Ball Lock Regular Punches - Light Duty, Inch

These light-duty, inch ball-lock punches are used to deliver stable, repeatable ejector action inside punch and die sets for progressive and transfer tooling. The ball-lock engagement helps lock the punch position during cycling, reducing shift that can otherwise affect part knockout quality.

Automotive connector and bracket stamping: They suit tooling where consistent ejection and alignment are critical over long press runs. The XCN coated surface supports smoother operation and helps mitigate wear at the tip/working area.

Appliance and general-purpose forming dies: When tooling cycles require reliable punch-to-die fit-up, the standardized inch coding supports repeatable assembly across compatible formats.

Electronics housings and thin-gauge metal forming: For applications where tool life and cycle-to-cycle performance matter, the coated finish and precision tip geometry help maintain stable ejector behavior.

• Use in stamping/forming and general progressive die setups
• Ball-lock engagement supports consistent positioning under repeated cycles
• XCN coating targets reduced wear for extended runs

This series is available in M2 and PS4 steel. M2 (commonly associated with AISI M2) is an air-hardening high-speed steel known for strong wear resistance and good toughness for light-duty punch work. PS4 is selected when you need a balanced tool steel option for punch-and-die applications where stable performance is required at lower duty levels.

• XCN coating improves surface wear resistance at the working tip/guide area.
• Typical performance trade-off: M2 generally offers higher wear resistance, while PS4 can provide economical tooling with adequate toughness depending on your cycle conditions.

Heat treatment for punch steels is typically supplied in a quenched and tempered (or pre-hardened) condition suitable for machining and maintaining consistent hardness after final grinding. If you require a specific target hardness, confirm with your supplier based on the chosen grade (M2 vs. PS4) and the intended press tonnage/frequency.

Select dimensions by matching the shank and working length needs of your punch housing and die set. The D (shank diameter) range for this series is 25 to 100 in, so choose the smallest D that satisfies your guide and retention requirements in the corresponding ball-lock block.

For length, use the standard point length L coded in inches: available ranges include 200–500, 200–600, 200–700, and 225–700. Point-length variants labeled B & L offer 225–500, 225–600, 225–700, while C options include 225–600 and 225–700. A fixed option also exists for B & L = 250–700.

• Confirm the punch tip coding (H, J, K, L, N, O) for your cavity engagement geometry.
• Verify working/stroke clearance so ball-lock engagement does not over-center the ejector.
• Follow supplier tolerances for fit-up between punch and ball-lock pocket to ensure smooth ejection.