Stripper-plate alignment system and die set

A die set to be reciprocatingly driven in a stamping press comprising:

• an upper die shoe including (i) a recess formed in a top surface, said recess being complementary to a bulbous protrusion located on a ram portion of said press, and (ii) a plurality of guide posts arranged in a pattern and projecting outwardly from a bottom surface, wherein said bulbous protrusion is received within said complementary recess;
• a lower die shoe positioned in confronting relation to said surface and including a first plurality of open ended tubular guide bushings each having a first anti-friction bearing assembly positioned within a central passageway, and each located so as to receive a corresponding one of said guide posts;
• and
• a stripper-plate positioned between said upper die shoe and said lower die shoe, including a second plurality of open-ended tubular guide bushings each having an outer surface and an inner surface and each projecting outwardly toward said lower die shoe in a pattern corresponding to said pattern of guide posts such that each of said first anti-friction bearing assemblies slidingly engages an outer surface of a corresponding one of said second open ended guide bushing, wherein each of said second plurality of open-ended guide bushings includes a second anti-friction bearing assembly positioned on said inner surface so as to engage a corresponding one of said guide posts.

A die set comprising:

• two upper die shoes positioned adjacent to one another, and each including a plurality of guide posts arranged in a pattern and projecting outwardly from a surface;
• two lower die shoes positioned adjacent to one another, and each positioned in confronting relation to a respective one of said surfaces, and each including a first plurality of open ended tubular guide bushings each having a first anti-friction bearing assembly positioned within a central passageway, and each located so as to receive a corresponding one of said guide posts;
• and
• two stripper-plates, one positioned between each pair of said upper die shoes and said lower die shoes, and each including a second plurality of open-ended tubular guide bushings each having an Outer surface and an inner surface and each projecting outwardly toward said lower die shoe in a pattern corresponding to said pattern of guide posts such that each of said first anti-friction bearing assemblies slidingly engages an outer surface of a corresponding one of said second open ended guide bushing, wherein each of said second plurality of open-ended guide bushings includes a second anti-friction bearing assembly positioned on said inner surface so as to engage a corresponding one of said guide posts.