Ball Lock Pilot Punches Tapered Tip XNM Coating

This heavy-duty tapered-tip pilot punch is used in injection mold and die tooling where consistent part location is critical during the forming and assembly sequence. The ball-lock pilot design helps create repeatable alignment and stable starts, reducing the risk of mislocation at the beginning of every cycle.

• Automotive and industrial connector housing molds: In multi-stage or transfer tooling, the tapered tip improves entry into mating features, supporting reliable lock-in even when minor misalignment occurs during part indexing.
• Medical device and precision component housings: For housings that require tight dimensional control, the locating function of the pilot punch supports stable alignment of core/cavity components during assembly operations.
• Appliance and consumer product inserts: The XNM coating variant is suited to high-wear environments where pilot surfaces experience repeated sliding contact.

The inch heavy-duty construction range and the tapered geometry make this variant practical for robust die sets that prioritize long run performance and repeatable starts.

The pilot punches are manufactured from M2 steel (high-speed steel) and are also available in PS4 as an alternative material option. M2 is selected for its ability to maintain hardness and dimensional stability under wear-producing conditions, supporting consistent locating performance across production cycles.

• M2 (variable option): Typically supplied in a hardened condition for high wear resistance; hardness is generally in the HRC range associated with M2 tooling, balancing toughness with abrasion resistance.
• PS4 (alternative): Used when the tooling program requires a different toughness-to-wear balance versus M2; select this when wear resistance requirements differ or when material cost/availability is a factor.

For both materials, the tapered point and ball-lock contact surfaces benefit from controlled grinding and surface finishing, while the coating variant (XNM) is used to improve wear resistance during repeated pilot engagement.

Select the pilot punch shank diameter and point length to match the mold’s locating interface so the tapered tip enters smoothly and the ball-lock feature fully engages.

• Shank diameter (D, in): Choose from 37 ~ 125 in to fit the die/bushing bore or guiding register without excessive clearance.
• Point length / overall coded length (L, inch): Available ranges include 250 ~ 600, 250 ~ 700, 275 ~ 700, and 300 ~ 700 (coded inch). Match this to the available penetration depth and the required engagement length in the cavity/core.
• Point length options (B and C, coded inch): Select from the same listed ranges (250 ~ 600, 250 ~ 700, 275 ~ 700, 300 ~ 700) based on the specific pilot geometry used in your locating stack.

Dimension P (in) = 0.083 ~ 0.999 should be chosen to meet your interface height/step requirements. Use appropriate machining tolerances for pilot-bore fit so the tapered entry guides alignment while avoiding binding during high-cycle starts.