DIN Standard Steel Ball Lock Pilot Punches - Tapered Tip, Li

This tapered-tip, metric light-duty pilot punch is used in progressive and transfer injection-mold tooling to establish repeatable part location during the die-to-die transfer and feeding steps.

In automotive and appliance connector housings, it helps center the workpiece at high cycle rates so subsequent forming and trimming stations start from the same datum. The tapered tip promotes smooth alignment as parts enter the cavity area, reducing the risk of misfeeds.

For medical device housings and component inserts, consistent location is critical for downstream operations such as overmolding, insert placement, or fine trimming. The tapered geometry supports stable centering even during setup changes, while the XCD coating supports durable service under repeated cycles.

Use it in any tooling design where metric die layout compatibility and controlled centering are required, particularly when load is moderate and high wear resistance helps maintain fit over time.

These DIN-standard ball lock pilot punches are made from steel suitable for toolmaking applications, with a surface engineering approach to improve service life. While the specific base steel grade is not stated in the provided data, the design is intended for light-duty progressive/transfer die work where wear at the locating point is a primary concern.

The XCD coating is a key differentiator: it is selected to resist wear and help maintain the locating function across repeated cycles. In practical terms, this improves wear resistance and helps preserve consistent fit/centering behavior.

• Hardness: Not specified for this product; coating performance is used to support durability for the stated light-duty use case.
• Toughness trade-off: As with many coated systems, the goal is to protect the critical contact surface rather than maximize bulk hardness.
• Heat treatment: The provided data does not specify quench-and-temper, nitriding, or similar process state.

Select the pilot punch dimensions to match the ball lock locating interface and the entry/centering zone of your mold or die cavity/core layout. The shank diameter D determines how the punch seats and guides; choose from D = 10 ~ 38 mm based on available tool steel features and ball-lock receiver geometry.

Use L1 (point length) to control how far the tapered tip extends for centering before full engagement. Available ranges include L1 = 19 ~ 72, 19 ~ 102, 25 ~ 112, and 30 ~ 112 mm depending on the exact variant.

Then verify total L so the punch does not bottom out or interfere with plate thickness and moving components: L = 71 ~ 110, 71 ~ 140, 71 ~ 150, or 80 ~ 150 mm.

• P dimension: Ensure P = 1.45 ~ 30 mm aligns with your receiver travel/engagement requirement.
• Tolerance/fit: Because the ball lock location depends on repeatable engagement, use the manufacturer’s matched dimensions for D/L1/L/P in the same variant and avoid mixing across ranges.