Why use an ejector sleeve
An ejector sleeve is a hollow tube that pushes a part off a core or a pin. Unlike a solid ejector pin, a sleeve surrounds the core, so it can eject thin-wall parts, deep bosses, and features where a solid pin would mark the part or leave witness lines. Sleeves are the right choice when the part has a thin wall or a deep core that needs even, full-perimeter ejection.
Ejector sleeve types
- Standard nitrided sleeves: The workhorse. A nitrided OD and ID give a hard, wear-resistant surface for long service.
- Thin-wall sleeves: A reduced wall thickness for ejecting thin-wall parts; often electroless nickel coated for durability and corrosion resistance.
- D-head sleeves: A D-shaped head that prevents rotation in the ejector plate.
- Oversized sleeves: For reworking a worn bore or matching an oversized core.
Materials and finish
- Hot-work steel, nitrided: The standard for ejector sleeves — a hard surface (65-74 Rc) over a tough core.
- Electroless nickel: Adds corrosion resistance and durability, common on thin-wall sleeves.
- Black nitride: Progressive Components offers black nitride sleeves for greaseless, high-wear applications.
How to size a sleeve
Ejector sleeves are sized by the ID (which fits over the core or pin), the OD (which runs in the plate bore), and the overall length. PCS Company offers over 130 standard ejector sleeves with IDs from 3/32-inch to 3/4-inch and lengths up to 14 inches, in standard inch, metric DIN, and metric JIS. Match the ID to the core, the OD to the bore, and the length to the ejection stroke.
Common mistakes
- Ordering by the old part without measuring the ID, OD, and length.
- Mismatching the sleeve ID to the core — too tight binds, too loose marks the part.
- Ignoring the head style — a D-head is required where the sleeve must not rotate.
Catalog item plug: Tooling Components sells ejector sleeves from PCS and Progressive Components in standard, thin-wall, and D-head styles — sized by ID, OD, and length for your core and plate. Call (814) 438-7657 or email sales@toolingcomponent.com for same-day pricing.