The SMC MXQ8-30P is a compact air slide table developed for applications that require stable linear movement, repeatable positioning, and high rigidity in a limited installation space. It belongs to SMC’s MXQ Series, a well-known family of guided pneumatic actuators that combines a cylinder and linear guide into a single integrated body. This integrated design reduces assembly complexity, improves motion accuracy, and helps machine builders achieve a more compact overall mechanism than they could with a standard cylinder plus a separate external guide.
Compared with ordinary pneumatic cylinders, the MXQ series is intended for jobs where parallelism, perpendicularity, and table stability are important. SMC’s catalog describes the MXQ as an air slide table with a built-in guide structure, and highlights functional options including axial piping, buffer, and end lock arrangements. For the MXQ8-30P, the “8” indicates an 8 mm bore size, the “30” indicates a 30 mm stroke, and the “P” suffix identifies the axial piping type for this bore group.
In practical industrial use, this model is often selected for precision transfer, stopper, small-parts positioning, pick-and-place auxiliary motion, and compact tooling movements. Because the guide and table are integrated into the actuator body, it can support better alignment than a conventional rod cylinder in many short-stroke automation tasks. That makes the MXQ8-30P especially useful in equipment where installation space is limited but motion quality still matters.
Specification Summary
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Product Model | SMC MXQ8-30P |
| Product Series | MXQ Series |
| Product Type | Air Slide Table / Guided Pneumatic Actuator |
| Bore Size | 8 mm |
| Stroke | 30 mm |
| Action | Double acting |
| Fluid | Air |
| Operating Pressure | 0.15 to 0.7 MPa |
| Proof Pressure | 1.05 MPa |
| Operating Speed Range | 50 to 500 mm/s |
| Ambient / Fluid Temperature | -10 to 60°C |
| Port Size | M5 |
| Structural Feature | Integrated guide and table |
| Suffix “P” Meaning | Axial piping type |
| Product Net Weight | About 0.21 kg for the core 8 mm / 30 mm MXQ configuration; exact shipping or assembled weight may vary with options and supplier listing format |
The technical values above are based on SMC’s MXQ series catalog data. In the official series specification table, SMC lists the MXQ8 as an 8 mm bore model with M5 piping, double-acting operation, and an operating pressure range of 0.15 to 0.7 MPa. The catalog’s standard stroke table includes 30 mm as a standard stroke for MXQ8. SMC also identifies axial piping (ø8) as MXQ8-□□P, which supports interpreting MXQ8-30P as the axial-piping configuration of the 8 mm / 30 mm model.
For weight, SMC’s catalog includes a series weight table in grams. In that table, the row for 30 mm stroke and the column sequence for MXQ6, MXQ8, MXQ12, MXQ16, MXQ20, and MXQ25 shows 140 g, 210 g, 380 g, 670 g, 1100 g, and 1750 g respectively, which places the base MXQ8-30 configuration at 210 g. Because the “P” suffix changes the port layout and can vary by option package, the safest commercial wording is “approximately 0.21 kg” unless a buyer needs a supplier-specific shipping weight.
Structural Advantages
A major advantage of the MXQ8-30P is its integrated high-rigidity slide table architecture. Instead of relying on a separate guide rail mounted elsewhere in the machine, the MXQ design places the guide mechanism directly within the actuator assembly. This reduces tolerance stack-up across multiple components and helps maintain more stable motion during repeated cycling. In automation equipment, fewer mechanical interfaces often means easier alignment, faster assembly, and more predictable movement over time.
The axial piping layout is another useful characteristic. SMC specifically identifies the “P” version as the axial-piping form of the MXQ. In many compact machine frames, this can simplify tubing direction, reduce interference around the sides of the actuator, and improve routing in densely packed assemblies. For designers working with narrow work envelopes or stacked mechanical modules, this port orientation can be a practical selection factor, not just a minor variant detail.
The MXQ series is also intended for precise linear travel rather than simple pushing alone. Distributor descriptions for the MXQ series emphasize closely controlled parallelism and perpendicularity, which is why the series is commonly used in precision assembly and handling processes. For users who need a short, repeatable travel path with good rigidity, the MXQ8-30P offers a stronger motion-control platform than a standard compact cylinder performing the same task without guided support.
Performance Value in Automation Systems
In real machine design, an actuator such as the MXQ8-30P is often chosen not only for its stroke and bore, but for how efficiently it fits into the broader equipment layout. The 8 mm bore and 30 mm stroke combination makes it suitable for small and medium light-duty motion tasks where a short, controlled slide movement is more important than long travel. This includes component alignment, indexing assistance, miniature transfer movements, stopper functions, light clamping movement, and assembly positioning support.
Because SMC lists an operating speed range of 50 to 500 mm/s, the MXQ8-30P can be tuned for either moderate-speed stable movement or relatively quick short-stroke cycling, depending on the application and pneumatic circuit. As with similar guided cylinders, proper speed control and load matching are important to maintain accuracy and service life. SMC’s catalog also emphasizes the use of appropriate pneumatic control practices for reliable operation.
Another commercial advantage is platform familiarity. The MXQ series is widely recognized in industrial automation, so maintenance teams, machine builders, and spare-parts purchasers often already understand its role and replacement logic. That reduces specification risk when selecting a guided pneumatic slide table for standard factory equipment. For customers buying replacement parts, this is valuable because the MXQ platform is easier to compare across bore sizes, stroke lengths, and option suffixes.
Product Weight and Selection Significance
The product weight of approximately 0.21 kg is an important practical detail for engineering and purchasing decisions. In moving assemblies, actuator mass affects bracket loading, dynamic response, and the inertia seen by upstream components. A lighter actuator can be helpful when mounted on moving carriages, compact stations, or high-cycle indexing mechanisms. At the same time, the MXQ8-30P still retains the key benefit of a guided table structure, so it offers a good balance between compactness and motion stability.
It is important to distinguish between catalog weight and commercial listing weight. Some third-party sellers publish higher values because they may include accessories, switches, packaging, or logistics handling data. The most technically defensible figure for specification writing is the catalog-derived base weight for the 8 mm / 30 mm core unit, which is 210 g. If a quotation, freight estimate, or packaging calculation is required, the final supplier’s declared shipping weight should be checked separately.
Typical Application Areas
| Industry or Equipment Type | Typical Role of MXQ8-30P |
|---|---|
| Assembly Machines | Precision small-part positioning and guided transfer |
| Packaging Equipment | Stopper movement, lane control, light pushing tasks |
| Electronics Production | Short-stroke guided motion in compact workstations |
| Inspection Fixtures | Controlled approach and repeatable linear movement |
| Automation Jigs | Stable sliding action for tooling support |
| General OEM Machinery | Space-saving guided actuation in modular mechanisms |
In these environments, the MXQ8-30P is valued because it offers guided, repeatable, short-stroke motion in a compact body. It is especially suitable where machine builders need a reliable pneumatic slide table rather than a simple cylinder rod extension. Its integrated guide structure reduces the number of separate mechanical parts required and helps improve functional consistency in repeated industrial cycling.
Conclusion
The SMC MXQ8-30P is a compact, precision-oriented air slide table designed for stable short-stroke linear motion in automation equipment. With its 8 mm bore, 30 mm stroke, double-acting pneumatic operation, and axial piping configuration, it is well suited for machine designs that demand compact structure, cleaner tubing layout, and improved guidance compared with ordinary cylinders. SMC’s catalog data supports a base product weight of approximately 210 g, making it a practical choice for equipment where both rigidity and low moving mass are important.
