The FESTO 8002256 LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA is a pressure regulator designed for pneumatic systems that require stable outlet pressure, reliable air preparation, and practical integration into industrial automation equipment. Official Festo technical data identifies this model as LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA, a MIDI-size regulator from the D series, with a G3/8 port, pressure regulation range of 0.5 to 12 bar, operating pressure up to 16 bar, and a standard nominal flow rate of 3200 l/min. The same official Festo documentation also lists a product weight of 660 g for this exact model.
In practical automation, a pressure regulator is one of the most important air-preparation components in the pneumatic chain. Cylinders, valves, grippers, and rotary actuators all depend on stable compressed-air conditions to work consistently. If inlet pressure fluctuates or downstream pressure is not controlled correctly, system performance becomes unpredictable. The LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA is designed to address that problem by maintaining a constant outlet pressure, with upstream pressure compensation and secondary exhaust, according to Festo’s official datasheet. That makes it suitable for machine builders and maintenance teams who need dependable pressure control in real industrial service rather than only in laboratory conditions.
Key Technical Data
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | FESTO |
| Part Number | 8002256 |
| Model | LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA |
| Product Type | Pressure regulator |
| Size | MIDI |
| Series | D |
| Port Size | G3/8 |
| Operating Pressure | 0 to 16 bar |
| Pressure Regulation Range | 0.5 to 12 bar |
| Standard Nominal Flow Rate | 3200 l/min |
| Pressure Indicator | With pressure gauge |
| Design | Direct-acting diaphragm regulating valve |
| Regulator Function | Constant output pressure |
| Upstream Pressure Compensation | Yes |
| Secondary Exhaust | Yes |
| Operating Medium | Compressed air to ISO 8573-1:2010 [7:4:4], inert gases |
| Product Net Weight | 660 g |
| Mounting Position | Optional |
| Actuation Lock | Rotary knob with locking mechanism |
| Corrosion Resistance Class | CRC 2 |
| Product Lifecycle Note | Classic product, not recommended for new designs |
The table above is based on current Festo catalog documentation and the product datasheet for part number 8002256.
Product Overview
The LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA belongs to Festo’s established LR pressure-regulator family. This product is intended to reduce and stabilize compressed-air pressure at the point where controlled pneumatic energy is needed. In a typical industrial machine, supply air pressure is often higher than the pressure actually required by the actuator circuit. A regulator like this allows the designer or maintenance engineer to set the output pressure to an appropriate level, helping protect downstream components, improve process consistency, and avoid unnecessary air consumption. That is the basic task of any regulator, but the LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA is built as a serious industrial component rather than a light-duty accessory. Its 3200 l/min nominal flow rate and 12 bar regulation range clearly place it in a practical, medium-to-high-flow class.
Festo specifies the internal construction as a direct-acting diaphragm regulating valve. This is important because regulator design influences sensitivity, control stability, and response to pressure fluctuations. A diaphragm-based regulator is widely used in industrial pneumatics because it provides dependable control behavior across mainstream machine applications. Festo also states that the regulator provides constant output pressure, upstream pressure compensation, and secondary exhaust. In practical terms, that means the regulator is designed not only to lower pressure, but also to maintain it more consistently when inlet conditions vary and to relieve downstream overpressure when necessary.
Pressure Control Performance
The most commercially important figure for this model is its pressure regulation range of 0.5 to 12 bar. That is wider than the 0.5 to 7 bar versions in the same family, and it gives the LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA more flexibility in systems where higher regulated pressure is required. Festo’s catalog clearly distinguishes this model from the “-7” variants, and the difference is not trivial. In applications involving more demanding cylinders, specific clamping force requirements, or process circuits that need a higher working setpoint, the 12 bar regulator version is the more appropriate choice.
The operating pressure up to 16 bar also matters because it tells the user that the regulator is intended to handle mainstream industrial compressed-air supply conditions with margin. At the same time, the regulator is not being presented as a specialty ultra-high-pressure device. It sits in the normal industrial range where most pneumatic machines operate. That makes it suitable for automation, packaging, assembly, handling, and general plant-air systems where a G3/8 regulator with strong throughput is needed. This application positioning is an inference, but it is directly supported by the published pressure and flow data.
Flow Capacity and System Suitability
With a standard nominal flow rate of 3200 l/min, the LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA is clearly not a miniature regulator for low-flow bench equipment. This is a regulator built for machine-level pneumatic demand. Flow performance in this range makes it relevant for larger cylinder groups, valve islands, modular air-preparation assemblies, and systems where downstream consumption is significant. If the regulator is undersized, pressure drop under load becomes a real problem. A properly sized regulator helps preserve response quality and actuator performance. The published 3200 l/min value indicates that the LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA is intended for applications where meaningful air throughput is required without moving immediately into a physically much larger regulator class.
