Slide Bearing Guide Cylinder

TCL   VS  MGP - Which Guided Cylinder to Choose

Both series build guiding directly into the cylinder to resist rotation and side load, but they're suited to different jobs:

Series	Guide Structure	Best Suited For
MGP	Dual guide rod	General guided applications across a wide stroke range, where standard anti-rotation and side-load resistance is enough
TCL	Triple guide rod	Short-stroke (5–250 mm) applications needing maximum rigidity - heavy or off-center loads, tight positioning tolerance

If the application needs a longer stroke or standard-duty guiding, MGP is usually the simpler and more economical choice. If the stroke is short and the load is heavy, off-center, or the tolerance is unusually tight, the third guide rod on XCTCL earns its place.

 

What the Triple Rod Structure Changes

• Torque and side load split across three resistance points instead of two. Adding a third rod reduces the load each individual rod has to resist, which keeps rotation and deflection controlled even under heavier or more uneven loading than a dual-rod design is rated for.
• Positioning accuracy holds up over repeated heavy-load cycles. Because no single rod is carrying a disproportionate share of the load, repeatability degrades more slowly over the equipment's service life - relevant for clamping and fixture applications that run the same heavy cycle thousands of times.
• Guide and drive functions are combined in one unit. As with other guided cylinder series, XCTCL eliminates the need for a separate external guide rail, cutting both parts count and alignment work during installation.
• Multiple mounting orientations fit different machine layouts. Bottom, side, and top mounting options are available, so the cylinder can be installed to match existing equipment structure rather than forcing a redesign around it.

 

Technical Specifications

Specification	Details
Product Series	XCTCL / XCTCM
Product Type	Triple rod guided pneumatic cylinder
Cylinder Bore	Ø6 / Ø10 / Ø16 / Ø20 / Ø25 / Ø32 / Ø40 / Ø50 / Ø63 / Ø80 / Ø100 mm
Working Medium	Filtered compressed air
Operating Pressure	0.15–0.7 MPa
Maximum Pressure	1.05 MPa
Working Temperature	-20°C to 70°C
Speed Range	50–500 mm/s
Stroke Range	5–250 mm
Cushion Type	Rubber buffer
Sensor Option	DMSG, CMS

 

Where XCTCL Is Typically Used

1. Industrial automation - assembly machines, pick-and-place systems, and positioning equipment where repeatability under heavy load matters.
2. Electronics manufacturing - PCB assembly, semiconductor equipment, and inspection machines requiring tight, twist-free positioning.
3. Packaging machinery - feeding systems, sorting machines, and material handling running sustained cycle counts.
4. Precision machinery - fixture positioning, clamping systems, and linear motion control where off-center loading is routine.

 

How to Select an XCTCL Cylinder

1. Bore size - eleven options from Ø6 to Ø100 mm; larger bores suit heavier loads and higher torque requirements.
2. Stroke length - select within the 5–250 mm range based on required travel distance; for longer strokes, MGP's dual guide rod structure is the better starting point.
3. Mounting method - top, bottom, or side mounting, chosen to match your existing equipment structure.
4. Sensor requirement - specify a magnetic switch configuration if position detection is needed.

If you're unsure which bore or guide structure fits your load and tolerance requirements, share your load weight, stroke, and positioning tolerance and the right configuration can be confirmed directly.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1.What is a triple rod pneumatic cylinder?

A guided pneumatic actuator with three guide rods instead of the standard two, built for maximum rigidity, anti-rotation performance, and precise positioning under heavier or off-center loads.

 

2.How is TCL different from a dual guide rod cylinder like MGP?

The third guide rod splits torque and side load across three resistance points rather than two, which holds tighter tolerance under heavier or more uneven loading. The tradeoff is stroke range - TCL covers 5–250 mm, while MGP supports a wider stroke range for general guided applications.

 

3.What load conditions call for triple rod guiding instead of dual rod?

Heavy off-center loads, tight repeatability requirements over high cycle counts, or applications where a dual-rod cylinder has shown measurable deflection under the actual working load are the typical triggers for stepping up to a triple rod structure.

