M2 Steel Ball Lock Regular Punches - Light Duty, Inch X Tip

These light-duty ball-lock punches are used in die sets and punch press tooling where consistent positioning and reliable blanking are required. The ball-lock retention style supports stable mounting in tool holders, helping maintain repeatable alignment during production cycles.

• Automotive and appliance sheet-metal die work: Suitable for precision blanking and piercing of thinner gauges. The hardened M2 cutting geometry and light-duty intent help deliver controlled engagement with reduced risk of chipping compared with higher-impact designs.
• Electronics enclosure and bracket forming: The regular punch configuration with the specified inch X tip supports steady shearing action for smaller-to-medium features, improving hole quality and reducing rework.
• General die-making for die shops: Coded inch point lengths (200–700 range, depending on variant) let engineers match common die build-up stack heights without re-machining.

For light-duty forming operations that still require firm seating and consistent punch engagement, this variant’s M2 steel and X-shaped tip are well suited.

This series is offered in M2 steel (with an alternative of PS4). M2 is a high-speed steel formulation chosen for good wear resistance and stable cutting performance in repetitive punching and blanking.

• M2 steel (AISI M2 equivalent): Typically hardened to around ~60 HRC for cutting tool performance. Expect a favorable balance of wear resistance and toughness, with higher hardness supporting edge life under abrasion.
• Trade-off: As with hardenable cutting steels, higher hardness improves wear performance but can reduce tolerance to severe bending loads.
• PS4 (alternative): Selected for tooling applications where a different property balance is preferred versus M2. Exact hardness and heat treatment can vary by manufacturer practice, so confirm the delivered condition for your process.

These punches are manufactured as precision-ground tool blanks and are then heat treated into a hardened cutting state suited for die work.

Selection starts with the shank diameter (D) and the coded point length (L) that matches your die stack height. This series supports D = 25–100 in and multiple inch-coded length ranges: 200–500, 200–600, 200–700, and 225–700 depending on configuration.

• Match cavity/core build-up: Choose the coded L (and related point-length ranges B/C where applicable) so the cutting tip reaches the intended shear engagement without bottoming against the die set.
• Use the fixed range when required: If your design calls for the variant with fixed B/L, select 250–700 (coded inch) to align with the holder and die design target.
• Consider key dimensions P, W, and R: P ranges 0.04–0.75 in, W ranges 0.04–0.437 in, and R is 0.007 in; these directly influence tip geometry and cutting contact.

For fit, confirm your tool holder’s ball-lock groove and shank seating specifications against the selected D to maintain proper retention and positional repeatability.