M2 Steel Ball Lock Pilot Punches - Tapered Tip, Heavy Duty

These heavy-duty ball-lock pilot punches are used in injection mold tooling where consistent cavity/core positioning is critical—especially during high-cycle forming and assembly operations. The tapered tip geometry is designed to improve pilot entry and positioning, helping achieve stable lock-in at start-up, which reduces the risk of misalignment during clamp cycles.

• Automotive and industrial component molds: Use the taper for reliable alignment of sliding shutoffs, inserts, or locating features, and rely on the ball-lock interface for repeatable part registration.
• Appliance and consumer product housings: The locating stability supports consistent wall thickness and surface quality by minimizing start-position variation in multi-cavity mold setups.
• Multi-processor or insert-heavy tooling: The inch, heavy-duty format supports robust die/mold systems where wear resistance matters; the XNM coating helps extend service life under repeated pilot contact.

This series is available in M2 or PS4 steel. M2 is a high-speed steel grade (commonly referenced to the AISI M2 family) selected for its high hardness and strong wear performance, supporting dimensional stability of pilot features under repeated contact.

• M2 (high hardness): Typically used in a quenched and tempered condition for a balance of hardness, wear resistance, and toughness; the trade-off is that higher hardness can reduce toughness if impact loads are extreme.
• XNM coating (when specified): Enhances surface wear resistance at the pilot interface, reducing fretting and point wear during continuous cycling.
• PS4 comparison: Offered as an alternative material option; when choosing PS4, engineers typically evaluate it against M2 for their specific wear/toughness requirements and expected load profile.

Hardness and exact heat-treatment state are determined by the supplier’s process for the selected grade and coating system.

Select the correct pilot punch shank diameter and point geometry to match your mold cavity/core locating requirements. This series provides D (shank dia.) in the range of 37 ~ 125 in and point dimensions coded in inch lengths.

• Choose D first: Match the shank diameter to the corresponding guide or bushing pocket size in the die/mold layout. The P dimension is available from 0.083 ~ 0.999 in; use it to align to your design’s locating/engagement profile.
• Match point length: Standard point length & overall L are offered as coded ranges: 250–600, 250–700, 275–700, or 300–700, depending on the configuration (including variations where only certain B/L ranges are listed).
• Fit and tolerance: Ball-lock pilots should be specified with appropriate clearance for reliable lock-in without binding; verify that your mating bore/bushing tolerance can accommodate the selected coating thickness and engagement depth.

Confirm the exact coded L and the corresponding B/C configuration against the cavity/core locating depth in your drawings.