Pilot assembly having an integrated stripper that may be coaxial with a pilot

A pilot assembly, comprising:

• a body portion extending along an axial direction between a first end and a second end, the body portion including an outer surface at the first end and an opening defined in the outer surface;
• a pilot configured for extending through an alignment hole in a sheet of material for locating the sheet of material with respect to a stamping machine, the pilot being coupled with the body portion and having a shaft and a tip having a rounded end, the shaft extending in the axial direction through the opening in the body portion and beyond the outer surface, and the tip being positioned outside the body portion and spaced from the outer surface, wherein the pilot further includes a head coupled with and extending radially from the shaft at the second end, the head being coupled by a press fit arrangement into the body portion;
• a bushing positioned between the body portion and the shaft of the pilot, said bushing configured for moving with respect to the body portion and the pilot to push the sheet of material off of the pilot, the bushing including a first portion confined within the body portion and a second portion extending through the opening and having an engagement surface configured for engaging the sheet of material;
• and
• a resilient biasing member situated completely within the body portion by engaging and being captured between the bushing and the head of the pilot, the biasing member being configured to be compressed as the engagement surface of the bushing engages the sheet of material.