Airtac M5C Long Handle Mechanical Valve M5C21006
Mechanically actuated · no coil, no pilot airThe AirTAC Airtac M5C Long Handle Mechanical Valve M5C21006 is a genuine 5/2-way long handle type control valve. A long hand lever for operating force and reach. It is an external control, direct-acting valve - the spool is moved mechanically, so there is nothing to wire and no pilot line to plumb. Ports are PT1/8 with a 9.0 mm2 (Cv 0.50) effective area.
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Specifications
| Model | M5C21006 |
|---|---|
| Valve type | 5/2 way, external control, direct acting |
| Actuation | Long handle type |
| Reset | Automatic (spring) restoration |
| Body series | 200 Series, single control |
| Port size | PT1/8 |
| Effective area | 9.0 mm2 (Cv 0.50) |
| Fluid | Air, filtered by a 40 um element |
|---|---|
| Pressure range | 0 - 1.0 MPa (0 - 145 psi) |
| Proof pressure | 1.5 MPa (215 psi) |
| Temperature | -20 to +70 C |
| Body material | Aluminium alloy |
| Lubrication | Not required |
| Thread standard | PT (Rc tapered) |
| Spool stroke | 2.0-3.0 mm |
| Actuator stroke | 11.0-16.0 mm at the handle |
Sliding-column (spool) construction, so operating force is not affected by working pressure - there is no back-pressure effect. Lubrication is not required, but once the valve has been run on lubricated air it must stay on lubricated air; AirTAC suggests ISO VG32 or equivalent. The long handle type control set is METAL, which gives a longer service life than the engineering-plastic heads. The exhaust outlet sits on top of the body, so a silencer fits directly.
About the M5C21006
The M5C21006 is a 5/2-way external control, direct acting valve that is thrown by hand - there is no solenoid coil and no pilot port anywhere on this body. An 11 mm long lever gives the operator leverage and reach, so the valve suits panels where the hand position sits away from the port face or where a gloved palm needs a firm, confident throw. It is a mechanically operated control valve, not a solenoid valve like the 4V family and not an air pilot valve like the 4A family.
This is the 200-series single-control body with PT1/8 ports and an effective area of 9.0 mm2 (Cv 0.50). The lever is a spring-return actuator: release it and the spool snaps back automatically. The C model carries a METAL control set for longer, more stable service life, and because the sliding-column construction means the changeover force is not affected by working pressure, the lever feels identical at 0.2 MPa and at 1.0 MPa. The exhaust outlet sits on top of the body, so a silencer screws straight on without re-plumbing.
Typical applications
Die setup jogging on a pneumatic press
During tool changes on a small press shop, the operator uses the long lever to inch the clamp cylinder forward while seating a die, letting go between adjustments because the spring returns the spool to the safe position automatically.
Gate control on a sawmill infeed table
A gloved sawyer throws the long-reach lever to swing a pneumatic gate and release a timber billet onto the infeed rollers, where the extra lever length gives a positive action without leaning across the table.
Fixture clamping at a welding bench
A welder operates the lever to clamp a bracket jig in place for tack welding; the metal control set stands up to repeated daily cycling, and the top-mounted exhaust takes a silencer to keep the bench area quiet.
How to choose
The closest sibling is the M5D short handle: same spring-return behaviour, same body, but a lever roughly half the travel length. Choose the C when reach matters - recessed panels, gloves, or an operator standing to one side - and the D when panel depth is tight. If the valve must hold its position after the hand leaves it, step to the M5Y lever type instead, which has manual restoration; the M5C does not hold. On sizing, the 210 body at 1/8" flows 9.0 mm2 (Cv 0.50); stepping to the 1/4" port raises this to 12.0 mm2 (Cv 0.67) for larger cylinders, while the 110 body drops to 8.0 mm2 (Cv 0.45).
Respect the published reversal strokes: full useful handle travel is 11.0-16.0 mm against a spool stroke of 2.0-3.0 mm. AirTAC states explicitly that exceeding these limits damages the valve, so fit mechanical stops on the panel rather than letting the lever slam its own limit. A spare control set for this exact model is available as M3C210-P13A.
Frequently asked questions
It is a 5/2-way external control, direct acting, mechanically lever-operated valve with PT1/8 ports on the 200-series body. Working pressure range is 0-1.0 MPa (0-145 psi), proof pressure is 1.5 MPa (215 psi), and the fluid temperature range is -20 to +70 C with filtered air through a 40 um element. The effective area is 9.0 mm2 (Cv 0.50). The body is aluminium alloy, lubrication is not required, and once lubricated air is introduced it should be continued at ISO VG32 grade or equivalent.
The published reversal stroke for the long handle is 11.0-16.0 mm at the actuator, of which only 2.0-3.0 mm is actual spool stroke. AirTAC states explicitly that exceeding these limits damages the valve, so never let the lever be overdriven by hand or by a panel linkage. Mount the valve so a mechanical stop limits lever travel within the published range, and remember this model spring-returns the moment the hand is removed.