These standards are to be used where they meet, or exceed the minimum requirements of a given customer, or where a given customer does not provide specific requirements.

We at Arnold Tool & Die Co. understand that the die standards specified in this booklet are not all encompassing, and that they may under certain circumstances, require temporary modification.

The intent of these standards is to assure that any deviation or modification is only made with the full knowledge of all parties involved, and that any deviation or modification does not relieve the vendor of the responsibility to produce tooling in accordance with the best die making practices.

Suppliers are to be aware that members of our staff will conduct surveys of your facility from time to time and the extent of our future business will depend, in large measure on the resulting ratings.

2.Part and Job number

3.Blue Print Date and Level

4.Type of tooling (e.g. Progressive die)

5.Number of stations in tool

6.Estimated die size and shut height

7.Stock Size

8.Estimated tonnage required

9.Any deviations requested.

10.Which datum surface is die line.

11.Lead time required

12.Cost

If line dies are being quoted, all of the above information is also required for each operation.

1. All die designs must have sufficient dimensions and/or math data to reproduce any component.

2. Sizes and specifications for purchased details such as punches, buttons, springs, and nitrogen cylinders must be accurately portrayed on the designs submitted for approval.  Any changes must be communicated immediately to Arnold Tool & Die Co. Engineering.

3. Section views must show stack heights.

4. Die design must be labeled with a title block on each sheet with the following information:

a. Operation Description

b. Vendor's name and tool number

c. Arnold Tool & Die Co. job number

d. Stock thickness and tolerance, strip width and progression

e. Estimated tonnage and Estimated tool weight

f. Die size, shut height, feed line height and stroke required

g. Engineering Change Level and Date from current part print

h. Complete stock list (Bill of Materials), including steel "Cut" & "Square" sizes and purchased component list on separate sheets.

i. Arnold Tool & Die Co. form "New Die Line Up Sheet" filled out and attached.

b. Vendor Detail Number and description (e.g. "lower cutting steel")

c. Material Description (e.g. "D-2, O-1, CRS, etc.")

d. Heat Treat required  (e.g. "RC-58-60")

e. Special treatments required if any.  (coatings, etc)

f. Detail revision level (if a remake to a new Engineering Level)

A complete up to date set of tracings (original die design, detail drawings, math data, stock lists and lists of purchased details) must be supplied to Arnold Tool & Die Co. before tooling can be accepted for payment.

Die designs submitted for approval must comply with the requirements stated in Section 1 "Quality Requirements"

Any request for deviation or relief must be submitted using a Supplier Request for Product Change (SRPC form)

b. All safety areas of the tool are to be marked with yellow and black stripes.

c. It is required that all exposed springs are to be guarded.

d. All dies must be designed to run safely in the designed press, either through attaching guarding, or via existing guarding mounted to the press.

e. Break all corners and edges of "NON-CUTTING" edges.

f. All coil springs should have spring guard cans if the pad bottoms on bottoming blocks.

g. Strippers, Large pads, and riser blocks should have tapped holes for handling.

h. Both upper and lower shoes shall have tapped holes for handling.

2. CUTTING STEELS

a. All cutting steels are to have scrap shedder pins.

b. Heavy-duty ball lock punches rather than light duty are to be used when ball lock punches or pilots are used.

c. All cutting steels, pierce punches, and pilots should be designed for ease of "in-press" maintenance where possible.

d. All punch and button retainers must be hardened.

e. Punch retainers are to have hardened backing plates. (Not necessary for pilots)

f. Cutting steels are to be designed for ease of sharpening with minimal rework for clearance.  Details must be able to be sharpened on a 6 X 12 surface grinder.

g. Die sections that have been wire burned shall be split for ease of die repair.

h. Avoid using sharp corner punches where possible.  Use radii in the scrap.

i. All non-round hole buttons and punches are to be keyed.

j. The type of tool steel to be used will be specified when the strip is approved.

k. Cutting steels are to have shear as directed by Arnold Tool & Die Co. Engineering.

l. At the "Cut-Off" sections are to be adjustable if possible.

m. Part "Cut-Off" punch to be .005 per side smaller than actual "On Progression" design.

