AirTAC Pneumatics
AirTAC Cylinder Sensors & Magnetic Switches
AirTAC cylinder position sensors: 693 part numbers across five series - DS1, CS1, DMS, CMS and EMS - that detect the piston magnet in magnet-equipped cylinders. Reed for AC and relay logic, solid-state for PLC inputs.
inventory_2706 models availableSeries Overview
This family is the entry point to every AirTAC cylinder position switch we list: 693 published part numbers in five series, all current. All five do the same job - they sense the magnet ring in a magnet-equipped piston and switch an electrical signal when the piston reaches them. The family splits by contact technology: reed switches with a real mechanical contact sealed in glass (CS1, 219 parts; CMS, 37 parts) and solid-state electronic switches with no moving contact (DS1, 296 parts; DMS, 134 parts; EMS, 7 parts in a miniature body).
The circuit you have to feed decides the choice. A reed contact has no polarity, works on AC or DC and is electrically isolated from the load - CMS is rated 5-240 V AC or DC, 2-wire, IP64. Solid-state switches are DC only and never bounce or wear from switching, which suits PLC inputs and fast cycling: DMS runs 10-28 V DC in 2-wire or 5-30 V DC in 3-wire NPN/PNP, and EMS is 2-wire only at 10-28 V DC. DMS and EMS offer an -RW version rated IP68 (waterproof, oil-resistant, flex-resistant); CMS offers a -H high-temperature version and has no IP68 option, so for a wet environment use DMS-RW or EMS-RW.
The part codes carry the wiring and the fit. Flying-lead digits give the cable length: 020, 030, 040, 050 and 100 mean 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 m, while M08 and M12 are M8 and M12 connector versions with the pigtail length in the trailing digits. The profile letter after the series prefix (E, G, H, J and others) selects the groove or mounting that matches the cylinder body - it is a fit code, not a quality grade. Send us your cylinder part number and we confirm the fit; for DS1 and CS1 supply voltage and IP rating, confirm from the datasheet before ordering.
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Typical Applications
PLC end-of-stroke confirmation on pneumatic actuators
A DS1 or DMS 3-wire NPN or PNP switch on a magnet-equipped SC or SI cylinder feeds a clean DC signal to a PLC input card. Flying leads in 2, 3, 4, 5 or 10 m, or M8/M12 connector versions, wire straight into machine I/O.
Washdown and oil-exposed packaging machinery
DMS-RW or EMS-RW switches carry an IP68 rating and an oil-resistant, flex-resistant cable, so they survive wet or oily zones on packing lines running compact SDA cylinders with the piston-magnet option.
Relay-logic retrofits on older conveyor and transfer equipment
CMS reed switches are 2-wire, polarity-free and rated 5-240 V AC or DC, so they drop into legacy AC control panels without supply changes; the -H suffix covers high-temperature positions near dryers or heaters.
Position checks in tight gripper and fixture bodies
The EMS miniature body, 2-wire at 10-28 V DC with G and H profiles, fits narrow grooves on compact magnet-equipped cylinders where a full-size switch housing will not seat.
How to Choose the Right Model
Start with the cylinder, not the switch: a sensor only works on a cylinder ordered with the piston-magnet option, and a standard cylinder has nothing to sense. Then pick by circuit. AC circuits, relay logic and older panels take a reed switch (CS1 or CMS); PLC inputs and high-cycle machines take a solid-state switch (DS1, DMS or EMS). Inside the electronic group, 2-wire versions wire in series like a mechanical switch, while 3-wire NPN or PNP gives a cleaner signal to a PLC input card - match the polarity to the card. DMS and DS1 offer all three output styles; EMS is 2-wire only.
Confirm five points before ordering: the cylinder series and fit letter, the wiring (flying lead length or M8/M12 connector), the output type (2-wire, NPN, PNP or reed), the supply voltage your circuit provides, and any environment option such as -RW on DMS or EMS, or -H high temperature on CMS. The cylinders these switches read are the magnet-equipped versions of AirTAC SC, SI, SU, SDA, MAL and the other series offered with that option. If you need only the bracket or strap that holds a switch, see F-MQ (round-body cylinders) and F-ACT (tie-rod bores) under cylinder accessories - those are mounts, and the switch is bought separately.
Quick checklist
- ✓ Required force at your working pressure
- ✓ Stroke and available mounting space
- ✓ Port / thread type (PT / NPT / G)
- ✓ Sensor / magnet option (-S)?
- ✓ Side load — consider a guided model
Frequently Asked Questions
We list 693 published part numbers across five series, all current: DS1 (296 parts, solid-state), CS1 (219, reed), DMS (134, solid-state), CMS (37, reed) and EMS (7, solid-state miniature). Wiring options span 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 m flying leads plus M8 and M12 connector versions.
Pick by the circuit, not by price. Reed (CS1, CMS) has a mechanical contact with no polarity and works AC or DC - CMS is rated 5-240 V AC or DC - so it suits AC circuits, relay logic and older panels; the trade-off is a finite contact life and bounce at high cycle rates. Solid-state (DS1, DMS, EMS) has no moving contact, so no bounce and no switching wear: DMS runs 10-28 V DC 2-wire or 5-30 V DC 3-wire NPN/PNP, EMS is 2-wire only at 10-28 V DC. All solid-state switches are DC only and the polarity must match.
Only if the cylinder was ordered with the piston-magnet option - a standard piston has nothing to sense. The fit letter (E, G, H, J and others) selects the groove or mounting that matches the cylinder body; it is a fit code, not a grade. Send us your cylinder part number and we confirm the matching sensor and fit. Note that CMSH is the H profile while CMS-H is the high-temperature version - the letter position matters.
Every switch we list is a genuine AirTAC part from an authorized export seller. All five series are listed and orderable, and lead time is confirmed on request. Connection codes C08 and C12 appear across CS1, DS1, CMS and DMS - send us the full code and we confirm the connection type before you order. For DS1 and CS1 supply voltage and IP rating, confirm from the datasheet.
Authorized Export Seller
Genuine AirTAC parts produced by the AirTAC factory.
1-Year Warranty
Covers non-human-caused product damage.
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Standard models usually ship in 3-4 days.
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Most inquiries answered within 7-8 hours.
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