 

4.What bore sizes are available?

Eleven standard bores from Ø6 to Ø100 mm, covering light positioning tasks through heavy industrial loads.

 

5.Can TCL cylinders be customized?

Yes - stroke length (within the standard range), mounting orientation, and sensor configuration can all be specified to match your equipment requirements.

Designation and Model Numbering System

Standard Specifications

Bore size (mm)

6

10

12

16

20

25

32

40

50

63

80

100

Action type

Double-acting

Working medium

Air (filtered through a 40μm or finer filter)

Operating pressure range

0.15~0.7MPa(23~100psi)

0.1~1.0MPa(14~145psi)

Proof pressure

1.05MPa(152psi)

1.5MPa(215psi)

Operating temperature

-20~70℃

Operating speed range

50~500mm/s

30~500mm/s

50~400mm/s

Stroke tolerance

Cushion type

Shock Absorber Pad

Non-rotating accuracy ①

Linear bearing

-

±0.08°

±0.07°

±0.06°

±0.05°

±0.04°

Bronze bushing

±1.0°

±0.10°

±0.09°

±0.08°

±0.06°

±0.05°

Port size ②

M3 x 0.05

M5 x 0.8

PT1/8

PT1/4

PT3/8

Magnetic switch

DMSG,CMSG,EMSG

① Non-rotating accuracy refers to the angle of rotation of the cylinder mounting plate when the cylinder is fully retracted;
② Port thread options include G and NPT; Note: XCTC series models are fully equipped with magnets.

stroke

Note: Non-standard stroke cylinders with a stroke differing from the standard by 1–5 mm are modified from the next larger standard-stroke cylinder                and share the same external dimensions.
          For example, a cylinder with an 86 mm stroke is modified from a standard 90 mm stroke cylinder and retains the same external dimensions;
          however, a cylinder with an 84 mm stroke differs from the next larger standard stroke (90 mm) by 6 mm, so it must be ordered as a non-                        standard item.

Fastening method

Bore / Symbol	A	D(Min)
		TCM	TCL
6	20.5	Not required	-
10	23	Not required	-
12	41	8
16	46	10
20	54	12
25	64	14
32	78	18
40	86	18
50	110	22
63	124	22
80	156	30	25
100	188	32	30

Allowable load torque

Bore Size	Model Type	stroke(mm)
		5	10	15	20	25	30	40	50	60	70	75	80	90	100	125	150	175	200	225	250
Maximum permissible lateral load
12	TCM	-	44	-	33	29	26	41	36	30	28	26	25	24	22	19	17	-	-	-	-
	TCL	-	37	-	27	25	22	35	30	27	24	23	21	19	18	15	12	-	-	-	-
16	TCM	-	67	-	51	42	37	63	58	49	41	37	35	33	32	27	24	22	20	-	-
	TCL	-	54	-	40	37	32	54	47	42	38	35	32	30	28	23	20	17	15	-	-
20	TCM	-	-	-	78	61	57	123	112	99	91	67	84	79	75	66	59	54	49	45	42
	TCL	-	-	-	58	52	48	101	90	83	74	70	69	63	58	62	54	48	43	39	35
25	TCM	-	-	-	93	89	76	142	131	119	107	101	97	90	85	68	79	71	65	61	55
	TCL	-	-	-	82	79	68	132	118	109	99	93	88	81	77	80	70	62	55	50	45
32	TCM	-	-	-	-	203	190	179	164	221	197	182	172	163	157	142	127	116	106	98	91
	TCL	-	-	-	-	191	182	166	157	207	178	164	156	150	144	203	186	171	158	146	137
40	TCM	-	-	-	-	203	190	179	164	221	197	182	172	163	159	142	127	116	106	97	91
	TCL	-	-	-	-	190	182	166	157	210	179	163	156	150	144	203	185	171	158	146	137
50	TCM	-	-	-	-	296	283	268	245	303	288	273	266	253	241	216	195	179	164	155	142
	TCL	-	-	-	-	208	196	185	173	259	232	223	212	207	199	264	242	224	207	195	181
63	TCM	-	-	-	-	296	283	268	245	303	288	273	266	253	241	216	195	179	164	153	142
	TCL	-	-	-	-	206	196	180	171	259	232	221	212	205	196	262	240	221	205	191	178
Maximum permissible torque

