M2 Steel Ball Lock Pilot Punches - Tapered Tip, Heavy Duty,

These M2 steel ball-lock pilot punches are used in injection mold and die tooling wherever repeatable start-up alignment is critical—especially at the interface between moving and locating components. The tapered tip geometry promotes consistent pilot entry, reducing the chance of mis-lock during fast press cycles and improving first-hit repeatability.

Common application scenarios include automotive connector and housing molds, where multiple features must register to maintain cosmetic and functional tolerances over long production runs. The ball-lock design helps stabilize part positioning, and the XNM coating supports wear reduction for sustained locating performance.

They are also suited to medical device housing and assembly tooling that requires tight process control and stable cavity/core engagement. In addition, the heavy-duty inch construction makes them practical for robust die sets and mold bases using inch-based component standards.

• Use the tapered tip to improve lock-in during tool alignment
• Use XNM-coated versions to reduce wear under high-cycle production
• Select M2 (or PS4 where offered) for dimensional stability in locating operations

The base material for this series is M2, a high-speed steel typically selected for its balance of hardness, wear resistance, and dimensional stability. Where available, PS4 is offered as an alternate material option within the same ball-lock pilot punch family.

For locating pins, maintaining hardness is key to resisting edge rounding and maintaining consistent pilot engagement. In practice, M2 components are commonly hardened and tempered to achieve high surface hardness (often in the mid-to-high HRC range) while preserving enough toughness to tolerate shocks from repeated tool closes.

• M2 steel: strong wear resistance with good toughness trade-offs for heavy-duty pilot service
• PS4 (when selected): an alternate steel choice for engineers who prefer that grade’s properties for specific load/wear conditions
• XNM coating: enhances wear resistance at the contacting areas, supporting longer locating life

Choose the steel option based on expected wear rate, contact pressure, and cycling frequency.

To select the correct ball-lock pilot punch, match the shank diameter D and overall length to the corresponding receiving features in your mold base or die components. This series provides D (shank dia.) from 37 ~ 125 in and coded standard point length & L (length) ranges of 250 ～ 600, 250 ～ 700, 275 ～ 700, and 300 ～ 700 (coded inch).

Next, choose the correct point length configuration: the B point length and C point length are listed across the same coded inch ranges (e.g., 250 ～ 600 or 300 ～ 700), and some variants list D (point length) as 275 ～ 700 or 300 ～ 700. Use these values to ensure the tapered tip reaches the lock-in zone without bottoming in the cavity/core pocket.

• Set D to the bore/guide diameter with the required clearance
• Select L so the pilot engagement occurs during tool close, not after lock-in
• Confirm tolerance/fit strategy for ball-lock locating to prevent drift or binding

Most dimensions are selectable within the given ranges; confirm the exact coded length set that corresponds to your drawing standard.