Pilot Assemblies

Application

Used to locate sheet metal stock in metal stamping dies.

Innovation

Locates and Ejects All-in-One Assembly

Our fully integrated “off the shelf” Pilot Assemblies locate and eject metal stock. They’re designed and manufactured for robust and superior long-life production performance.

Ejector Pin Style Design Features
(for heavy-duty stock)

Optimal stripping close to pilot
Multiple hardened ejectors
Heavy-duty (M2), one-piece design
Long-lasting spring
Self-contained assembly

Round Stripper Design Features
(for thin/soft stock)

Large stripper surface area
Optimal stripping close to pilot
Long-lasting spring
Self-contained assembly
Small footprint

Using Standard Lifters’ Pilots, we rarely encounter parts wanting to stick and hang up on Pilots that are in the upper pads of the die. Surrounding your Pilots with built-in ejection was quite genius.

Shop Foreman, Tooling Supplier

We require Standard Lifters’ Pilots in all our dies built all over the world. They provide superior performance and commonality across all tooling and designs.

Sr. Tooling Engineer, Tier 1 Stamper

Benefits

Superior performance maximizes uptime

Designed to last the life of your die using a long-life spring and ejection close to the pilot.

Global design commonality

Nominal sizes in both English and metric allow for one pilot style in all your global tooling.

Savings in design

All-in-one assembly speeds up design process and drops in your die fast.

Pilot method comparison

All-in-one assembly
Ejection close to pilot
Long-life spring
Drop-in assembly
Pilot body location concentric to pilot point (accurate by design)

Lots of loose parts
Ejection far from pilot
Short life/small springs
Not easily removed in press
Assembly is labor intensive and full of hassle

Lots of loose parts
Ejection far from pilot
Large footprint
Short life/small springs
Costly to machine
Dowel location is less accurate

See all technical data

Options

Diameters

8mm

10mm

13mm

16mm

20mm

.3125"

.375"

.500"

.625"

.750"

More Details

Choose a proper Pilot Diameter based on the Stock Thickness

Thickness labeled by red arrows of plate

Stock Thickness in relationship to the Pilot Diameter is important for 2 main reasons.

To provide enough locating surface area, based on land length and diameter, between the pilot and the stock to effectively locate the stock.
To provide a robust assembly that reduces the potential of the Pilot assembly being damaged during common miss-hits/misfeeds where the pilot is required to pierce and/or form the stock.

Maximum Stock Thickness — Ejector Pin Style

Pilot Dia.	Max. Stock Thickness	Pilot Dia.	Max. Stock Thickness
.3125”	.050”	8mm	1.27mm
.375”	.075”	10mm	1.9mm
.500”	.100”	13mm	2.5mm
.625”	.125”	16mm	3.2mm
.750”	.150”	20mm	3.8mm

Maximum Stock Thickness — Round Stripper Style

Pilot Dia.	Max. Stock Thickness	Pilot Dia.	Max. Stock Thickness
.375”	.040”	10mm	1.0mm
.500”	.060”	13mm	1.5mm
.625”	.080”	16mm	2.0mm

Ejection methods

Round stripper for thin and soft stock

round stripoer with black ejector around it

Ejector pins for heavy-duty stock

Heavy Duty ejector pins and round stripper

More Details

Pilots - Ejection/Spring Force

	Ejector Pins		Round Stripper

Pilot Diameter	Standard Spring*	Light Spring*	Standard Spring	Light Spring
.3125” / 8mm	10 lbs. on Contact 15 lbs. at Max Travel	5 lbs. on Contact 10 lbs. at Max Travel	N/A
.375” / 10mm	12 lbs. on Contact 20 lbs. at Max Travel	5 lbs. on Contact 10 lbs. at Max Travel	6 lbs. on Contact 16 lbs. at Max Travel	N/A
.500” / 13mm	14 lbs. on Contact 23 lbs. at Max Travel	5 lbs. on Contact 10 lbs. at Max Travel	11 lbs. on Contact 19 lbs. at Max Travel	N/A
.625” / 16mm	14 lbs. on Contact 20 lbs. at Max Travel	5 lbs. on Contact 10 lbs. at Max Travel	15 lbs. on Contact 21 lbs. at Max Travel	N/A
.750” / 20mm	14 lbs. on Contact 20 lbs. at Max Travel	5 lbs. on Contact 10 lbs. at Max Travel	N/A

*Single Spring drives all Ejectors so Forces listed are for the Spring

Usage Guidelines & Recommendations

Choose the Best Ejection Style based on the Application

Style: Ejector Pins

The Ejector Pin style should be the preferred option whenever possible. It is more robust because the Pilot body is fully supported in the Pad/Window.

Style: Round Stripper

The Round Stripper Style Pilot Assembly is for use with Thin / Soft Stock only. The Round Stripper style will provide a better stripping condition by providing more contact surface between the stripper and the stock.

Fully Supported Body

Clearance for Stripper and Spring

Due to its Body not being supported adjacent to the Pilot “Tip”, it is less robust than the fully supported Ejector Pin Style Pilot Assembly.

A properly sized receiving hole is important

Clearance minimizes the forces subjected on the Pilot and tooling during a miss-hit situation. The hole below the pilot allows the material to extrude, rather than creating a “pinch trim” situation. See Receiving Hole Guidelines for detailed information on proper sizing.