M2 Steel Ball Lock Pilot Punches - Round Tip, Light Duty

This ball lock pilot punch variant is used to establish precise, repeatable part alignment in light-duty inch die tooling. Its round tip helps maintain consistent locating contact across progressive die stations and reduces sensitivity to minor press-to-press positioning changes.

Common scenarios include:

• Progressive stamping dies for connectors and brackets, where the pilot must reliably index each strip-fed step.
• Automotive sub-component dies with frequent changeovers, benefiting from stable wear performance from the CRN coating.
• Die alignment fixtures and positioning jigs, where secure locating reduces tooling setup time and helps maintain stack height repeatability.

Choose it when your application emphasizes secure inch tooling alignment and predictable wear over repeated press cycles rather than extreme heavy-duty loads.

Available materials are M2 and PS4. M2 is a high-speed steel commonly selected for wear resistance in tooling; it typically offers a strong balance of hardness and toughness under cyclic loading. This punch is also specified with a CRN coating, which is intended to improve surface durability against fretting and sliding wear at the locating interface.

For heat treatment, M2 tooling is generally used in a quenched and tempered condition to achieve the target hardness for service; exact HRC is not provided in the input data.

Wear vs. toughness trade-off: higher hardness levels increase resistance to rounding and abrasion, while too aggressive tempering can reduce toughness and increase chipping risk at the tip. If you need a different balance, compare against the alternate PS4 option offered in this series.

Select the pilot punch dimensions by matching your die’s indexing geometry and fit requirements. Start with the shank diameter D, available from 25 ~ 100 in (as provided), and ensure it fits the guide/pilot bushing bore without interference.

Next, choose the code-based lengths that correspond to your strip/die stack height needs:

• Standard point length & overall length L: 200 ~ 500, 200 ~ 600, 200 ~ 700, or 225 ~ 700 (coded inch options).
• Point length B & length L ranges: 225 ~ 500, 225 ~ 600, 225 ~ 700, and additional option set 225 ~ 600 / 225 ~ 700.

Use the fixed configuration where B & L are 250 ~ 700. Finally, verify the P dimension (0.05 ~ 0.749) to ensure correct locating depth and clearance for stable seating at the round tip. Tolerance/fit values are not specified in the input—confirm with your die and bushing standard before final selection.