A tooling ball (also known as a construction ball or icky ball) is used to precisely locate a reference point. By using an indicator to find the centre of the ball, 2 points can then create a line, 3 points can be used to create a plane thus reducing set-up times.
They can offer a reference in any direction and are used in location fixtures and jigs.
Tooling Balls come in a range of styles and are manufactured with a diameter tolerance of ±0.001mm and are concentric ball to stem to within 0.005mm. Supplied with either Tungsten Carbide, Alumina Oxide Al203 or 440 Stainless Steel ball mounted on a Stainless 303 or hardened Steel stem.
Depending on the needs of the engineer we offer 5 different styles, type 1 and 2 are press-fit parts whereas 3, 4 and 5 are supplied with threads (internal or external).
All Tooling / Construction balls provided by TN United Kingdom are manufactured and assembled in our modern facilities in the UK.
Over the last 50 Years TN UK have perfected Precision Ball manufacturing. All our tooling balls are precision ground at our facilities. To the highest International Standard Grades.
Over the last 50 Years TN UK have perfected Precision Ball manufacturing. All our tooling balls are precision ground at our facilities. To highest International Standard Grades.
Depending on the application the tooling balls can be manufactured using balls made from the following materials, Alumina AL203, Ceramic, Tungsten Carbide or Stainless Steel 440c.
| Material | Material Hardness (Typical) | Temperature Co-efficiency | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alumina AL203 Ceramic | 1600 | 7.0 x 10-6 | LAB |
| Tungsten Cobalt | 1550 | 5.0 x 10 -6 | Workshop |
| Stainless steel 440c | 690 | 10.2 µm/m 0C | Workshop |
Factors to consider: The hole needs to be concentric to the outer diameter of the tooling ball to within 0.1mm.
Both Alumina Oxide AL203 and Stainless 440 are drilled using a CNC or high-speed spindle.
Tungsten Carbide cannot be drilled. In order to make a hole in this material, an EDM (Electrostatic Discharge Machine) is used. This uses a Copper Tungsten Electrode, which passes an electric charge that removes the material to form the hole.
Please note: Only balls 6mm diameter and larger will be pinned and bonded to stem. Tungsten Carbide and Stainless steel 440 balls less than 6mm in diameter are brazed to the stem. Ceramic balls below 6mm in diameter are bonded using a high strength epoxy adhesive.
The final stage of production is Cylindrical Grinding. This operation removes excess material from the stem & shoulder feature to ensure that the stem is concentric to the ball, and the base of the shoulder is flat. All assemblies are manually ground to a maximum concentricity of 0.005mm between the ball and the stem outer diameters (excluding Type 5 and Type 3, shoulder only).
| Material | Ball Diameter | Type 1 | Type 2 | Type 3 | Type 4 | Type 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alumina AL203 Ceramic | All Ball Diameters | Drilled | Drilled | Drilled | Drilled | Ball Drilled |
| Pinned & Bonded | Pinned & Bonded | Pinned & Bonded | Pinned & Bonded | Stem Bonded | ||
| Tungsten Cobalt | <6mm | Brazed | Brazed | Brazed | Brazed | |
| >6mm | EDM Sparked | EDM Sparked | EDM Sparked | EDM Sparked | Ball EDM Sparked | |
| EDM Sparked | Pinned & Bonded | Pinned & Bonded | Pinned & Bonded | Pinned & Bonded | Stem Bonded | |
| Stainless Steel 440C | <6mm | Brazed | Brazed | Brazed | Brazed | |
| >6mm | Drilled | Drilled | Drilled | Drilled | Ball Drilled | |
| Pinned & Bonded | Pinned & Bonded | Pinned & Bonded | Pinned & Bonded | Stem Bonded |
| DIM A | DIM B | DIM C | DIM D | DIM E | DIM F | PIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 12.000 | 3.000 | 2.250 | No.1 | Ø2 x 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 6.35 | 12.700 | 3.175 | 2.381 | No.1 | Ø2 x 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 8 | 16.000 | 4.000 | 3.000 | No.1 | Ø3 x 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 9.525 | 19.050 | 4.763 | 3.572 | No.1 | Ø3 x 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 10 | 20.000 | 5.000 | 3.750 | No.2 | Ø3 x 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 12 | 24.000 | 6.000 | 4.500 | No.2 | Ø3 x 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 12.7 | 25.400 | 6.350 | 4.763 | No.2 | Ø3 x 5 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 15 | 30.000 | 7.500 | 5.625 | No.2 | Ø3 x 5 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 15.875 | 31.750 | 7.938 | 5.953 | No.2 | Ø3 x 5 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 19.05 | 38.100 | 9.525 | 7.144 | No.2 | Ø3 x 5 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 20 | 40.000 | 10.000 | 7.500 | No.3 | Ø4 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 22.225 | 44.450 | 11.113 | 8.334 | No.3 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 25 | 50.000 | 12.500 | 9.375 | No.3 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 25.4 | 50.800 | 12.700 | 9.525 | No.3 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 30 | 50.000 | 15.000 | 11.250 | No.3 | Ø4 X 10 | Ø4 X 14 |
