Airtac M5HS Selector Mechanical Valve M5HS21008B
Mechanically actuated · no coil, no pilot airThe AirTAC Airtac M5HS Selector Mechanical Valve M5HS21008B is a genuine 5/2-way selector switch type control valve. A turn-and-stay selector. Manual restoration, so it holds the selected state. 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 PT1/4 with a 12.0 mm2 (Cv 0.67) effective area.
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Specifications
| Model | M5HS21008B |
|---|---|
| Valve type | 5/2 way, external control, direct acting |
| Actuation | Selector switch type |
| Reset | Manual restoration - it holds the selected position |
| Body series | 200 Series, single control |
| Port size | PT1/4 |
| Effective area | 12.0 mm2 (Cv 0.67) |
| Button colour | Black |
| 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 | 2.0-3.3 mm |
| Actuator stroke | 5.1-6.4 mm at the selector |
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 control set is engineering plastic and must be operated by hand only - never switch it by striking it with a tool. The exhaust outlet sits on top of the body, so a silencer fits directly.
About the M5HS21008B
The AirTAC M5HS21008B is a 5/2-way mechanical control valve, not a solenoid. There is no coil, no pilot port and no wiring at all: you turn a black selector knob with your fingers, and the twist directly shifts the internal spool. It is an external control, direct acting valve in the 200-series single-control body, so the only thing that changes its state is a human hand.
Turn and stay is the whole point of this model. The knob holds whatever position you leave it in - there is no spring snapping it back - which makes it a genuine two-position mode switch. Because the spool slides as a column rather than lifting against air pressure, the changeover force stays constant from 0 to 1.0 MPa; back-pressure cannot make the knob stiff at high supply. The 1/4 inch PT port carries a 12.0 mm2 orifice (Cv 0.67), and the exhaust sits on top of the body so a silencer threads straight in.
Typical applications
Manual/auto mode select on a packaging line
Mounted at the panel of a carton sealer, the selector switches the vacuum cylinder circuit between automatic cycling and operator jogging. The held position means the mode survives a shift change without anyone re-selecting it.
Pneumatic isolation during jig changeover
On a welding fixture, turning the selector to the off position vents the clamping circuit while a new tube bundle is loaded. The state stays put until the setter deliberately turns it back, and the on-panel exhaust accepts a silencer for a quiet station.
Two-circuit choice on a drilling fixture
A machinist flips the knob to route supply either to the clamp cylinder or to the drill-feed cylinder on a pneumatic tapping jig. Both ports of this 1/4 inch valve give 12 mm2 of orifice, enough for a mid-size clamp on each path.
How to choose
Your real decision here is HS versus PL. Both hold their state, but the HS selector turns - like a light switch, obvious at a glance which mode you are in - while the PL latches by pressing and releases by twisting the button, and comes in red only. If an operator needs to see the machine state across a workshop, choose the HS; if it is a moment-of-danger latch, the PL fits better. If you would rather have a lever that also stays put, the M5Y is the handle equivalent.
This 210 body with the 08 code gives you PT1/4 and 12.0 mm2 (Cv 0.67); the same selector on the 110 body or with the 06 code stops at 8.0 or 9.0 mm2 (Cv 0.45 or 0.50), so size up for larger cylinders. Mind the published reversal stroke: the spool needs 2.0-3.3 mm and the selector actuator 5.1-6.4 mm. AirTAC states explicitly that driving beyond these limits damages the valve, so never force the knob past its detents.
Frequently asked questions
It is a 5/2-way, external control, direct acting valve with a selector switch actuator on the 200-series body and PT1/4 ports. Working pressure is 0-1.0 MPa (0-145 psi), proof pressure 1.5 MPa (215 psi), and media temperature -20 to +70 C on filtered air (40 um element). Orifice is 12.0 mm2 with Cv 0.67. There is no coil or pilot port - the knob shifts the spool directly.
The published actuator stroke is 5.1-6.4 mm at the selector, with a spool stroke of 2.0-3.3 mm. These are hard limits: AirTAC's datasheet warns that exceeding the reversal stroke damages the valve. The knob should stop cleanly at each detent - if it feels like it wants to go further, stop and check the mounting rather than forcing it.