Method and tooling for headed pilot pointed bolts

1. A set of tooling for making pointed, headed preform bolts of a given diameter in numerous lengths with roll thread ready threaded to head and roll thread ready partially threaded shanks in a four forming station forging machine, the tools being configured to work at successive forming stations on wire stock which is received at a first forming station of a diameter larger than the roll diameter or a diameter substantially equal to a roll diameter and not greater than a nominal diameter of a bolt, including at least two sequential head forming tools for mounting on a slide, an extrusion pointing tool for mounting on a die breast, a roll diameter extrusion tool for mounting on the die breast and a head support tool assembly mountable in a station on the slide for supporting a bolt head at a selected one of multiple predetermined axial positions corresponding to standard lengths of the bolts being made, the head support tool assembly being arranged to work at either the extrusion pointing station or the roll diameter extrusion station.

2. A set of tooling as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the tools for making threaded to head style bolts include tools for use at a first of the four forming stations that upset the head.

3. A set of tooling as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said extrusion pointing tool is arranged, when making partially threaded shank style bolts, to be axially shiftable between multiple positions corresponding to standard lengths of the bolts being made at a forming station on the die breast.

4. A set of tooling as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said tools are arranged to form said pointed, headed bolts in at least two of three bolt styles comprising hex head, hex flange head, and socket head styles.

5. A method of reducing the number of tools necessary to produce pointed, headed preform bolts of a given diameter in numerous lengths with roll thread ready threaded to head and roll thread ready partially threaded shanks comprising the use of four progressive forming stations and a wire stock diameter greater than or about equal to a roll diameter and not greater than a nominal bolt diameter, when making roll thread ready threaded to head bolts, initially forming a head at a first station, and pointing a shank at a third or fourth station, and when making roll thread ready partially threaded bolts, shaping the head in at least a first and second station and extrusion pointing the shank and shaping the head at a station after the first station, and arranging a pointing tool in a selected one of multiple axial positions at a forming station on a die breast in accordance with a length of the bolt.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein when making threaded to head type bolts, the head is axially supported by an element having multiple selectable axial positions on a slide at the station in which the bolt is pointed.

7. A method as set forth in claim 5 , wherein when making partially threaded shank bolts, the head is supported by an element having multiple selectable axial positions on a slide at the station in which the bolt shank is extruded to essentially a roll diameter.