12	TCM	-	0.90	-	0.79	0.71	0.65	0.77	0.72	0.65	0.53	0.50	0.47	0.41	0.36	0.31	0.27	-	-	-	-
	TCL	-	0.61	-	0.45	0.40	0.35	0.58	0.50	0.44	0.39	0.37	0.35	0.32	0.29	0.24	0.20	-	-	-	-
16	TCM	-	1.21	-	1.04	0.94	0.88	1.23	1.11	0.99	0.72	0.69	0.65	0.61	0.58	0.50	0.44	0.40	0.36	-	-
	TCL	-	0.99	-	0.74	0.66	0.59	0.99	0.86	0.77	0.69	0.65	0.61	0.57	0.52	0.43	0.37	0.32	0.28	-	-
20	TCM	-	-	-	1.57	1.42	1.31	2.39	2.15	1.97	1.90	1.88	1.86	1.72	1.63	1.44	1.28	1.16	1.06	1.01	0.90
	TCL	-	-	-	1.26	1.14	1.03	2.17	1.94	1.79	1.59	1.52	1.46	1.33	1.25	1.34	1.17	1.03	0.93	0.88	0.76
25	TCM	-	-	-	2.40	2.22	2.01	3.66	3.35	3.17	3.06	2.96	2.91	2.77	2.57	2.26	2.02	1.83	1.67	1.57	1.42
	TCL	-	-	-	2.11	1.96	1.75	3.37	3.02	2.71	2.42	2.38	2.33	2.19	1.97	2.05	1.78	1.58	1.41	1.22	1.16
32	TCM	-	-	-	-	6.35	6.00	5.73	5.13	5.98	5.74	5.69	5.62	5.11	4.97	4.42	3.98	3.61	3.31	2.97	2.84
	TCL	-	-	-	-	5.95	5.73	5.11	4.89	5.43	5.15	5.11	5.02	4.70	4.51	6.34	5.79	5.33	4.93	4.33	4.29
40	TCM	-	-	-	-	7.00	6.60	6.11	5.66	6.66	6.31	6.27	6.23	5.86	5.48	4.78	4.38	3.98	3.65	3.34	3.13
	TCL	-	-	-	-	6.55	6.21	5.77	5.39	6.17	5.67	5.62	5.58	5.33	4.96	6.98	6.38	5.87	5.43	5.00	4.72
50	TCM	-	-	-	-	13.00	12.60	11.00	10.80	13.70	12.70	12.00	11.80	11.10	10.80	9.50	8.60	7.86	7.24	6.80	6.24
	TCL	-	-	-	-	9.17	8.75	8.30	7.62	10.30	9.94	9.83	9.77	8.82	8.74	11.60	10.70	9.83	9.12	8.95	7.95
63	TCM	-	-	-	-	14.70	13.60	12.90	12.10	19.40	16.20	13.50	12.70	12.10	11.90	10.70	9.69	8.86	8.16	7.52	7.04
	TCL	-	-	-	-	10.20	9.74	9.20	8.48	17.50	14.00	11.00	10.60	10.20	9.74	13.00	11.90	11.00	10.20	9.63	8.84
80	TCM	-	-	-	-	21.9	-	-	18.6	-	-	22.9	-	-	20.5	18.6	17	15.6	14.5	-	12.6
	TCL	-	-	-	-	15.1	-	-	23.3	-	-	22.7	-	-	20.6	18.9	17.3	16	14.8	-	12.9
100	TCM	-	-	-	-	38.8	-	-	33.5	-	-	37.5	-	-	33.8	30.9	28.4	26.2	24.4	-	21.4
	TCL	-	-	-	-	27.1	-	-	30.6	-	-	37.5	-	-	34.6	31.8	29.3	27.2	25.3	-	22.1

Internal structure

Outline Dimensions (mm)

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