The pilot illustrated in Fig. enables the correct location of the blank when it is fed by mechanical means. The pilot enters into the previously pierced hole and moves the blank to the correct position to be finally spaced by the stops. The pilots are fitted to the punch holders.
Types of Pilots
Direct pilot and Indirect pilot.
Direct Pilot: The pilot which are mounted on the face of punch are called direct pilot. The pilot holder is generally a block of steel which can be fastened to the punch holder. Indirect Pilot: It is not always necessary to fix a pilot to the bottom of a blanking punch the pilots may be independent of the blanking punch and directly retained in the punch holder. They are designed to enter previous punched holes in the strips some distance away from the blanking punch