Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M
The AirTAC Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M is a genuine push-lock speed controller, threaded elbow with push-lock adjusting cap (pom) and fixed tube direction, used to set the speed of a pneumatic cylinder by throttling its air.
- TypePush-lock speed controller, threaded elbow
- SeriesPTL
- Working pressure0 - 1.0 MPa (0 - 10 kgf/cm2)
- Proof pressure1.5 MPa
- AdjustmentPush-lock adjusting cap (POM)
- Temperature-20 to +70 °C
- No minimum order. A single piece can be ordered.
- Ready in 3–5 business days. That is the time we take to process the order and hand it to the carrier. Transit time after that depends on the destination.
About the Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M
The PTL401B-M is the mini member of AirTAC's PTL family: a push-lock speed controller that throttles air in one direction and lets it run freely in the other, so you can set how fast a small actuator travels. The -M mini series is made only in Dia 4 and Dia 6 tube with M5 or 1/8in threads, which makes this the natural choice where a full-size PSL or PTL would dwarf the fitting. This code takes Dia 4 soft nylon or polyurethane tube on the outlet and screws into a 1/8in PT port.
The B suffix means meter-in: air flowing from the 1/8in thread port into the tube runs free, while air returning from the tube toward the port is throttled by the brass column under the cap. AirTAC's own guidance is that meter-out is the first priority for double-acting cylinders, because throttling the exhaust builds a back-pressure cushion that keeps the stroke smooth. Meter-in like this is the correct match for a single-acting, spring-return cylinder, where the spring does the return and you only need to slow the power stroke. Adjustment is by pressing and turning the POM push-lock cap rather than a knob, and the cap takes 0.08 N.m of torque on a 1/8in part - press to set, press again to release.
Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M Technical Specifications
| Model | Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M |
|---|---|
| Type | Push-lock speed controller, threaded elbow |
| Series | PTL |
| Adjustment | Push-lock adjusting cap (POM) |
| Orientation | Fixed tube direction |
| Size class | Mini series (-M) |
| Working pressure | 0 - 1.0 MPa (0 - 10 kgf/cm2) |
|---|---|
| Negative pressure | -750 mmHg (10 Torr) |
| Proof pressure | 1.5 MPa |
| Temperature | -20 to +70 °C |
| Applicable tubing | Soft nylon or polyurethane tube |
| Thread standard | PT (Rc tapered) unless the code says otherwise |
POM release button and chuck, aluminium-alloy guide, stainless spring gasket, NBR O-ring; body brass or PBT depending on the part. A speed controller is not a shut-off valve - a small leak past a fully closed needle is normal. Close it before applying air, and turn it open slowly. AirTAC publishes flow as a characteristic curve rather than a single figure, so no L/min value is listed.
Model Code: Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M
| PTL | Push-lock speed controller, threaded elbow. |
|---|---|
| 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 / 12 | Tube outside diameter in mm (3.2 mm exists on the mini series). |
| M5 / 01 / 02 / 03 / 04 | Thread: M5x0.8, 1/8", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2" (M3 on the mini series). |
| A / B | A = meter-out (controls flow from the thread port to the tube). B = meter-in. |
| D | Black. Blank = grey. |
| -M | Mini series. |
Meter-Out or Meter-In?
- check Meter-out (A) is the default. It throttles the air LEAVING the cylinder, so the piston runs against a back-pressure cushion and moves smoothly.
- check Use meter-out on double-acting cylinders - it is the one AirTAC lists as first priority.
- check Meter-in (B) throttles air ENTERING the cylinder. It suits single-acting cylinders and air motors.
- check Meter-in on a double-acting cylinder tends to give a jerky, stick-slip stroke under varying load.
- check Fit the controller at the cylinder port, not at the valve, so the throttled volume is as small as possible.
Where the Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M Is Used
Lab sample handling arm
A compact spring-return gripper on a benchtop liquid-handling station eases vials into racks without jolting the liquid. Meter-in control matches the single-acting action, and Dia 4 tubing suits the small bore and short travel.
Optics ejector pin
A 12mm bore spring-return ejector taps finished lenses off a moulding fixture. Throttling the inlet on the power stroke stops the pin flicking the lens across the tray, while the spring still returns it quickly.
Appliance gasket press
A single-acting mini cylinder in an assembly cell presses a rubber door gasket home on a washing machine panel. The push-lock cap survives a busy cell: it cannot be nudged off its setting by passing operators or hoses.
Is the Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M the Right Part?
This is the smallest tube size in the whole ladder - there is no Dia 3 below it. If Dia 4 is marginal on flow, step up to Dia 6 in the same mini series (PTL601B-M) or to the standard PTL601B; both share the 1/8in thread, so the fitting on the machine does not change. The meter-in B version suits single-acting cylinders; if you are driving a double-acting cylinder, pick the A (meter-out) variant instead, because meter-in control on a double-acting unit can stick-slip as the load changes. A push-lock cap is the better choice than a knob wherever the controller sits in a trafficked area, since it cannot be knocked out of adjustment by a passing sleeve or cable.
Fit the controller directly at the cylinder port, not back at the valve. The throttle works on the air between the fitting and the actuator, so the shorter that trapped volume, the crisper the response - on a mini part like this, a long tube run can swallow most of the adjustment range.
Quick checklist
- ✓ Tube outside diameter matches exactly
- ✓ Thread size and standard match the port
- ✓ Working pressure within 0 - 1.0 MPa (0 - 10 kgf/cm2)
- ✓ Temperature within -20 to +70 °C
- ✓ Meter-out (A) unless you know you need meter-in
Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M FAQ
Working pressure 0-1.0 MPa (0-10 kgf/cm2), usable under vacuum down to -750 mmHg (10 Torr), proof pressure 1.5 MPa, and an operating temperature of -20 to +70 C. This SKU is the mini push-lock body for Dia 4 soft nylon or polyurethane tube on a 1/8in PT thread, handle-marked B for meter-in flow. The mini series exists only in Dia 4 and Dia 6 with M5 or 1/8in threads, so if you need Dia 8 or larger you move to the standard PTL range.
AirTAC publishes 0.08 N.m as the cap torque for 1/8in push-lock parts like this one - it is a light, finger-tool tightening, not a force fit. The cap works by pressing down to unlock the adjustment ring, turning to set the speed, then releasing so it locks. It is the only torque figure in the PTL kit; the brass threaded port follows ordinary PT sealing practice with sealant tape and does not have a published torque.
Authorized Export Seller
Genuine AirTAC parts produced by AirTAC factory.
1-Year Warranty
Covers non-human-caused product damage.
Fast Dispatch
Standard parts are processed and dispatched in 3-5 business days.
Fast Reply
Most inquiries answered within 7-8 hours.
Related AirTAC Speed Controllers
Request a Quote for Airtac PTL Exhaust Throttle Type Speed Control Valve PTL401B-M
Send us the quantity and destination. We confirm price, stock and lead time — usually within 7-8 hours.