Airtac M5HS Selector Mechanical Valve M5HS21008RG
Mechanically actuated · no coil, no pilot airThe AirTAC Airtac M5HS Selector Mechanical Valve M5HS21008RG 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 | M5HS21008RG |
|---|---|
| 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 | Red |
| 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 | G (BSPP parallel) |
| 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 M5HS21008RG
The M5HS21008RG is a 5/2-way external control, direct acting valve that is operated by turning its selector knob - there is no solenoid coil, no pilot port and no wiring of any kind. Twist the red knob and the spool moves; twist it back and the spool follows. Because restoration is manual, the valve holds whichever state you last selected, which makes it a genuine stay-put control rather than a momentary one.
This is the 210 body (200 Series single control) with 1/4 inch G-thread ports and an effective area of 12.0 mm2 (Cv 0.67), the largest flow rating in the M5 family. The sliding-column spool means the force needed to turn the selector is not affected by working pressure, so changeover feels identical whether the line sits near zero or at a full 1.0 MPa. The exhaust outlet sits on top of the body, so a silencer screws straight in. Note that the HS control set is engineering plastic and is strictly for hand operation - striking it with a tool is forbidden by the manufacturer.
Typical applications
Mode selection on a packaging machine panel
A rotary selector on the operator panel of a carton sealing machine switches the cylinder circuit between jog mode and continuous cycle mode. The turn-and-stay action keeps the selected mode locked in until an operator deliberately changes it, with no electrical interlock required.
Two-circuit selection on a pneumatic press
On a small bench press running two different die sets, the selector routes the 5/2 supply to either the clamping cylinder or the forming cylinder. With Cv 0.67 from the 1/4 inch ports, the larger forming cylinder receives adequate flow without a separate valve stage.
Fixture isolation during tool change on a machining cell
Before a tool change on a CNC lathe fixture, the operator turns the selector to vent and hold the clamp circuit in a known state. Manual restoration means the isolated condition persists unattended for as long as the changeover takes - no spring, no air loss surprises.
How to choose
If you are choosing between hold-type actuators, the decision is how the operator should set the state. This HS selector is turned and stays - the natural pick for a mode or position choice on a panel. The M5PL latching button is pressed to latch and twisted to release, which suits a simple on/off isolation where a twist-to-release is a deliberate second action. The M5Y lever also holds, but gives a swept lever motion instead of a rotary knob. For momentary push-button control, step to M5PP or M5PF instead. On sizing: the 210 body with 1/8 inch ports gives Cv 0.50, while this G1/4 version delivers Cv 0.67 - pick the 1/4 inch port for larger cylinders or longer line runs. Finally, respect the published reversal stroke: the spool travels 2.0-3.3 mm and the selector actuator 5.1-6.4 mm. Driving the knob beyond these limits damages the valve, and AirTAC states this explicitly in the datasheet.
Frequently asked questions
It is a 5/2-way external control, direct acting, mechanically actuated selector valve on the 210 body (200 Series single control). Ports are 1/4 inch G thread with a red knob. Effective area is 12.0 mm2, Cv 0.67. Operating pressure range is 0-1.0 MPa (0-145 psi), proof pressure 1.5 MPa (215 psi), ambient and media temperature -20 to +70 C. Fluid is air filtered by a 40 um element; the aluminium alloy body needs no lubrication, though if lubricated air is introduced, the same medium (AirTAC suggests ISO VG32) must be continued for best valve life.
The published reversal stroke limit is 2.0-3.3 mm for the spool and 5.1-6.4 mm for the selector actuator itself. These are mechanical limits, not adjustments - driving the knob past them damages the internal control set, and AirTAC warns against this explicitly in the datasheet. If your panel design needs a longer rotational sweep or a detented feel, mount the selector behind a separate cam or use a mechanical stop so the knob cannot be over-travelled.