What Is a Lifter Pin?
A lifter pin is an essential component of a “lifter,” used to raise or lower products or materials, often in conjunction with a spring. It is installed in a hole, accompanied by a spring and a screw plug that acts as the fixing base. The lifter pin plays a crucial role in raising and lowering the workpiece.
The design of the hole housing the lifter pin and spring must account for potential deflection and rattling to ensure smooth operation.
Uses of Lifter Pins
Lifter pins have various applications in industrial settings:
- They are used in factory automation production lines for positioning products and components, facilitating their movement to the next process stage.
- In press machining, lifter pins help maintain a level surface on the workpiece during pressing and assist in removing the finished product by lifting it with spring force when the press is released.
- They are also utilized in semiconductor manufacturing equipment for securing and moving substrates after processing.
How to Select Lifter Pins
Lifter pins come in various specifications tailored to different applications. An example of a standard lifter pin might be 10 mm long with a 2 mm shaft diameter (3 mm flange shaft diameter) and a 0.3 mm tip radius. Common materials include SK4 steel, with specifications such as an M4 x P0.7 h4 screw, 0/-0.05 mm tolerance, and 53 to 58 HRC hardness (with the flange part annealed to 45 HRC or less).
In addition to the standard cylindrical shape, lifter pins are available in square or block shapes, and with various tip designs other than flat. Some feature spring holes, pilot relief holes, air holes, magnets, and other modifications for specific uses. For example, “guide lifters” serve dual purposes as lifters and guides for fixing materials like thin plates. Some lifter pins also have relief holes to prevent the pilot from pushing the workpiece in the opposite direction during thin plate processing.