Locating Pins for Precision Alignment and Repeatable Assembly in Fixtures and Tooling

In manufacturing and automation environments, precision alignment is crucial for repeatability, product consistency, and fast setup. Locating Pins are essential components used to accurately position parts, control tolerances, and guide assemblies in jigs, fixtures, and tooling applications.

At Dongguan Sango Hardware Fasteners Co., Ltd., we manufacture high-precision locating pins that provide tight-tolerance alignment, wear resistance, and long cycle life—supporting operations in CNC machining, automated assembly, injection molding, and more.

1. What Is a Locating Pin?

A Locating Pin is a cylindrical or tapered component that is inserted into a matching hole or bushing to align workpieces, fixtures, or components. It ensures parts are accurately located for machining, inspection, welding, or assembly.

🔩 Key Benefits:

• Ensures precise, repeatable alignment
• Reduces setup time in fixtures and tooling
• Maintains tolerance control in critical processes
• Available in standard, taper, and custom geometries
• Supports automated positioning in high-speed environments

2. Common Types of Locating Pins

🔹 Cylindrical Locating Pin

• Straight shank for simple drop-in alignment
• Common in jigs, gauges, and inspection tooling

🔹 Tapered Locating Pin

• Conical tip ensures self-centering and easy engagement
• Ideal for repeatable alignment in high-speed assembly

🔹 Diamond Locating Pin

• Elongated in one axis to allow movement in one direction
• Used with round pins to prevent over-constraining assemblies

🔹 Shoulder Locating Pin

• Has a fixed stop to control insertion depth
• Prevents over-penetration and supports vertical alignment

🔹 Detent or Retractable Locating Pin

• Spring-loaded for manual insertion/removal
• Used in modular tooling and adjustable guides

3. Applications of Locating Pins

Locating pins are used wherever tight alignment tolerances, interchangeability, and fixture repeatability are required:

• 🧰 Machining fixtures for CNC milling, drilling, grinding
• 🧪 Inspection and gauging tools for dimensional verification
• 🛠 Welding and assembly jigs for multi-part alignment
• 🧱 Plastic injection mold bases for cavity/core positioning
• ✈️ Aerospace tooling and part referencing
• 📦 Packaging and bottling machines for station alignment

They ensure repeatable quality, reduce setup variation, and support precision manufacturing workflows.

4. Material and Finish Options

Finish options:

• Black oxide for corrosion and glare reduction
• Precision ground finish (Ra ≤ 0.8μm) for ultra-smooth fit
• Hard chrome plating for enhanced wear resistance
• Passivation for medical or food-grade applications

5. Customization from Sango Hardware

We offer:

• 📏 Pin diameters: From 2mm to 30mm (or 1/16" to 1.25")
• 📐 Tolerances: ±0.005mm standard, tighter on request
• 🧩 Head styles: Cylindrical, shouldered, handle, threaded base
• ⚙️ Tip shapes: Flat, chamfered, bullet-nose, tapered, diamond
• 🔧 Mounting options: Press-fit, thread-in, magnetic base, retractable

Also available:

• 2D/3D CAD drawings
• OEM marking or coding
• Gauge calibration certification

6. Case Study: Locating Pins in Automotive Welding Fixtures

Client: Tier-1 automotive fixture supplier
Problem: Misaligned panels in robotic welding cells caused inconsistent weld seams

Sango Solution:

• Delivered carbide-tipped locating pins with diamond/round pairs for exact repeatability
• Custom-fitted pins with H6 tolerance and polished finish

Result:

• Reduced part misalignment rate by 80%
• Improved first-pass yield to over 98%
• Client standardized Sango locating pins across production cells

7. Why Choose Sango Hardware for Locating Pins?

🏭 Ultra-Precision Manufacturing

• Swiss-turning, ID/OD grinding, lapping for sub-micron accuracy

🧪 Tested and Certified

• Material traceability, hardness testing, and full dimensional inspection

📐 Custom Engineering Support

• Tolerance stack-up analysis, CAD modeling, and fixture integration consulting

📦 Global Service

• ISO 9001, RoHS, REACH certified; with multilingual documentation and export support

8. Conclusion: Repeatable Precision Starts with Locating Pins

Whether you're aligning mold bases, machining fixtures, or automated assemblies, Locating Pins ensure the precision, repeatability, and rigidity needed for high-performance manufacturing. At Sango Hardware, we offer customizable, wear-resistant pins for even your most demanding applications.

Contact Dongguan Sango Hardware Fasteners Co., Ltd. today to explore our range of locating pins built for performance, precision, and reliability.