Glossary
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Ball-Lock Die Buttons - A Die Button containing a Heavy Duty or Light Duty Ball-Seat.
- Ball-Lock Punch - A punch containing a Heavy Duty or Light Duty Ball-Seat.
Ball-Lock Retainer (Basic) - A block containing a precision ground hole of different set sizes including an intersecting angular hole with a spring-loaded ball. The spring-loaded ball engages the ball-seat of the ball-lock punch or ball-lock die button for the purpose of securely holding and aligning the punch and die button during perforating (piercing) and stripping action. The retainer contains provisions for mounting screw holes and dowel holes for positioning and fastening the ball-lock retainer to punch or die plate.
Ball-Lock Retainer (End) - Ball-lock retainer made in an elongated shape which has the end holding the punch or die button made with a rounded shape to allow for closer center-to-center punch or retainer spacing.
Ball-Lock Retainer (Programmable) -
Ball-Lock Retainer (Square) - Ball-lock punch or die button retainer made with four equal sides.
- Ball-Release Tool - A tool used to manually release the Ball-Lock Punch or Ball-Lock Die button from the Ball-Lock Retainer.
Ball-Seat - This machined detent in the shank provides the locking and alignment function of the ball-lock punch or button. The ball in the retainer fits into this area to provide the retention of the tool in the retainer. When the ball in the retainer is forced back from the detent, the tool is free to be removed from the retainer and die. The ball-seat also serves to radially locate the tool in respect to the retainer and other punches in the die.
Ball-Seat Relief - The undercut portion around the ball-seat. This aids in easy removal of the tool from its retainer.
Ball-Spring - A spring set in the Angle Hole which forces the Ball into locking position.
Blend Radius R - A smooth radius, tangent to point shape to blend the point (round or other shape) to the cylinder shank (generally larger than the point).
Chamfer - The angular surface on the end of the shank, usually 45°, used to break the sharp corner.
Clearance - The gap between the punch and button which, allows the punch to enter and is varied depending upon stock thickness.
Coatings - Special materials applied to the points of punches for extra protection.
Diagonal - The diagonal of a square or rectangle, or its cross corner length.
Die Assembly - An assembly which contains all the standard parts involved in the basic stamping process.
Die Button - The female force element of a stamping die to be inserted in a die block or retainer, It consists of a of a working portion (a hole, sized and shaped to fit the punch), a retaining portion or body, and relief hole portion for slug passage through the button.
Ejector Pin - Small headed metal pin backed up by a spring which pushes the slug off its associated punch.
Ejector Punch - A punch-like perforating punch with a spring loaded pin which pushes the slug off the punch nose to prevent the slug from being pulled back out of the die cavity.
Ejector Spring - A Specially design spring which is compressed and supplies force against the ejector pin to push the slug away from its punch when using ejector type punches.
Head (H) - The enlarged back end of a punch or button which ensures that the component is not pulled out of its retainer.
Head Thickness (T) - The thickness (length) of a head.
Heavy Duty Ball-Lock Retainer - Ball-lock retainer designed to contain a size of ball which provides enough contact with a ball0lock punch to hold it in place against the perforating (piercing) and stripping pressures encountered in materials ranging in size from 1/8 inch to 3/8 inch thick.
Hole Dimensions - The dimensions required to define the size of the hole in its associated die button. "P" = The larger dimension. "W" = The Smaller Dimension.
Invert Punch - A punch where the nose is larger than the shank. (See Nose Larger-Than-Shank Punches)
Land - Precisely shaped portion or working end of the die button where metal separation occurs.
Land Length (B) - The length of the precisely sized hole in the working end (cutting end) of a die button including grind allowance.
Light-Duty Ball-Lock Retainer - Ball-Lock retainer designed to contain a size of ball which provides enough contact with a ball-lock punch and ball-lock die button to hold it in place against the perforating (piercing) and stripping pressures encountered in thin or light-gauge material up to 1/8 inch.
Nose Larger-Than-Shank Punches - Punches where the nose or point configuration is larger than the shank or body. Generally only practical on ball-lock punches, this design feature allows unusually configured holes to be produced, with standardized tooling.
Pilot Punch - A punch with a bullet nose end point which enters a previously made hole to pick up and accurately locate the stock within the die.
Point Diameter (P) - The diameter of the working end of a round pilot punch.
Press-Fit - The shank is larger than the retainer hole to produce a rigid joint. Installation and replacement requires pressure or impact to insert or remove the punch or button.
Punch - The punch is the make force element of a stamping die that contacts the stock to perforate, bend, draw, or shape the desired workpiece. It generally consists of a working end and a retaining portion.
Punch Blank - A punch with a single diameter for both shank and point with standard shank diameters and tolerances, They are intended for alteration for special diameters or point shapes.
Punch & Die Button Breakage - Occurs when clearance components are off-set during the stamping process.
Punch Grip ™ - "For Safety Sake" is the latest tool for safe removal of punches from the punch retainer.
Relief Hole - The relief hole through the die button allows the die cut slug to pass through and out of the die assembly. The relief hole is larger than the working hole for easy passage of the slugs through the die button. In the case of shaped hole die buttons the relief hole is round, and sufficiently large to clear the extremities of the shaped slug.
Retainer Spring - A Specially designed spring use in ball-lock retainer which pushes the retainer ball into its associated components ball-seat.
S.B.R. - Stands for "Straight Before Radius", which is the straight portion of a punch nose from the end of the punch to where the blend radius starts.
Shank - The shank is cylinder to fit a round hole in the punch or button retainer. The fit of the shank to the retainer hole provides location of the punch or button relative to other details in the stamping die.
Shedder Assembly - The three piece assembly consisting of a Set Screw, Shedder Spring, and Shedder Pin inside the Ejector Punch, which is used to separate the slug from the punch on the up-stoke of the stamping process.
Shoulder - A punch with a head larger than the point of the punch to ensure that the punch does not get pulled out from the punch retainer during the stamping process.
Slip-Fit - The shank is smaller than the retainer hole. Replacement should not require pressure or impact to remove the punch.
Slug - The metal piece separated from the stock sheet when piercing a hole.
Special Shapes - A punch, which point shape is altered to fit the needs of the special shaped hole to be punched into the workpiece.
Stripper - A metal or Urethane plate or tube used to push the work piece off the punch when perforating. This is so the work piece does not travel upward as the punch is withdrawn.
Workpiece - The stock or metal sheet that is to be stamped with a punch in the die assembly.