TABLE OF CONTENTS A die set is the fundamental portion of every die. It consists of a lower shoe, or a die shoe, and an upper shoe, both machined to be parallel within a few thousandths of an inch. The upper die shoe is sometimes provided with a shank, by which the whole tool is clamped to the ram of the press. Because of their much greater weight, large dies are not mounted this way. They are secured to the ram by clamps or bolts. However, sometimes even large die sets may contain the shank, which in such a case is used for centering of the tool in the press. Figures 3-1 and 3-2 show the basic components of a compound and a progressive die.
Both die shoes, upper and lower, are aligned via guide pins or guide posts. These provide for a precise alignment of the two halves during the die operation. The guide pins are made of ground, carburized, and hardened-tool steel, and they are firmly embedded in the lower shoe. The upper shoe is equipped with bushings into which these pins slip-fit.
The die block, containing all die buttons, nests, and some spring pads, is firmly attached to the lower die shoe. It is made of tool steel, hardened after machining. The die block is usually a block of steel, either solid or sectioned, into which the openings are...