| DIM A | DIM B | DIM C | DIM D | DIM E | DIM F | DIM G | DIM H | DIM I | PIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 6.000 | 6.000 | 3.000 | NO 1 X 2 DEEP | 1.200 | 0.5 x 45° | 4.500 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 6.35 | 6.350 | 6.350 | 3.175 | NO 1 X 2 DEEP | 1.270 | 0.5 x 45° | 4.763 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 8 | 8.000 | 8.000 | 4.000 | NO 1 X 2 DEEP | 1.600 | 0.5 x 45° | 6.000 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 9.525 | 9.525 | 9.525 | 4.763 | NO 1 X 2 DEEP | 1.905 | 0.5 x 45° | 7.144 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 10 | 10.000 | 10.000 | 5.000 | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 2.000 | 0.5 x 45° | 7.500 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 12 | 12.000 | 12.000 | 6.000 | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 2.400 | 0.5 x 45° | 9.000 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 12.7 | 12.700 | 12.700 | 6.350 | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 2.540 | 0.5 x 45° | 9.525 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 15 | 15.000 | 15.000 | 7.500 | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 3.000 | 1 x 45° | 11.250 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 15.875 | 15.875 | 15.875 | 7.938 | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 3.175 | 1 x 45° | 11.906 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 19.05 | 19.050 | 19.050 | 9.525 | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 3.810 | 1 x 45° | 14.288 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 20 | 20.000 | 20.000 | 10.000 | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 4.000 | 1 x 45° | 15.000 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 22.225 | 22.225 | 22.225 | 11.113 | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 4.445 | 1 x 45° | 16.669 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 25 | 25.000 | 25.000 | 12.000 | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 5.000 | 1 x 45° | 18.750 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 25.4 | 25.400 | 25.400 | 12.700 | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 5.080 | 1 x 45° | 19.050 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 30 | 30.000 | 30.000 | 15.000 | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 6.000 | 1 x 45° | 22.500 | Ø4 X 10 | Ø4 X 14 |
| DIM A | DIM B | DIM C | DIM D | DIM E | DIM F | DIM G | DIM H | DIM I | PIN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy Now | 6 | 6 | 6 | M3 | NO 1 X 2 DEEP | 1.2 | 0.2 | 4.5 | Ø2 X 5 | 2 X 8 | Buy Now |
| 6.35 | 6.35 | 6.35 | 6-32 | NO 1 X 2 DEEP | 1.27 | 0.212 | 4.763 | Ø2 X 5 | 2 X 8 | ||
| Buy Now | 8 | 8 | 8 | M4 | NO 1 X 2 DEEP | 1.6 | 0.267 | 6 | Ø2 X 5 | 2 X 8 | Buy Now |
| 9.525 | 9.525 | 9.525 | 10-24 | NO 1 X 2 DEEP | 1.905 | 0.318 | 7.144 | Ø2 X 5 | 2 X 8 | ||
| 10 | 10 | 10 | M5 | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 2 | 0.333 | 7.5 | Ø2 X 5 | 2 X 8 | ||
| 12 | 12 | 12 | M6 | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 2.4 | 0.4 | 9 | Ø3 X 5 | 2 X 8 | ||
| 12.7 | 12.7 | 12.7 | 1/4 UNF | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 2.54 | 0.423 | 9.525 | Ø3 X 7 | 3 X 10 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 15 | M8 | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 3 | 0.5 | 11.25 | Ø3 X 7 | 3 X 10 | ||
| 15.875 | 15.875 | 15.875 | 5/16 UNF | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 3.175 | 0.529 | 11.906 | Ø3 X 7 | 3 X 10 | ||
| 19.05 | 19.05 | 19.05 | 3/8 UNF | NO 2 X 3 DEEP | 3.81 | 0.635 | 14.288 | Ø3 X 7 | 3 X 10 | ||
| 20 | 20 | 20 | M10 | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 4 | 0.667 | 15 | Ø3 X 7 | 3 X 10 | ||
| 22.225 | 22.225 | 22.225 | 7/16 UNF | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 4.445 | 0.741 | 16.669 | Ø3 X 7 | 3 X 10 | ||
| Buy Now | 25 | 25 | 25 | M12 | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 5 | 0.833 | 18.75 | Ø3 X 7 | 3 X 10 | Buy Now |
| 25.4 | 25.4 | 25.4 | 1/2 UNF | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 5.08 | 0.847 | 19.05 | Ø3 X 7 | 3 X 10 | ||
