Help identifying spring loaded whatsit

L

leeko

Stainless

Joined

Jun 30, 2012

Location

Chicago, USA

• Apr 3, 2021

• #1

Hi,

Can anyone help identify this? The shank is 3/8", the tip is spring-loaded and diameter is .084". The shank says "R921TN STI" which google couldn't find for me.

I'm planning to add a diamond point and use as a drag engraver, but I have a few of them and curious what it's originally for. It's well made, with no radial slop.

Thanks

Lee

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kustomizer

Diamond

Joined

Aug 17, 2007

Location

North Fork Idaho

• Apr 3, 2021

• #2

I think it is for breaking the tang on off a helicoil

 

L

leeko

Stainless

Joined

Jun 30, 2012

Location

Chicago, USA

• Apr 3, 2021

• #3

I looked that up - I don't think so, but could be wrong. there's no punch/release mechanism, it's just a spring inside

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L

Lost in LA

Cast Iron

Joined

Jan 31, 2005

Location

Los Angeles

• Apr 3, 2021

• #4

Try this:
Tap Guide, Fisher 1963 - LittleMachineShop.com

Lost

 

L

leeko

Stainless

Joined

Jun 30, 2012

Location

Chicago, USA

• Apr 3, 2021

• #5

Not that either, though it could easily be modified to that purpose (thanks for putting that idea in my brain!)

The tips on these are rounded, and they're much more nicely made than any tap guide I've used

Lee

EDIT: I should also mention that the tips for these come wax-sealed, so I assume they're for some precision purpose...

 

M

Marty Feldman

Titanium

Joined

Feb 21, 2005

Location

Falmouth, Maine

• Apr 4, 2021

• #6

leeko said:

...The tips on these are rounded, and they're much more nicely made than any tap guide I've used
Lee
EDIT: I should also mention that the tips for these come wax-sealed, so I assume they're for some precision purpose...

Click to expand...

Interesting item. Agree that it is not a pump center for a tap. The tip of the springrod: is it "rounded" as in domed or just round in X-section with a step for precision insertion into a hole? How much in/out excursion is there? Does it apply "a lot" of pressure or only a little? Is the feature at the butt-end of the shank a screw for spring retention? If the item is used, is a wear pattern evident anywhere (like 3-jaw clamping marks on the shank barrel)?

-Marty-

 

eKretz

Diamond; Mod Squad

Joined

Mar 27, 2005

Location

Northwest Indiana, USA

• Apr 4, 2021

• #7

Could it be a punch with a built in stripper? To knock the plug out after the hole is punched? How is the shoulder on the second diameter from the end? Is it sharp edged? Can't tell on my phone. That is a conundrum.

 

L

leeko

Stainless

Joined

Jun 30, 2012

Location

Chicago, USA

• Apr 4, 2021

• #8

It's domed
There's about a 1cm of excursion before the spring pressure gets too much for my finger, it's a reasonable strong spring
Yes the screw at the end holds the spring place

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L

leeko

Stainless

Joined

Jun 30, 2012

Location

Chicago, USA

• Apr 4, 2021

• #9

Some additional pictures, this is a second one I have taken apart.

Nothing seems sharp on it

No specific wear pattern I can tell. There's some scuffs on this one, but it doesn't look to have been gripped in a chuck

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L

leeko

Stainless

Joined

Jun 30, 2012

Location

Chicago, USA

• Apr 4, 2021

• #10

Close up of the tip. It actually looks more like an ogee profile?

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eKretz

Diamond; Mod Squad

Joined

Mar 27, 2005

Location

Northwest Indiana, USA

• Apr 4, 2021

• #11

Sure looks like some sort of forming tool/punch combo to me. Maybe a small forming die for the bottom of a recess? Perhaps the pin is an alignment/guide pin.

 

T

TGTool

Titanium

Joined

Sep 22, 2006

Location

Stillwater, Oklahoma

• Apr 4, 2021

• #12

The shape on the end looks like a hollow rivet punch, but I can't explain the spring.

 

B

boslab

Titanium

Joined

Jan 6, 2007

Location

wales.uk

• Apr 5, 2021

• #13

Well made, no clue in STI, precision clamping element for some fabrication but definately a useful junk box component for tube clamp, follower etc, initially I thought it off a limit switch thing, electrical pick up perhaps
Mark

 

M.B. Naegle

Diamond

Joined

Feb 7, 2011

Location

Conroe, TX USA

• Apr 5, 2021

• #14

99.9% sure it's an anvil from a tubular rivet or grommet machine. The center pin is for aligning pre-punched work and helps keep the grommet/rivet lined up as the machine drives it down. The pin is made to retract until the rivet hits the curved "dish" around the pin which forms the end of the rivet. The "STI" might indicate the manufacturer but it doesn't ring a bell. A piece that "finished" strikes me as one of the Italian machine manufacturers.

The second one may be from a Stimpson machine, currently owned/serviced by Siska in New Jersey. Email them and they may can probably identify which machine and fastener system they go to.

Home

 

plastikdreams

Diamond

Joined

May 31, 2011

Location

upstate nj

• Apr 5, 2021

• #15

Looks like a spring-loaded tapping guide.