Ball Lock Pilot Punches Tapered Tip Light Duty Inch

These light-duty, inch-size pilot punches are used in injection-mold tooling and die sets where precise die-to-die alignment is required, but starting force should be minimized. The tapered tip helps the punch enter the mating pilot station smoothly, supporting stable guidance during press and clamp cycles.

• Progressive/transfer die pilot stations: Use the tapered nose to improve guided entry for consistent part localization, reducing the risk of misalignment at start-up.
• Repeatable locating for thin or light components: The light-duty configuration suits applications that benefit from controlled guidance rather than high-impact pilot engagement.
• Small-lot production tooling: Inch dimensions support straightforward setup in standardized pilot layouts, improving repeatability across runs.

With configurable shank diameters from 0.3750" to 1.0000", the correct fit to the guide bore can be selected to maintain location repeatability throughout the tool life.

Ball lock pilot punches are available in M2 and PS4 steels for tooling-grade wear resistance. M2 (high-speed steel) is typically selected when you need strong abrasion and edge durability; it balances hardness with toughness for repetitive locating under press loads. PS4 is used as an alternative steel grade for tooling applications where wear resistance is still required, with a different toughness/hardness balance.

• Heat treatment state: The punches are supplied in a hardened condition for wear resistance (exact HRC values are not provided in the supplied specifications).
• Wear resistance vs. toughness trade-off: Higher hardness improves surface wear performance, while excessive hardness can reduce toughness. Choosing the appropriate steel helps maintain stability for pilot contact over repeated cycles.
• Manufacturing process: Standard production involves precision grinding/finishing of the tapered tip for stable engagement with the pilot station.

Select the punch based on the mating pilot station geometry, starting with the shank diameter D and the point length coding. The available shank diameters are 0.3750" (37), 0.5000" (50), 0.6250" (62), 0.7500" (75), 0.8750" (87), and 1.0000" (100).

• Match D to guide/bush diameter: Use the mating pilot bore or guide feature so the punch can engage without excessive clearance (for repeatability) or binding (for longevity).
• Choose point length by L coding: For variable standard point length & L, select from 250 ～ 600 or 250 ～ 700 (depending on the variant). For the B point length & L, the range is 250 ～ 600 or 250 ～ 700. For C, select from 250 ～ 600 or 275 ～ 700.
• Taper engagement control: The P dimension (0.083 ～ 0.749) should align with your pilot lead-in depth requirements to ensure stable guided entry.

Where tolerances are critical, define clearance based on your pilot bore tolerance and expected wear; use the closest D and length range to your cavity/core locating depth.