The key to a successful die casting is an excellent tool design. One of the hardest components to design and maintain for good tool life is a core pin. A “core” is the separate and replaceable part of the die that forms an internal feature of the casting. Core pins come in all shapes and sizes, but the most commonly used shape design is circular. Core pins may be fixed to the die cavity or to a slide, actuated through the mechanical opening/closing of the die, or by hydraulic cylinder or other means. While core pins are the backbone of good tool design, when not properly designed, it can result in severe downtime and inefficient productivity. Published 4/15/20