1. Operating principle:
- Compressed air is supplied alternately to the front or rear chamber of the cylinder through one of two G1/4″ ports.
- Under air pressure, the piston — fitted with a dual Y-type seal — moves along the barrel, pushing the rod in the desired direction; air from the opposite chamber is expelled through the other port at the same time.
- In the standard configuration, travel is cushioned by an adjustable air cushion at both ends — needle adjustment screws let you tune the rod’s approach speed to the end cap, reducing impact loads and noise.
- The “-S” suffix indicates a magnetic ring built into the piston — it allows the rod’s position to be tracked by contactless reed or solid-state sensors mounted directly in the groove on the cylinder barrel, with no extra brackets needed.
2. Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | DNC-50×160-S |
| Bore diameter | 50 mm |
| Stroke | 160 mm |
| Actuation type | Double-acting, single rod |
| Rod diameter | 20 mm |
| Rod end thread | M16×1.5 |
| Port connection thread | G 1/4″ |
| Working medium | Filtered compressed air |
| Working pressure | 0.1–1.0 MPa (1–10 bar) |
| Proof (test) pressure | 1.5 MPa |
| Rod speed | 50–800 mm/s |
| Temperature range | −5°C … +70°C |
| Cushioning | Adjustable air cushion (standard), cushion stroke ≈ 22 mm |
| Magnetic piston | Yes (“-S” suffix) — compatible with magnetic reed/solid-state position sensors |
| Standard | ISO 15552 (formerly ISO 6431) |
| Interchangeability | Dimensional and functional equivalent to Festo DNC and AirTAC SE of the same bore and stroke |
⚠️ The exact weight of the cylinder is not listed in open XCPC sources. If needed, check with an Acvatron sales manager or the manufacturer’s current PDF catalog.
3. Design Features
Decoding the designation DNC-50×160-S:
| Element | Meaning |
|---|---|
| DNC | XCPC’s standard cylinder series, built to ISO 15552 (ISO 6431) |
| 50 | Bore diameter — 50 mm |
| 160 | Stroke — 160 mm, from the standard stroke range (25/40/50/80/100/125/160/200/250/320/400/500 mm) |
| S | Built-in magnetic ring on the piston, for contactless position control |
Key design solutions:
- Dual Y-type piston seal with wear compensation — provides a low breakaway pressure and longer service life compared to simple O-ring seals.
- Square profile barrel with no external tie rods — improves corrosion resistance compared to classic tie-rod construction, while still keeping connection dimensions within ISO 15552.
- Position sensor groove integrated into the barrel profile — magnetic switches mount directly, with no separate brackets, and can be repositioned along the stroke for precise setting of monitored positions.
- Adjustable cushioning at both stroke ends — reduces impact loads on the end caps and associated mechanical stress when running at higher speeds (up to 800 mm/s).
4. Installation Recommendations
- Don’t allow side (radial) loading on the rod — like all tie-rod/profile-barrel cylinders, the DNC is designed for axial loading; side forces on the rod accelerate wear on the guide bushing and rod seals. For cantilevered loads, use guide rods or a sliding block.
- Choose the mounting style to suit the application — ISO 15552 provides several mounting types for this series: foot mount (LB), front/rear flange (FA/FB), trunnion (TC), clevis (CA) — specify the required mounting type separately when ordering if it’s not included in the base configuration.
- Cushion adjustment — the cushion’s needle adjustment screws are located in the front and rear end caps; adjust with the cylinder running at working pressure, gradually tightening the screw until rod impact on the end cap is eliminated, without excessively slowing useful travel.
- Select a position sensor matched to the cylinder’s magnet — for the “-S” series, standard groove-mounted magnetic reed/solid-state switches are compatible (e.g., D-Z73, DMSE type and similar); confirm the specific sensor model’s compatibility before ordering.
- Do not exceed the rated pressure range (0.1–1.0 MPa working, up to 1.5 MPa proof) — operating above nominal doesn’t extend seal life, it shortens it.
- Account for the air purity requirement — the working medium must be filtered compressed air; using an air preparation unit (FRL) ahead of the cylinder extends seal life.
