
The AirTAC Airtac PB Pen-type Cylinder PB16X230U is a double-acting pen-size (mini) air cylinder with a Ø16mm bore and 230mm stroke. Its slim round barrel and back cover are stainless steel, the M5×0.8 ports keep plumbing compact, and the fast, low-friction piston suits high-cycle small-part handling.
The AirTAC PB16X230U is a double-acting JIS pen-size mini cylinder engineered for compact, high-frequency small-part motion. It utilizes a slim SUS304 stainless steel round barrel and piston rod, offering reliable durability in damp or mildly corrosive environments while saving valuable space and payload on light end-of-arm tooling. Delivering 100.5 N of push force at 0.5 MPa, it features a 90-degree U side air inlet for flat plumbing alongside an M5x0.8 port.
With a 230 mm stroke, this model relies on a fixed TPU bumper at each end to decelerate the piston over the final few millimeters of travel. Because this bumper is not field-adjustable, running at high speeds with heavy tooling mass requires metering out the exhaust or adding an external shock absorber. The Ø5 mm piston rod provides coaxial thrust via an M10x1.0 rod-end thread, and over this extended stroke, an external linear guide is recommended to prevent side-load deflection.
| Model | Airtac PB Pen-type Cylinder PB16X230U |
|---|---|
| Series | PB JIS pen-size mini cylinder |
| Bore size | Ø16 mm |
| Rod diameter | Ø5 mm |
| Stroke | 230 mm |
| Acting type | Double acting |
| Port size | M5×0.8 |
| Fluid | Air (filtered by 40µm element) |
|---|---|
| Operating pressure | 0.15 – 0.7 MPa |
| Proof pressure | 1.2 MPa |
| Temperature | -20 to +70 °C |
| Speed range | 50 – 800 mm/s |
| Cushion | Elastic bumper (both ends) |
| Max standard stroke | Up to 300 mm |
Specifications follow the official AirTAC PB pen-size datasheet. Piston rod and barrel are stainless steel. Confirm bore, stroke and back-cover option against the product label before installation.
| Pressure | Push force | Pull force |
|---|---|---|
| 0.5 MPa | 100.5 N | 90.7 N |
| 0.7 MPa (max) | 140.7 N | 126.9 N |
Values are taken from the AirTAC PB thrust table. Because pull acts on the rod-side annular area, pull force is always lower than push. Actual usable force is reduced by friction — size with a margin.
| PB | JIS pen-size double-acting mini-cylinder series. |
|---|---|
| 16 | Bore size in mm. |
| ×230 | Stroke length in mm. |
| S | Built-in magnet for magnetic-switch position sensing (omit = no magnet). |
| CB / U / R | Back cover: CB double clevis, U 90° side inlet, R axial inlet (bore-dependent). |
Mounting accessories: LB, FA, CJ. Related PB-family variants: PSB (single-acting push), PTB (single-acting pull), PBD (double rod), PBJ (adjustable stroke), PBR (front-mount).
Actuates a cutting head on a depaneling machine, utilizing the 100.5 N push force to route printed circuit boards while the slim barrel fits within tight machine enclosures.
Extends 230 mm to tuck cardboard flaps on a carton sealing line, where the U side inlet keeps plumbing flat against the conveyor frame to avoid snagging passing boxes.
Drives a pipette arm in a wet laboratory environment, relying on the SUS304 stainless construction to resist mild chemical corrosion during repeated fluid dispensing cycles.
Selecting the PB16X230U provides 100.5 N push and 90.7 N pull at 0.5 MPa. If you need less force, the next bore down is the Ø12, yielding 56.5 N push at 0.5 MPa; stepping up is not an option as Ø16 is the largest in this family. For practical sizing, plan for a safe working load of about 60 N, which represents roughly 60% of the 0.5 MPa theoretical push to account for seal friction and smooth travel. This equates to lifting about 5.1 kg vertically with a sane 2:1 safety margin.
A plain PB cylinder does not hold its load if air pressure is lost or the valve is centered, as the piston will drift and the bumper only decelerates near the stroke end; an external stop or rod lock is required for fail-safe holding. When ordering, confirm this exact configuration: 16 mm bore, 230 mm stroke, M5x0.8 port, U 90-degree side inlet, and no sensor magnet.
Quick checklist
The PB16X230U generates 100.5 N push and 90.7 N pull at 0.5 MPa. At the maximum operating pressure of 0.7 MPa, it yields 140.7 N push and 126.9 N pull. It operates between 0.15-0.7 MPa at speeds of 50-800 mm/s, with a proof pressure of 1.2 MPa.
It uses a fixed TPU bumper at each end that decelerates the piston over the last few millimeters; it is not adjustable, so high-speed tooling requires metering out the exhaust or adding an external shock absorber. Additionally, it does not hold position on air loss, so an external rod lock is needed for fail-safe vertical holding.
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