How Do Ball Lock Pins Work?

Ball Lock Pins are a type of alignment pin used to join and fasten machine components and workpieces with use of a simple button.

Ball Lock Pins are commonly used in the automation and robotics industry, as well as electronics production and machine manufacturing processes.

Ball Lock pins are precision alignment pins featuring a ground shank that expands into a receiver bushing or plate. This type of pin features a positive locking mechanism. When activated, spring mechanisms draw the balls inside the pin shaft. When the push button is released, the spring-loaded ball lock is reactivated, and the balls retract.

Quick release ball lock pins provide a stable, secure locking function with the receiver plate. This mechanism makes ball lock pins easy to use, and allows for quick parts changeover and replacement, if necessary.

Single Acting vs. Double Acting Ball Lock Pins

There are two primary types of ball lock pins - single acting and double acting.

Single acting ball lock pins are button and handle operated, while double acting pins are activated by a pull or push motion.

Carr Lane Mfg. double acting ball lock pins are positive locking until released by pushing or pulling the center spindle attached to the pin body handle. Pulling on the handle releases the balls and removes the pin in one motion.

Ball Lock Pin Handle Styles

Ball Lock pins have a variety of handle styles.

Double-Acting Ball Lock Pins are available in either a Ring, T-Shaped or L-Shaped Handle. The choice of handle type depends on your preference for your application. All these handle shapes are commonly used in the same industries, including automotive, construction equipment and farm equipment.

T Handles are the most common form of quick release pin handle. T Handles allow for a strong and secure grip and are easy to operate.

Ring handles don't possess the grip that a T Handle has but have a smaller footprint and require less space than other handle types. Ring handles are a great option if you are not changing over your machinery as often.

L Handles are a middle ground between ring handles and T Handles. With an L handle, the release mechanism is only on one side of the pin. These can be used in applications where a solid grip is necessary, but there isn't enough room to utilize T handles.

Lifting Pins are a heavy-duty variety of ball lock pins. This type of ball lock pin has a single piece body and features four balls to support lifting of high-tension loads. This type of ball lock pin is positive locking until released by pushing the button on top of the shaft.

Ball Lock Pin Materials

Ball Lock Pins including heavy duty lifting pins are available in a variety of finishes. These include stainless steel and alloy steel with a manganese phosphate finish.

Stainless steel is the typical construction for ball lock pins, because it offers extra strength and corrosion resistance over materials such as aluminum.

Ball Lock Pin Technical Information

The below tables are designed to assist customers when selecting Carr Lane Ball Lock Pins for their application. Strength data indicates recommended hole diameter and approximate strength for each pin size in our catalog. Data is available for both inch and metric part sizes.

Ball Lock Pins Strength Data (Inch)
Nominal
Diameter
Recommended
Hole Diameter
BLP, BPD, ABP
Approximate
Pull Out Strength
(LBS)***
BLP, BPD, ABP LFP
Calculated Double Shear Strength
(LBS)***
BLP, BPD Approx. Weight
Ounces
MIN MAX Steel Stainless Handle Per Inch
3/16 (#10) .194 .190 200 2,100 2,300 1.25 .15
1/4 .254 .250 230 4,000 4,500 1.75 .25
5/16 .317 .313 510 6,000 7,100 2.00 .40
3/8 .379 .375 575 9,200 10,200 2.40 .50
7/16 .443 .438 710 12,300 13,600 2.90 .62
1/2 .505 .500 1160 16,000 18,000 3.40 .80
9/16 .568 .563 1420 20,500 23,000 3.65 1.2
5/8 .630 .625 2070 25,500 28,700 4.00 1.35
3/4 .757 .750 2970 36,700 41,000 4.25 2.30
7/8 .882 .875 3900 50,000 56,200 8.31 2.73
1 1.010 1.000 5400 65,500 73,500 9.00 3.47

Ball Lock Pins Strength Data (Metric)
Nominal
Diameter
Recommended
Hole Diameter
BLP, BPD, ABP
Approximate
Pull Out Strength
(LBS)***
BLP, BPD, ABP LFP
Calculated Double Shear Strength
(LBS)***
BLP, BPD Approx. Weight
Ounces
MIN MAX Steel Stainless Handle Per Inch
5mm 2.01 .197 230 2,600 3,000 1.25 .15
6mm ..240 .236 230 4,000 4,400 1.75 .25
8mm .319 .315 510 7,000 8,000 2.00 .40
10mm .398 .394 710 11,000 12,500 2.40 .50
12mm .477 .472 1160 16,000 18,000 3.40 .80
16mm .635 .630 2070 29,000 32,500 4.00 1.35
20mm .794 .787 2970 45,200 50,900 4.25 2.30

 

*** Safety factor=2:1. Pins with grip lengths over 8" (special) are not heat treated, in order to maintain straightness. Double shear strength will be reduced approximately 20-50%. Pins in larger diameters than listed here are available as specials (may be made from alternate steels). 

MS CONVERSIONS

Carr Lane Mfg. offers MS-Certified Pins as a special at a higher cost. Contact us today for your special parts request.

 

 

 

NAS CONVERSIONS

Carr Lane Mfg. can also provide NAS-certified pins as a special at a higher cost. Contact us today for your special parts request.

 

*These are the only standard combinations of Handle Material, Handle Style, Spindle Material, and BLP-BPD type directly convertible from NAS to Carr Lane. Other combinations are available as specials. Browse Carr Lane Ball Lock Pins in the online catalog.