584,857 active members*
4,500 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking > Diemaking / Diecutting > Dowel pins for punching small holes?
Results 1 to 3 of 3
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Posts
    278

    Dowel pins for punching small holes?

    Making a die to punch out a large (8") part from thin aluminum and needing to have several 1/8" holes. The holes don't need to be high tolerance. Am thinking of using some dowel pins with ground off ends for the male side and milling the hole for proper clearance on the female. Is this how it is commonly done? Other ways of doing it?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Posts
    5717

    Re: Dowel pins for punching small holes?

    I have used dowel pins as punches for limited use. Given the material you are punching, you would want 1.5 to 2 thousandths clearance on the dies to punch clean holes. The larger the clearance the more the hole edges roll over. I would ream the die holes.

    You might look at Dayton Progress punches and die buttons. Punch & Die | Dayton Lamina Corporation
    Jim Dawson
    Sandy, Oregon, USA

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Posts
    72

    Re: Dowel pins for punching small holes?

    If you're not going to buy punches and do it right, at least use something that is through hardened like a drill or reamer blank.

Similar Threads

  1. RFQ, Shorten Dowel pins
    By paulcad in forum North America RFQ's
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-06-2013, 12:30 AM
  2. Reamers for locating/dowel pins
    By Brushtec_DB in forum Mechanical Calculations/Engineering Design
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 11-18-2011, 11:30 AM
  3. Dowel Pins to the Rescue?
    By webgeek in forum MetalWork Discussion
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 07-31-2010, 05:52 PM
  4. Dowel Pins
    By Ursine in forum DIY CNC Router Table Machines
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 05-27-2005, 01:53 PM
  5. Dowel Pins
    By Mr.Chips in forum MetalWork Discussion
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 02-01-2004, 11:00 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •