| aluminum alloy |
A silvery white metal that is soft, light, and has a high strength-to-weight ratio. |
| ball bearing system |
A guiding system consisting of ball cages that position ball bearings between the guide post and bushing surfaces. Ball bearing systems require less lubrication and offer improved alignment. |
| ball cage |
A component attached to a guide post that houses multiple ball bearings. Ball cages travel along the guide post during operation. |
| bearing |
A hardened, spherical ball that spins between two surfaces and reduces friction. |
| boss |
A general term for any protrusion or component that "sticks out." |
| bronze |
An alloy of copper and tin. Bronze offers a balance of strength, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. |
| bushing |
A hardened metal tube assembled in a die shoe that fits over a matching guide post. |
| clearance |
A type of fit designed with a small amount of space for easy removal. |
| die shoe |
A metal plate onto which the various die set components are mounted. Die sets typically contain an upper and lower die shoe. |
| graphite |
A soft, black carbon-based material that can be used as a lubricant. |
| grinding |
The use of an abrasive tool to wear away at a surface. Grinding is often used to tighten tolerances and improve surface finish. |
| guide post |
A hardened cylindrical rod used to guide and align the die shoes. Guide posts are fitted into a matching bushing. |
| guiding system |
The assembled components within a die set responsible for the proper alignment and guidance of the die shoes. |
| heel block guiding system |
A guiding system that incorporates bosses and wear plates to increase rigidity. |
| honing |
A precision abrasion process in which a relatively small amount of material is removed from a surface by means of abrasive stones. |
| interference |
A type of fit designed with a small degree of overlap to prevent removal. |
| lubricant |
A fluid used to reduce the friction between components. |
| oil groove |
A patterned, internal channel or slot within a bushing that encourages the flow of a lubricant. |
| plain bearing system |
A guiding system consisting of plain guide posts and bushings with finished surfaces that directly contact one another. Plain bearing systems require lubrication. |
| porosity |
The amount of small spaces or voids within a solid material. Porous materials can absorb fluids. |
| preloading |
An intentional interference fit between a guide post and bushing. Ball bearing systems are often preloaded. |
| press fit bushing |
A type of bushing designed for an interference fit within the die shoe. |
| press fit guide post |
A type of guide post designed for an interference fit within the die shoe. |
| self-lubricating bushing |
A bushing containing numerous graphite plugs that store and slowly release a lubricating oil. |
| shoulder |
A ring or collar around a component that provides a clamping surface. |
| slip fit bushing |
A type of bushing designed for a clearance fit within the die shoe. Slip fit bushings are held in place with clamps. |
| slip fit guide post |
A type of guide post designed for a clearance fit within the die shoe. Slip fit guide posts are held in place with clamps. |
| steel |
A metal consisting of iron and carbon, usually with small amounts of other elements. Steel is the most common manufacturing metal. |
| stroke length |
The distance marked by the farthest ends of reciprocating vertical movement of the press ram. |
| toe clamp |
A type of clamp with a serrated surface that reaches forward and down to grip the workpiece. |
| wear plate |
A component used to reduce wear and add support. Wear plates used within die sets often contain self-lubricating graphite plugs. |