M2 Steel Ball Lock Pilot Punches - Tapered Tip

Ball-lock pilot punches with a tapered tip are used in injection mold tooling where repeatable alignment is required between the mold halves and during precision forming/assembly steps. The tapered geometry promotes smooth pilot entry and helps the punch achieve a stable lock-in position during dry start-up and high-cycle production, reducing the chance of misalignment at first contact.

• Automotive and industrial connector molds: Use these punches to stabilize first-locate behavior for multi-cavity tooling, especially when forming features demand consistent start positioning across long runs. The heavy-duty inch construction supports robust operation in die and mold systems.
• Medical device housing and precision components: Reliable pilot entry and lock-in reduces dimensional drift between cycles, supporting consistent cavity alignment for tight part-to-part positioning. The M2 steel variant provides strong dimensional stability under repeated use.
• Electronics enclosure molds: For applications sensitive to early mislocation, the tapered tip helps guide the components into concentric alignment before production loads build.

This series uses M2 steel (also available in PS4) and is supplied as heavy-duty ball-lock pilot punches with wear-focused surface protection. XNM coating is specified to improve wear resistance, which is important for maintaining locating accuracy over time.

• M2 steel: High-hardness tool steel commonly used for locating components where repeated contact and indexing occur. Expect a hardness regime engineered for wear resistance, balancing toughness to tolerate impact during alignment.
• PS4 (alternate material): Offered as an alternative option within the same product family; choose based on project requirements such as availability, wear expectations, and compatibility with your heat-treat and maintenance plan.
• Heat treatment state: The product metadata indicates an M2 steel construction and an XNM-coated locating surface; exact heat-treatment parameters (e.g., nitriding depth, quenched & tempered hardness in HRC) are not provided in the available data.

Select the pilot punch by matching the locating shank diameter and length to your cavity/core alignment requirements. This series specifies a shank diameter (D) range of 37 ~ 125 in and multiple point length/overall length options in the coded-inch sets (e.g., 250 ～ 600, 250 ～ 700, 275 ～ 700, 300 ～ 700).

• Step 1: Match D to the pilot/ball-lock bore geometry. Use the required shank diameter within 37 ~ 125 to ensure correct fit and concentricity.
• Step 2: Choose the correct length set. Pick from the available point length B & L / point length C / D-point range combinations that correspond to your intended engagement depth.
• Step 3: Verify P dimension. The P dimension is specified as 0.083 ~ 0.999; confirm it aligns with your locking geometry so the ball-lock engages reliably.
• Tolerance/fit: While specific tolerance values are not listed, ensure your receiving features are compatible with the chosen D and P so the lock-in occurs without binding.