot’s shank diameter D and overall length to your mold’s locating bore and mating ball-lock interface. Available D range is 37 to 125 in; choose the closest dimension that fits the guiding pocket/bore without forcing assembly.

• Point length / L codes: Standard point length & L are available as coded inch ranges: 250–600, 250–700, 275–700, and 300–700. Use the code range that matches your cavity/core engagement depth.
• B/C length codes: Point length B & L and C (coded) share the same available ranges, so confirm which column your drawing calls out (B/L or C) before ordering.
• P dimension (in): Available 0.083 to 0.999—verify this corresponds to your specified clearance/step geometry in the mating part.

For fit, confirm how your shop applies pilot tolerances: ball-lock locating typically benefits from controlled clearance to ensure repeatable engagement without excessive play. If your mold design uses fixed drawing callouts, select the exact coded length window to maintain consistent engagement during stack-up changes.