
The AirTAC Airtac CMSE Magnetic Reed Sensor CMSE-C12 is a genuine CMS magnetic position switch. It senses the magnet ring in a pneumatic cylinder's piston and signals when the piston reaches that point, giving a 2-wire output on 5-240 V AC/DC. It only works on a cylinder that carries a piston magnet.
The CMSE-C12 is a magnetic reed position switch from AirTAC's CMS family. Inside sits a mechanical reed contact - no amplifier, no solid-state electronics. It clips into the sensor groove of a magnet-equipped AirTAC cylinder (the built-in magnet option) and closes its 2-wire contact as the piston passes. Supply range is a very wide 5-240 V AC/DC and the general housing carries IP64. The wiring position is coded C12, a factory connection variant whose exact termination we will confirm from the datasheet on request.
Because the element is a sealed reed, it runs on AC or DC with no polarity to observe - useful where a relay-style control circuit simply needs a dry contact. Bear in mind a reed contact has a finite mechanical life and can bounce on closure, so at very high cycle rates an electronic DMS switch may suit better. The profile letter E is a fit code that must match the cylinder groove; send us your cylinder series and we verify the exact seating.
| Model | Airtac CMSE Magnetic Reed Sensor CMSE-C12 |
|---|---|
| Family | CMS — Reed switch cylinder sensor |
| Technology | Reed (magnetic contact) |
| Output | 2-wire |
| Outputs in this family | 2-wire contact |
| Lead / connector | See datasheet |
| Supply voltage | 5-240 V AC/DC |
|---|---|
| Protection rating | IP64 |
| Version | Standard version |
| Profile letter | E (cylinder-groove fit) |
| Profiles in this family | E, G, H, J |
| Detects | Piston magnet ring inside the cylinder |
A reed contact switches a wide window, 5-240 V AC or DC, which is why it suits AC circuits and relay logic. IP64. The CMS range has no RW / IP68 option - that belongs to DMS and EMS. Switching distance, response time, current rating, voltage drop, LED behaviour, contact life, weight and dimensions are not published in our data set — ask us and we will confirm from the factory datasheet.
| CMS | Reed switch cylinder sensor — reed (magnetic contact). |
|---|---|
| E | Profile letter: the mounting / groove type that fits a particular cylinder body. This family offers E, G, H, J. It is a fit code, not a performance grade. |
| 12 | See datasheet. 020 / 030 / 050 / 100 are 2 / 3 / 5 / 10 m flying leads; M08 and M12 are M8 / M12 connector versions. |
| (blank) | Standard version. On a CMS the suffix -H is the high-temperature version — do not confuse it with the H profile letter. |
We do not hold the full profile-to-cylinder-series table, so confirm the profile letter against your cylinder model before ordering — send us the cylinder part number and we will check the fit.
The split is electrical, not quality. Solid-state DMS and EMS are DC-only and suit modern PLC inputs; the reed-based CMS switches a much wider window, so it is the one for AC circuits, relay logic and older panels. The RW (IP68) option exists on DMS and EMS only.
| This switch | CMSE · 2-wire · 5-240 V AC/DC |
|---|---|
| Consider DMS | the solid-state range with NPN / PNP 3-wire outputs (DC only) |
| Consider EMS | the mini 2-wire solid-state switch (DC only) |
| Mounting parts | F-MQ (round body), F-ACT (tie-rod) |
End-of-stroke proof on clamp cylinders wired straight into a 110/220 V AC relay circuit - the reed contact needs no DC supply or interfacing module.
Drops into existing AC control wiring as a dry contact, so an older machine keeps its relay logic instead of being rewired for DC sensors.
Confirms full clamp advance on pneumatic workholding before the machining cycle is allowed to start.
Choose this reed switch when your circuit is AC or mixed AC/DC and you want polarity-free series wiring, like a mechanical limit switch. Solid-state DMS and EMS switches are DC-only, so the CMSE covers control voltages they cannot. The C12 connection code is a factory variant - describe your panel arrangement and we check it against the datasheet. Confirm that profile E matches your cylinder's groove, and remember the cylinder must carry the built-in magnet option or the switch will never trip.
Quick checklist
Use the F-MQ bracket on round-body cylinders and F-ACT on tie-rod cylinders where there is no groove to seat the switch. Both are ordered separately from the switch. Switching distance and mounting dimensions come from the factory datasheet — ask us for the sheet that matches your cylinder.
It is a magnetic reed switch with a mechanical contact, not solid-state. Output is 2-wire, supply voltage 5-240 V AC/DC, protection IP64 for the general housing, and the wiring position is coded C12 - a factory connection variant we confirm from the datasheet on request.
Two things must line up. The cylinder needs the built-in piston magnet (the -S option), and the profile letter E must match that cylinder's sensor groove. Without the magnet nothing is detected; with the wrong profile the switch will not seat. Send your cylinder series and we confirm both.
Genuine AirTAC parts produced by AirTAC factory.
Covers non-human-caused product damage.
Standard models are processed and dispatched in 3-5 business days.
Most inquiries answered within 7-8 hours.
Send us the quantity, your cylinder model (so we can confirm the profile fit) and the destination. We confirm price, availability and lead time — usually within 7-8 hours.