| 30 | 30 | 30 | M12 | NO 3 X 5 DEEP | 6 | 1 | 22.5 | Ø4 X 10 | 4 X 14 |
| DIM A | DIM B | DIM C | DIM D | DIM E | DIM F | DIM G | DIM H | DIM I | PIN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buy Now | 6 | 6 | 6 | 3 | M2 | 1.2 | 0.2 | 4.5 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 | Buy Now |
| 6.35 | 6.35 | 6.35 | 3.175 | 2-56 | 1.27 | 0.212 | 4.763 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 | ||
| Buy Now | 8 | 8 | 8 | 4 | M2 | 1.6 | 0.267 | 6 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 | Buy Now |
| 9.525 | 9.525 | 9.525 | 4.763 | 4-40 | 1.905 | 0.318 | 7.144 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 | ||
| Buy Now | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | M2 | 2 | 0.333 | 7.5 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 | Buy Now |
| Buy Now | 12 | 12 | 12 | 6 | M3 | 2.4 | 0.4 | 9 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 | Buy Now |
| 12.7 | 12.7 | 12.7 | 6.35 | 6-32 | 2.54 | 0.423 | 9.525 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 | ||
| 15 | 15 | 15 | 7.5 | M3 | 3 | 0.5 | 11.25 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 | ||
| 15.875 | 15.875 | 15.875 | 7.938 | 10-24 | 3.175 | 0.529 | 11.906 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 | ||
| 19.05 | 19.05 | 19.05 | 9.525 | 10-24 | 3.81 | 0.635 | 14.288 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 | ||
| Buy Now | 20 | 20 | 20 | 10 | M6 | 4 | 0.667 | 15 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 | Buy Now |
| 22.225 | 22.225 | 22.225 | 11.1125 | 10-24 | 4.445 | 0.741 | 16.669 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 | ||
| Buy Now | 25 | 25 | 25 | 12 | M6 | 5 | 0.833 | 18.75 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 | Buy Now |
| 25.4 | 25.4 | 25.4 | 12.7 | 10-24 | 5.08 | 0.847 | 19.05 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 | ||
| Buy Now | 30 | 30 | 30 | 15 | M6 | 6 | 1 | 22.5 | Ø4 X 10 | Ø4 X 14 | Buy Now |
| DIM A | DIM B | DIM E | DIM F | DIM G | DIM H | DIM I | PIN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | 8.000 | M2.5 | 1.200 | 0.200 | 4.500 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 6.35 | 7.925 | 4-40 | 1.270 | 0.212 | 4.763 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 8 | 8.000 | M2 | 1.600 | 0.267 | 6.000 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 9.525 | 7.925 | 4-40 | 1.905 | 0.318 | 7.144 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 10 | 8.000 | M2 | 2.000 | 0.333 | 7.500 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 12 | 8.000 | M3 | 2.400 | 0.400 | 9.000 | Ø2 X 5 | Ø2 X 8 |
| 12.7 | 7.925 | 6-32 | 2.540 | 0.423 | 9.525 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 15 | 10.000 | M3 | 3.000 | 0.500 | 11.250 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 15.875 | 9.525 | 10-24 | 3.175 | 0.529 | 11.906 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 19.05 | 9.525 | 10-24 | 3.810 | 0.635 | 14.288 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 20 | 10.000 | M6 | 4.000 | 0.667 | 15.000 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 22.225 | 9.525 | 10-24 | 4.445 | 0.741 | 16.669 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 25 | 10.000 | M6 | 5.000 | 0.833 | 18.750 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 25.4 | 9.525 | 10-24 | 5.080 | 0.847 | 19.050 | Ø3 X 7 | Ø3 X 10 |
| 30 | 10.000 | M6 | 6.000 | 1.000 | 22.500 | Ø4 X 10 | Ø4 X 14 |
Accuracy is our trademark at TN UK. We pride ourselves on our ability to measure and calibrate the products we manufacture. Housing some of the most sophisticated equipment in the world, our annually assessed UKAS lab means we guarantee the precision of the products we supply.
On top of that, we maintain regular and open communication directly with you and any relevant departments to ensure that you get exactly what you need when you need it.
We also offer a recalibrate service for your existing gauges, CMM Reference balls and Master Ball Sets. So you can rest assured that, whether we are supplying a new product or recalibrating an existing one, by meeting our strict standards, your company meets its strict standards (particularly important for other calibration assessed companies).
A tooling ball is used as a location point in a workpiece. The tooling ball is placed into a fixture and can then be used as a reference point to determine alignment, a centre line or distance from a hole using any plan on the ball. Tooling balls tend not to need the same precision as a CMM reference sphere as they do not need to return the level of tolerance.
