M2 Steel Ball Lock Pilot Punches - Round Tip

Ball-lock pilot punches are used to establish repeatable part-to-die alignment in high-cycle inch-based tooling where progressive stops and feeds must remain stable. This M2 steel variant is suited to applications that require strong wear resistance at the pilot interface.

• Progressive stamping and blanking: Use the round tip to guide the process at every station, helping maintain consistent starting and accurate locating during repeated punch strokes.
• Automotive and industrial connector component dies: The ball-lock locating action supports alignment under vibration and repeated press operation, reducing the risk of cumulative mislocation.
• Heavy-duty machining/press die sets: Select the appropriate shank diameter and point length to match the press-to-die interface geometry for reliable fit during die changes.

Round-tip geometry paired with hard, wear-resistant M2 steel helps deliver durable positioning performance across standard press and die configurations.

This product is offered in M2 and PS4 materials. M2 is a high-speed steel known for excellent wear resistance, making it suitable for pilot interfaces that experience frequent contact and sliding during repeated punch strokes.

• M2 (high-speed steel): Typically supplied in a hardened condition for tool-life performance; it provides a strong balance of hardness and toughness for locating components.
• PS4: Commonly chosen as an alternative steel option when a different hardness/toughness balance or tooling standard is required for the application.

In practice, these pilot punches are manufactured by machining the shank and round tip, followed by heat treatment to achieve the target hardness. The trade-off is typical for tool steels: higher hardness improves wear resistance at the pilot point, while toughness must remain sufficient to avoid chipping under impact loads.

To select the correct pilot punch dimensions, start by matching the shank diameter (D) and the coded length to your die plate and guide requirements.

• Shank dia. D (in): choose from 37 ~ 125 to fit your standard press and die interface bores/guide bushings.
• Point length / L (coded inch): available options include 250 ~ 600, 250 ~ 700, 275 ~ 700, and 300 ~ 700. Use these to set the pilot engagement length for your stack-up.
• Point length variants (B/C) and length variant D: the listed ranges mirror the available coded point-length configurations (e.g., 275 ~ 700, 300 ~ 700 for D).
• P dimension (in): select within 0.061 ~ 0.999 to match your locating geometry requirements.

Where press/die fits are critical, confirm the required clearance and seating conditions for the ball-lock pilot mechanism. Fixed dimensions are provided by the selected part variant; changing the coded length is the primary way to tune engagement depth for the cavity/core interface.