Guided Keepers | Superior Die Assembly Guidance & Retention

Application

Stripper pads

The primary application for Guided Keepers is on stripper pads. Guided Keepers provide guidance and retention all in one assembly.

Guided Keeper Applications Large Pad close up

Rails

Another common application for Guided Keepers is underneath lifter rails.

Innovation

Guidance and retention — all-in-one

Trusted guidance and retention in an all-in-one assembly saves time and space in design, reduces material and overall pad size, and speeds up machining and die assembly.

Design features

C-ring for easy assembly/disassembly.
Locked base assembly.
Long-life bushing options.
Robust base/housing — multiple length and height options available.
Long-life hard chrome pin.
Dampener to reduce impact force.

Standard Lifters’ component integration into the tooling designs is second to none. The Guided Keepers are a game changer for guidance and retention in one, as well as the most robust design across the board. As with all Standard Lifters’ components, they have designed and built the Guided Keepers for robustness and machining work flow in mind.

Sr. Designer, Tooling Supplier

Upper pads and lower lifters with Standard Lifters’ Guided Keepers are much easier to assemble and even easier to disassemble than the old-school ways of the past. We used to have to plan on spools and solid pins and bushings that required more space and certainly more machining and longer assembly.

Shop Foreman, Tooling Supplier

Using Standard Lifters’ Guided Keepers, we have noticed a reduction in press down time for tooling fatigue. They are readily available if a replacement is needed and support our hundreds of stamping tools. Conventional keeper systems don’t offer interchangeability, have longer lead times, and usually require more labor cost to get back in production. Guided Keepers have fixed all of that, and Standard Lifters has been extremely supportive and very responsive when assistance is needed.

Sr. Tooling Engineer, Tier 2 Stamper

Benefits

Superior performance

Robust design and high-quality manufacturing maximize production uptime.

Commonality and savings in design and build

All-in-one guidance and retention reduces space and material.
Our breadth of options ensures a solution for all applications.

History of the Guided Keeper

Our original Guided Keepers were designed for short-travel stripper pads. We recognized an opportunity to guide and keep all-in-one assembly, which reduced labor in design/machining and sped up die assembly.

With the success and global adoption of our Guided Keepers, customers recognized their value in more than just short-travel stripper pads.
Our next design introduced longer and more cost-effective bore-located bushing styles. We also delivered new pin connection styles to increase robustness for high-demand applications.

We continue to gain valuable insights from our global customer base and now introduce our newest generation of Guided Keepers. Continued innovation includes a new bushing option (bronze plugged) for high demand applications, new guide pin series for greater robustness, and our new “N” style, which allows for increased bushing configurations to maximize bushing length in your application.

What's New

New Guide Pin Style Connection

More robust connection to better protect fasteners in the event of a miss-hit or die crash.

Improving upon the GK120 and GK150 guide pins, the new GK122 and GK152 are pocketed deeper and utilize long fasteners.

The guide pin is pocketed deeper
This provides more support for the guide pin if the pad or lifter rail tips. When a significant tip condition occurs the screws will start to stretch but the body of the guide pin will make contact with the sides of the pocket and it will limit the amount of stretch/force subjected on the fasteners.

During testing, it was identified that the depth of the pocket needs to be equal to at least 1/2 of the pin diameter for it to provide this type of support.
Note: Designed for a slip fit to allow for easier assembly, and to accommodate slight variation in machining tolerances of the die shoe and pad.

The threaded holes are deeper in the guide pin to still allow for long fasteners which provide more stretch/forgiveness in the event of a miss-hit or die crash.

Black base with red arrows labeling height

New Longer & Taller Base Options

Allows for any free space above or below the base to be utilized to maximize bushing length which improves production performance.

We recommend using the longest bushing possible in your available space.

Longer bushings provide significant value in production by improving the guidance condition along with extending the performance life of the assembly.

The new “N” style base provides more configuration options to maximize bushing length both above or below the base.

Good to Best labeling of bushing size and length

The goal is to apply the longest bushing possible by utilizing the space available in both directions based on your die conditions.

Taller “N” Base Options
This option adds 1.00” toward the back of the pad which utilizes the free space in this area to achieve a better die condition. Pro Tip: If the amount of space available is slightly less than what is needed to use the taller option the base may be mounted in a shallow pocket.

Longer “N” Base Options
Longer N bases are available in the following sizes:

- 1.25” Diameter – 4” long bushing
- 1.50” Diameter – 4” long bushing
- 1.75” Diameter – 4” and 5” long bushings
- 2.00” Diameter – 5” long bushing

Bronze bushing and standard bushing styles

New Optional Bushing Style

Bronze/Graphite Plugged option to support additional applications.

A New Bronze / Graphite Plugged Bushing option is now available. This new bushing option has advantages in high demand applications where the amount of movement in the pad or lifter needs to remain tighter longer.