3. FORM STEELS

a. Type of tool steel to be used will be specified when the strip is approved.

b. Severe forming operations (where galling or high wear is possible) are to be made of D-2 air hard tool steel.  Special coatings will be specified if required at time of strip approval.

c. Form sections are to be adjustable to account for change in metal thickness where possible.

4. STAMPS

a. When required by our customer, stamps should be of the "Argon" style.

b. Solid upper to lower contact is preferred over stamping on the stripper, however if stamping on the stripper is unavoidable, bottoming blocks must be used.

c. If the die is capable of making more than one identical part, stamps must be installed to differentiate between parts.

5. PART AND SCRAP REMOVAL

a. Line dies are to eject the part out at the last station on the die shoe with an air cylinder or mechanical means where feasible.

b. Provisions must be made for adequate separation of parts, scrap or unlike parts.

c. Scrap should be shed cleanly and not to be left on the die surface or shoe.

d. Progressive dies must have a positive means for part ejection.  Air blow off's are to be used only when no other means is available.

6. STOCK GUIDES

a. Progressive dies are recommended to have a removable hardened stock approach of sufficient length to provide adequate control of stock as it enters the die.  At lease one of these guides should be adjustable.

b. Stock guide are to be equipped with a "cross over" to support the steel as it enters the die.

7. STOCK LIFTERS

a. Stock lifter springs are to be designed for ease of maintenance and accessibility

b. Combination "Stock Lifters/guides" are to be used only when absolutely necessary.

c. Round stock lifters that have a major lead on one side shall be keyed to prevent rotation.

d. Stock lifters and related springs shall be designed to optimize spring life and avoid over travel of spring design.

e. Even in the event of spring failure, lifters must be able to collapse below die line.

8. SPRINGS AND NITROGEN CYLINDERS

a. Nitrogen cylinder brand must be approved by Arnold Tool & Die Co.

b. Unless authorized by Arnold Tool & Die Co. Engineering, only "Lamina", "Danly" or "Lane"  brand coil springs shall be used.

9. STRIPPERS AND FORM PADS

a. Shoulder screw type pad retainers shall be "Amcor" brand.

b. Pad balancing blocks are always to be used.

c. Keepers must be used vs. shoulder screw type pad retainers when ever forming on the stripper.

d. Windows or stock pushers shall be case hardened CRS or hardened O-1.

10. PARALLELS

a. Lower parallels shall be constructed as to have NO protrusion outside the die shoe unless authorized be Arnold Tool & Die Co. Engineering.

b. Lower two outside parallels are to have 1 ½" high X 2" deep feet to allow for tie down of die shoe.  (See example drawing attached)

c. Lower parallels are to be located to allow 6" Hi-Lo for entry to facilitate safe transport of the die.

11. GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS

a. All progressive dies shall have at least one provision for miss-feed detection.

b. Minimum of two stop blocks are required in any die, staggered front and back, and over parallels.

c. Stop blocks are to be .010" short of die height and are to have a .040 deep X 3/8" slot on top. (Set up at minimum material thickness)

d. All slides, gibs, and keepers are to be capable of being lubricated in the open position and have grease grooves.

e. Wear surfaces (such as heels or drivers are to be made of dissimilar materials to prevent galling and have grease grooves.)

f. All details are to be tapped for jackscrews and relieved to within ½" of the mounting surface.

g. All progressive dies are to have first hit lines or first hit gages and notes to remove scrap left on the die while starting the strip as applicable.

h. No hidden bolts allowed.  Both upper and lower shoes must be capable of being totally stripped in the press.

i. Backing plates are to be hardened O-1 tool steel.

j. Bottoming blocks are to be set at .005" under actual dimension (shoe to stripper)

k. Bar lifters are to be made of CRS or O-1 material.

