Small and flexible: Clamping cylinders with guide of the MLGP series stop in any stroke position

The clamping cylinder with guide of the MLGP series is up to 17% lighter than the predecessor model due to its compact design, offers high performance through a variety of strokes, and can be stopped in any stroke position. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

Whether in general automation or in specialized areas such as the automotive industry: To achieve uniform lifting, stopping under load, or minimizing plate misalignment, guide cylinder clamps are used. Engineers are always faced with the challenge of combining performance with compact machine design and high process safety. With the MLGP series, SMC meets this requirement profile and goes even further: Among other things, the extensive and simple mounting options provide additional flexibility, and the advantageous properties of the clamping mechanism make stopping at any stroke position possible.

From pressing to lifting to clamping: For a wide range of applications, engineers rely on pneumatic guide cylinders with clamping. They must not only ensure high process safety but also ensure that machine designs are compact and flexible, with minimal effort for installation and maintenance. To this end, SMC, the specialist for pneumatic and electrical automation, provides a versatile solution: The guide cylinder with clamp of the MLGP series covers an extensive application portfolio, ensures safe material handling thanks to a reliable clamping mechanism, offers extensive mounting options, and is particularly small and lightweight.

Slim tandem for various strokes

The combination of guide cylinder and clamping unit has been optimized: Through the new development of the cylinder housing, guide rods, front plate, piston rod, pressure ring, and cylinder cover, the weight has been reduced by up to 17%. Thus, from a piston diameter of 32 mm, the overhang of the guide rod is up to 22 mm shorter than the previous model – with a piston diameter of 20 and 25 mm and a stroke of 25 mm, there is no overhang. This allows engineers to achieve a particularly compact, space-saving, and lightweight machine design, which also reduces costs.

Users can choose from standard strokes of 20 to 350 mm depending on the piston diameter of 20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63, 80, and 100 mm for the double-acting cylinder. In manufacturing with spacer disks, intermediate strokes are possible in steps of 1 mm (1 to 349 mm) for piston diameters of 20 to 32 mm, and in steps of 5 mm (5 to 345 mm, or 25 to 345 mm for piston diameter 100 mm) for piston diameters of 40 to 100 mm. Additionally, thanks to the lifetime-lubricated property and elastic damping on both sides, high durability of the cylinders is guaranteed.

Safely stop at any stroke position

The MLGP series features a simple yet reliable clamping mechanism that operates via a spring and retaining ring: In the unpressurized state, the retaining ring is inclined in the load direction by spring force, and the inclination is reinforced by the resulting load, securely locking the piston rod. When pressure is reapplied, the retaining ring positions itself at a right angle to the piston rod, creating a gap between the two, allowing the piston rod to move freely again. This protects against falling workpieces in case of pressure loss or residual pressure release. Using a screw for piston diameters of 20 to 32 mm and a flat screwdriver for diameters of 40 to 100 mm, manual unlocking is quick and easy. The clamping direction can be set either in extension or retraction direction, with a maximum holding force of 157 N (for piston diameter 20 mm) up to 3927 N (for piston diameter 100 mm). This ensures high process safety overall, and stopping at any stroke position is possible.

Flexible in mounting, connection, and maintenance

The guide cylinder with clamp of the MLGP series can be mounted in four different ways to suit the application: lying down with through-hole at the top, with threaded hole at the bottom, or with T-slot at the bottom, or standing with threaded hole at the bottom. Additionally, positioning holes on three sides facilitate mounting on the plate, laterally, or underneath, enabling easy positioning. Engineers also have flexibility for electronic signal transmitters, magnetically resistant electronic sensors, or reed switches, which can be connected directly at the top or side. The omission of additional fastening elements reduces the number of spare parts. Finally, the MLGP series is available from stock in two guide variants: with slide guide, which offers particularly high wear resistance and is suitable for heavy loads, or with ball guide, which ensures high precision and smooth operation. Together, this not only simplifies assembly but also maintenance, increases flexibility, and saves time and costs.