5. Analogues and Comparison
Direct dimensional and functional interchangeability (confirmed per the ISO 15552 standard):
| Brand | Series | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Festo | DNC | Full — connection and mounting dimensions match per ISO 15552 |
| AirTAC | SE | Full — connection and mounting dimensions match per ISO 15552 |
| SMC | CA2 series (similar size class per ISO 15552) | High — check length against the dimension chart |
| Camozzi | 61M series / 63 series (ISO 15552) | High — check length against the dimension chart |
Interchangeability under ISO 15552 covers connection and mounting dimensions (length, diameter, port and rod threads). Before substituting, still check the position-sensor groove and mounting type — these can differ in detail between manufacturers.
DNC (standard) vs DNCB (booster) — for reference: XCPC also makes a booster version, DNCB, with the same pressure parameters but a different internal construction to increase output force at the same bore — check with a sales manager if the standard DNC’s force output isn’t sufficient for your application.
6. Common Ordering and Installation Mistakes
- Ordering without the “-S” suffix when position sensing is planned — without the built-in magnet, a contactless position sensor cannot be fitted to this cylinder; the “-S” suffix must be specified explicitly in the order.
- Side loading on the rod — attempting to use the cylinder as a guide for sideways movement of a load (without a separate guide) quickly damages the rod seals and bushing.
- Skipping cushion adjustment after installation — the factory setting is approximate; without tuning to the actual load and speed in the system, the rod may impact the end cap at the end of travel.
- Buying a position sensor without checking groove compatibility — not every magnetic switch on the market fits the mounting profile of this cylinder series’ groove.
- Operating with unfiltered air — sharply reduces the service life of the piston and rod seals, despite the wear-compensating seal design.
- Choosing a cylinder by bore alone, without checking the stroke needed for the application — excessive stroke increases the risk of lateral rod buckling under side loads and requires more mounting space; insufficient stroke won’t provide the needed travel for the actuator.
7. Application Areas
The DNC-50×160-S is used in applications requiring controlled linear movement with force output typical of a 50 mm bore and a moderate-to-medium stroke:
- Assembly lines — clamping and positioning operations, part feeding
- Packaging equipment — pushers, diverters, product grouping mechanisms
- Machine tool equipment — pneumatic clamping fixtures, tool feeding
- Industrial robotics and automation — linear motion modules within automated lines
- Lifting and transfer mechanisms — where end-position monitoring via magnetic sensors is needed
8. Expert Opinion
Vitali Boluchevski, Lead Engineer, Acvatron SRL, 18 years of experience:
“The main advantage of the DNC series is the ISO 15552 standard, not a specific brand. In practice, that means if a customer’s Festo DNC or AirTAC SE cylinder of the same bore and stroke fails, in most cases an XCPC DNC-50×160-S can be fitted without reworking the mounting or the tubing — the connection dimensions, port threads, and rod thread all match. I always recommend ordering the “-S” version, even if position sensors aren’t planned right away — the built-in magnet doesn’t affect the cylinder’s operation, but it leaves the option to add position control later without replacing the cylinder itself. And of course, don’t forget to tune the cushioning to the actual load and speed in your system — the factory cushion setting is calibrated for average conditions, not specifically for your case.”
9. FAQ
What does the “-S” suffix mean in DNC-50×160-S? The “-S” suffix means the cylinder is fitted with a magnetic ring built into the piston, which allows rod position to be monitored using magnetic reed or solid-state switches mounted in the groove on the cylinder barrel.
Can a Festo DNC or AirTAC SE cylinder be replaced with an XCPC DNC-50×160-S? Yes, provided the bore diameter and stroke match — the ISO 15552 standard sets uniform connection and mounting dimensions for all manufacturers that comply with it. We recommend also checking the mounting type and position sensor compatibility before substituting.
What position sensors fit this cylinder? Standard groove-mounted magnetic reed or solid-state switches compatible with the ISO 15552 barrel profile (for example, D-Z73, DMSE type and similar). Confirm the exact compatibility of your specific sensor model with our sales team before ordering.
How do I adjust the end-of-stroke cushioning? The needle adjustment screws are located in the front and rear end caps. Adjust at working pressure with the cylinder running, gradually tightening the screw until rod impact on the end cap is eliminated, without excessively slowing useful travel.
What’s the maximum stroke available for the 50 mm bore? The standard stroke range includes values from 25 to 500 mm (including 160 mm on this model); if needed, the manufacturer also offers non-standard strokes in the 10–2000 mm range on request — check lead time and minimum order quantity with our sales team.