Specific applications where this bushing option may be beneficial:

1. When GK's are in-line with each other

Rail Lifters Labeled with Bolts in Stock Rails especially those with high travel

Labeled Narrow Pads with 2 guided keepers and red measurement line

2. Pads where a greater degree of precision is desired/preferred

When using more than two Bronze / Graphite Plugged bushings on single application you may experience a more challenging assembly. If more than two are required, we recommend using Bronze / Graphite Plugged bushings in opposite corners and using the standard(PTFE-Bronze) style bushings in all other locations.

stripper pad with bushing types on 4 points of the pad with guided keepers

Pro Tip –

Many of these “precision applications” may not need the Bronze / Graphite Plugged style bushing. In our experience, using longer bushing lengths with our more economical standard bushing style will achieve the desired precision needed for your application.

Long and tall base options for bushings with small standard bushing

Locating Bore and Clearance labeled with red arrows

Other Enhancements

Easier machining — less taps required for some sizes and other features for increased robustness.

1. Machining of the locating bore is easily accomplished even on the long bushing bases

The base is designed to make the machining of the mounting bore easier, allowing for a short 1.25″ long endmill to be used. This makes it easier to machine to diameter and with a straight wall.

Base options for Guided Keepers labeled by size and L or N base

2. Less taps required for some diameters

1.00″ and 1.25″ diameters are engineered so the connection strength of the base-to-shoe pairs appropriately with the connection strength of the guide pin-to-pad.

3. Interchangeability between two bushing types

The same “N” base housing is used for both bushing types so if desired they may be easily changed in production without any machining required.

Standard vs. Bronze/Graphite Plugged option to support tooling applications

4. Better surface condition for the dampener

The dampening washer only contacts the steel base housing(not the bushing). This provides for a robust/flat surface for the Dampener to hit.

5. Common height/depth dimensions across all diameters

The dimensions from the mounting surface to the top/bottom of the bases are the same across all diameters.

Base styles for guided keepers with red measurement lines

Options

Guide pins

GK75 / 0.75"

GK105 / 1.0"

GK120 / 1.25"

GK122 / 1.25"

GK152 / 1.50"

GK180 / 1.75"

GK205 / 2.00"

More Details

Series

Fasteners

Pad Connection

Working Side Machining

Backside Machining

GK75 / .75"

M10-1.5 3/8-16

GK105 / 1.0"

M12-1.75 1/2-13

GK120 / 1.25"

M10-1.5 3/8-16

GK122 / 1.25"

M10-1.5 3/8-16

GK152 / 1.5"

M12-1.75 1/2-13

GK180 / 1.75"

M12-1.75 1/2-13

3 Guide Pin shape of top of Guided Keeper

GK205 / 2.0"

M16-2.0 5/8-11

Base styles

N2-1

N3-1

N3-2

N4-1

N4-2

N5-2

*bases pictured are example images only

More Details

Diameter

Fasteners

N Bases Available

.75"

M10-1.5 / 3/8-16

N2-1

1.0"

M12-1.75 / 1/2-13

N2-1

N3-1

N3-2

1.25"

M12-1.75 / 1/2-13

N2-1

N3-1

N3-2

N4-1

N4-2

1.50"

M12-1.75 / 1/2-13

N3-1

N3-2

N4-1

N4-2

1.75"

M12-1.75 / 1/2-13

N3-1

N3-2

N4-1

N4-2

N5-2

2.00"

M12-1.75 / 1/2-13

N4-1

N4-2

N5-2

Diameter

Fasteners

L Bases Available

.75"

M10-1.5 / 3/8-16

L2

1.00"

M10-1.5 / 3/8-16

L2

L3

1.25"

M12-1.75 / 1/2-13

L2

L3

1.75"

M12-1.75 / 1/2-13

L3

2.00"

M12-1.75 / 1/2-13

L4

Bushing types

PTFE / Bronze

Bronze / Graphite Plugs

More Details

PTFE / Bronze

Our tried and true PTFE / Bronze bushing is ideal for most applications. It offers consistent long-life production performance and for the last 10+ years has a historical replacement rate of only 3%.

4 guided keepers on small and medium stripper pads

5 guided keepers on a large stripper pad

Bronze / Graphite Plugs

Our Bronze / Graphite Plugged bushing option has advantages in high demand applications where the amount of movement in the pad or lifter rail needs to remain tighter longer. It can also be applied in combination with our PTFE / Bronze bushing.

Lifters

*especially those with high travel

Narrow Pads

Example: Pads for Thin Stock

Accessories

Locking Collar

Dowel Adapter

Base and Dowel part of the Pilot Assembly

More Details

Locking collar

The Locking Collar prevents screws from possibly coming loose and falling into the tool during operation. This optional accessory is available for GK180 and GK205 series guide pins.