1. Minimum .001" clearance on all sides.

2. Should NOT bottom

3. Minimum 15 degree lead on front edge.

l. Cams

1. Cams are to be made of 4140, 6150 or O-1 tool steel

2. Must be on .750" thick bronze plated wear plate that is pocketed .730" deep in the shoe.

3. Must have grease grooves in cam or gibs, using grease fittings where possible.

4. Must have .002" total clearance.

5. Must have yellow guard on exposed spring returns.

6. Cam or driver must have a striker (wear) plate for adjustment and be made of dissimilar material.

m. Cut-Off Blades

1. Lower cut-off steels to have a "spring pin" to aid in part ejection.

2. Upper sections to have shedder pins where possible.

3. Stripper to have an oil breaker shedder pin at the cut off to eliminate the possibility of lifting the part and sticking to the stripper.

4. Cut-off blades for material thickness more than .060" must have backing plates.

n. Die Buttons, Punches, Pilots

1. Die buttons to be standard at 15/16" long wherever possible.

2. Buttons, Punches, Pilots are to be "Dayton" brand or equal with ENGLISH body diameters.  However the purchase component list must show the "Dayton" nomenclature.

3. Pilots to be "Dayton KPA" type.

4. Punches, Pilots should be HD ball lock type wherever possible.

o. French Stops

1. French stops are REQUIRED on all dies; exceptions must be approved by Arnold Tool & Die Co. Engineering.

2. If possible, French stops should be incorporated on both side of the strip.

3. French stops are to be made of O-1 material.

p. Grease fittings

1. Grease fittings should be 1/8" NPT when used.

2. Must be accessible in die when in the open position.

3. Must not expend past the die shoe.

q. Keepers

1. Keepers should have 1/8" NPT grease fittings.

2. Keepers should have grease grooves.

3. Keepers must have a minimum of 3/8" high lip X .250" deep.

r. Strip Travel direction

1. Strip travel direction shall be right to left unless otherwise specified.

s. Progress reports

1. Weekly progress reports must be issued to Arnold Tool & Die Co. via fax no later than 3PM every Friday.

2. Reports should be in the form of "Microsoft Project" or other agreed upon format.

t. When the die is closed with no material present, the design must incorporate some type of pusher on the pads to keep stamps from being destroyed.

u. Actual tool build must be in "English". (e.g. bolts, dowels, etc).  Design dimensions may be in metric though.

v. Die Shoe Markings

1. All dies are to be stamped on the front lower shoe as follows:

• Arnold Tool & Die Co. Job number
• End user P/N or Job number
• Stock size, including tolerance.  (e.g. .063-.065 X 5.00 wide X 2.300 Pitch.)
• Actual die shut height within .010"
• Tonnage required
• Nitrogen pressure (if applicable)

2. All dies are to be stamped on the upper left hand area of the shoe as follows.

• Upper die shoe weight
• Total die weight (both upper and lower combined)

3. Stencils

• Upper die shoe is to be stenciled with the Arnold Tool & Die Co. job number (1" high stencil) on all 4 sides.
• Lower die shoe, right, left and back with information on who owns the tooling (e.g. "PROP GM" or "PROP FORD") etc.  Some OEM's require a metal tag.  The tool source will be provided the necessary tag and information.

4. In the event an air connection is necessary. It is required that all tooling be stamped to designate air connections.  If "air logic" is used, a schematic of the connections "laminated" for protection from grease etc. is to be attached to the die.

5. In the event hydraulic and or special lubrication is necessary.  It is required that identification tags be installed at each connection designating what the connection is for.  A copy of the schematics is to be given to Arnold Tool & Die Co. Engineering.

6. In the even that "air Pad Lifter Pins" are used, it is required that all tooling have stamped on the lower shoe the location and sizes (OD X Length out of bolster).  Schematics for the above are to be given to Arnold Tool & Die Co. Engineering.

EN-001-FORM "APQP Check List"

SA-003-FORM "New Job Authority to Proceed"

SA-004-FORM "Engineering Change Notification"