
The AirTAC Airtac PB Pen-type Cylinder PB16X280SU is a double-acting pen-size (mini) air cylinder with a Ø16mm bore and 280mm 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 PB16X280SU is a double-acting JIS pen-size mini cylinder engineered for compact, high-frequency motion. It delivers 100.5 N of push and 90.7 N of pull at 0.5 MPa, utilizing a slim SUS304 stainless steel barrel and piston rod to resist damp or mildly corrosive environments. Plumbing is simplified by the U type 90-degree side air inlet, keeping the footprint flat against your machine frame.
This 16 mm bore unit travels a 280 mm stroke and features a built-in magnetic piston (-S) for position feedback via AirTAC reed or electronic switches. End-of-stroke deceleration relies on a fixed TPU bumper at each end rather than an adjustable air cushion. Because the 280 mm stroke is lengthy relative to the Ø5 mm rod, maintaining coaxial thrust is critical; an external linear bearing should be added if any off-axis load is present.
| Model | Airtac PB Pen-type Cylinder PB16X280SU |
|---|---|
| Series | PB JIS pen-size mini cylinder |
| Bore size | Ø16 mm |
| Rod diameter | Ø5 mm |
| Stroke | 280 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. |
| ×280 | 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 lightweight routing flap on a packaging conveyor, using the 90.1 N pull force to swing parcels into secondary sorting lanes.
Drives a probe head down onto printed circuit boards, relying on the S magnet to trigger an electronic switch and confirm test contact.
Extends 280 mm to lower a fluid nozzle into corrosive reagent trays, benefiting from the SUS304 stainless construction in damp environments.
When sizing this 16 mm bore class, stepping down to a 12 mm bore drops the 0.5 MPa push force to 56.5 N, while stepping up is not an option as this is the largest diameter in the PB family. A practical safe working load for this model is about 60 N (roughly 60% of the 0.5 MPa theoretical force), which equates to lifting around 5.1 kg vertically with a sane 2:1 safety margin. Keep in mind a plain PB cylinder drifts when air is lost or the valve is centered, so an external rod lock is required for fail-safe load holding.
To order, confirm the 16 mm bore, 280 mm stroke, M5x0.8 port, S magnet for sensing, and the U 90-degree side inlet back cover. The fixed TPU bumpers only decelerate the final few millimeters of travel; at high speeds with heavy tooling mass, meter-out the exhaust or install an external shock absorber to prevent bottoming out.
Quick checklist
At 0.5 MPa the push force is 100.5 N and the pull force is 90.7 N. At the maximum operating pressure of 0.7 MPa, the push is 140.7 N and the pull is 126.9 N. The operating pressure range is 0.15-0.7 MPa, with a speed of 50-800 mm/s and a proof pressure of 1.2 MPa.
No, a standard PB cylinder does not lock its position on air loss or valve centering; the piston will drift. The fixed TPU bumpers only decelerate the rod near the end of stroke and act as a brake. For fail-safe holding, you must add an external stop or rod lock.
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