The G3/8 port size reinforces that conclusion. G3/8 is a common industrial connection size that sits comfortably between compact and heavy-duty pneumatic layouts. It is often selected when the system needs more capacity than G1/4 can offer, but does not justify the space or fitting size of G1/2 or larger. In other words, the LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA targets a practical middle range of industrial pneumatic design.
Mechanical Design and Ease of Use
Festo specifies that this model uses a rotary knob with locking mechanism. That is a small detail, but in real factory use it matters. Pressure settings should not be easy to change accidentally. A locking regulator knob helps prevent unintentional adjustments during operation, cleaning, or maintenance activity. For production equipment, stable settings are often as important as the regulator’s nominal performance.
The regulator also includes a pressure gauge as part of the product configuration, as indicated by the “MPA” version in the current Festo datasheet. This improves usability because the operator can read the regulated pressure locally without needing separate instrumentation just to confirm the setpoint. That is especially useful during commissioning, troubleshooting, and routine service checks. In many machines, visual confirmation of downstream pressure saves time and avoids unnecessary diagnostic work.
Festo lists the mounting position as optional, which gives designers flexibility when integrating the regulator into air-preparation units, machine frames, or distribution assemblies. This is not a product that demands a narrow installation orientation, and that simplifies replacement planning in existing machines as well as integration into new or updated layouts.
Product Weight and Construction Value
Your requirement specifically includes weight, and for the FESTO 8002256 LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA, Festo’s catalog documentation lists the product weight as 660 g. That figure is important because it places the regulator clearly in the industrial MIDI class: substantial enough to reflect a robust metal-bodied pneumatic component, but still compact enough for practical installation in machine-level assemblies.
From an engineering perspective, 660 g is consistent with a G3/8 pressure regulator offering 3200 l/min flow and integrated gauge functionality. It is not an ultra-light mini regulator, and it is not an oversized heavy line-service regulator either. It sits in a commercially useful middle segment. That matters because air-preparation hardware often has to balance three things at once: flow capacity, physical size, and installation weight. The LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA appears well positioned in that balance. This last point is interpretation, but it is grounded in the published size, port, flow, and weight figures.
Operating Medium and Industrial Use Conditions
According to Festo’s datasheet, the LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA is suitable for compressed air according to ISO 8573-1:2010 [7:4:4] and also for inert gases. That broadens its usefulness beyond only the most basic plant-air applications. Festo also notes that lubricated operation is possible, but once lubrication is used, it remains necessary in subsequent operation. That is standard pneumatic practice and relevant for maintenance planning.
Festo classifies the regulator with CRC 2, meaning moderate corrosion stress, which is appropriate for normal industrial environments. The product is also marked in one official datasheet variant as Classic – not for new designs, indicating that while the model remains identifiable and technically valid, Festo positions it more as an established legacy-family component than as the preferred choice for brand-new platform development. That lifecycle note matters for procurement and long-term planning.
Typical Application Areas
| Application Area | Why This Model Fits |
|---|---|
| General pneumatic machinery | Stable regulated outlet pressure for downstream air circuits |
| Packaging equipment | Good flow capacity for cylinders and valve groups |
| Assembly automation | Precise pressure setting with visible gauge indication |
| Handling systems | G3/8 size and 3200 l/min throughput suit medium-demand circuits |
| Maintenance and retrofit work | Established Festo LR family, clear part-number identification |
These applications are consistent with the published pressure range, flow rating, port size, and regulator function.
Why This Model Has Practical Value
The real value of the LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA is not that it is complicated. It is that it solves a common industrial problem well: keeping outlet pressure stable in a pneumatic system that must work repeatably. The combination of 0.5 to 12 bar regulation, 3200 l/min nominal flow, G3/8 connection, integrated gauge, locking rotary knob, and 660 g product weight makes it a practical regulator for real machine service.
For buyers and engineers, this also means the model is easy to specify. The part number 8002256 is directly tied to a clear regulator configuration, and the published technical values make it straightforward to compare with adjacent LR variants. That is useful in both spare-parts sourcing and technical replacement work.
Conclusion
The FESTO 8002256 LR-3/8-D-MIDI-MPA is a robust MIDI-size pressure regulator for industrial pneumatic systems that need stable outlet pressure, solid flow performance, and practical installation features. Official Festo data identifies it as a G3/8 regulator with 0.5 to 12 bar pressure regulation range, up to 16 bar operating pressure, 3200 l/min standard nominal flow rate, direct-acting diaphragm design, integrated pressure gauge, and a product weight of 660 g. It is a technically sound choice for machine builders, maintenance teams, and parts buyers who need a dependable FESTO regulator in a proven industrial configuration.
