The SMC MXS20-50 is a compact air slide table designed for applications that require accurate linear motion, stable load support, and a more integrated structure than a standard pneumatic cylinder with an external guide. In SMC’s official MXS catalog, the MXS series is presented as an Air Slide Table with the work table and air cylinder integrated into one compact unit, using a dual piston rod design and a guide structure intended to support precision assembly and transfer duties.
For machine builders and maintenance engineers, the value of the MXS20-50 is practical rather than abstract. This model is built to provide 50 mm stroke, 20 mm bore size, and a guided linear platform that can carry a mounted workpiece with better positional stability than an unguided cylinder alone. The series is intended for compact automation tasks where repeatability, rigidity, and easy workpiece mounting matter, such as pick-and-place stations, clamping-transfer modules, indexing support units, and light assembly fixtures. SMC also shows the MXS family as suitable for precision assembly applications and highlights features such as integrated construction, work mounting threads, and improved workpiece mounting repeatability from the dual rod arrangement.
Product Overview
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Brand | SMC |
| Model | MXS20-50 |
| Product Type | Air Slide Table |
| Series | MXS |
| Bore Size | 20 mm |
| Stroke | 50 mm |
| Action | Double acting |
| Fluid | Air |
| Operating Pressure | 0.15 to 0.7 MPa |
| Proof Pressure | 1.05 MPa |
| Ambient and Fluid Temperature | -10 to 60°C |
| Average Operating Speed Range | 50 to 500 mm/s |
| Lubrication | Non-lube |
| Cushion | Rubber bumper standard, shock absorber optional |
| Piping Port Size | Rc 1/8, NPT 1/8, G 1/8 |
| Reference Weight | 1,630 g |
| Weight Basis | Standard type, 20 mm bore, 50 mm stroke |
Product Weight
For your product page, the correct reference statement is:
Product Weight: Approx. 1.63 kg
SMC’s official weight table for the MXS series lists MXS20 at 50 mm stroke with a standard weight of 1,630 g. The same table also shows separate additional weights for adjuster options and functional options, which means the quoted 1,630 g is the base standard configuration and not a fully optioned version with every accessory included.
That distinction matters in real sales and logistics work. If the customer selects options such as shock absorbers, end lock, or buffer-related functional variants, the delivered mass will increase beyond the base figure. SMC’s table explicitly shows additional option weight values for the MXS20 size, so the safest wording for a general commercial description is “approx. 1.63 kg” rather than presenting it as an absolute shipping weight for every suffix combination.
Core Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Bore size | 20 mm |
| Stroke | 50 mm |
| Port size | Rc 1/8, NPT 1/8, G 1/8 |
| Operating medium | Air |
| Actuation | Double acting |
| Operating pressure | 0.15 to 0.7 MPa |
| Proof pressure | 1.05 MPa |
| Temperature range | -10 to 60°C |
| Speed range | 50 to 500 mm/s |
| Standard cushion | Rubber bumper |
| Optional cushion | Shock absorber |
| Lubrication | Non-lube |
| Stroke length tolerance | +1 / 0 mm |
These values come directly from the current SMC MXS catalog and define the standard operating envelope of the series. For users selecting the MXS20-50 in machinery, this means the product is engineered for typical industrial pneumatic systems rather than for vacuum-only service, hydraulic operation, or ultra-high-speed impact duty beyond catalog conditions.
What the MXS20-50 Actually Is
The MXS20-50 should not be described merely as a “guided cylinder.” That wording is too broad. In SMC’s product structure, this is an air slide table, which means the actuator and the guide mechanism are packaged as a compact integrated motion unit. The series uses a dual piston rod arrangement, and SMC specifically states that the dual rod design ensures output roughly twice that of current cylinders in this format. For the 20 mm bore, the theoretical output shown by SMC reaches 628 N in the OUT direction at 0.5 MPa and 471 N in the IN direction at 0.5 MPa, with the table listing outputs across the full pressure range from 0.2 to 0.7 MPa.
That integrated construction is one of the main reasons the MXS family is widely used in automation equipment. Instead of combining a cylinder, guide, intermediate brackets, and work table into a custom assembly, the designer gets a single compact module with defined mounting features. This reduces tolerance stack-up, simplifies installation, and generally improves consistency during machine build. SMC also notes practical design features such as threaded work mounting locations and improved repeatability for workpiece mounting.
Main Advantages
| Feature | Practical Benefit |
|---|---|
| Integrated table and cylinder construction | Reduces assembly complexity and saves space |
| Dual piston rod design | Improves stability and increases output |
| 50 mm stroke | Suitable for short to medium linear transfer tasks |
| 20 mm bore | Good balance between compact size and usable thrust |
| Standard weight 1.63 kg | Easy to integrate into compact machine frames |
| Non-lube specification | Simplifies maintenance requirements |
| Optional shock absorber | Better deceleration control for certain applications |
| Standardized SMC platform | Easier replacement and spare-parts planning |
One of the strongest selling points of the MXS20-50 is compact rigidity. In many automation projects, a standard cylinder can generate enough force but still performs poorly when the load must remain flat, stable, and accurately supported during movement. The MXS design addresses that problem by combining linear actuation with a guided table body. As a result, it is much better suited for mounting sensors, tooling, grippers, stops, and light fixtures directly on the moving platform. This is why the product is commonly specified for precision assembly, component transfer, and small automation stations rather than simple push-only motion.
Dimensional and Mechanical Context
The MXS20-50 belongs to the 20 mm bore size group in the MXS family, and SMC’s catalog shows that this size range supports standard strokes extending well beyond 50 mm, including 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 125, and 150 mm. That matters because it places the MXS20-50 in the middle of the available stroke range rather than at an extreme. In practical terms, a 50 mm version is often selected when the machine needs useful travel without moving to a longer body that consumes more installation space.
The catalog also makes clear that option weights are separate from the standard body weight. For the MXS20 size, SMC lists additional masses for rubber stopper and shock absorber adjuster options, as well as functional options such as with buffer and with end lock. That means model suffixes matter. A buyer asking for “MXS20-50” in general usually means the standard model, but once suffixes are added, the exact delivered configuration changes mechanically and in mass.
Application Scenarios
The SMC MXS20-50 is well suited for automated systems that need a part or tooling plate to move linearly with controlled guidance over a short travel. Typical applications include:
| Application | Why MXS20-50 Fits |
|---|---|
| Pick-and-place stations | Stable guided motion for part transfer |
| Precision assembly modules | Better mounting accuracy than unguided cylinders |
| Stopper or positioning units | Short stroke with rigid slide structure |
| Compact handling equipment | Integrated body helps save machine space |
| Sensor or tooling carriers | Flat work table supports direct mounting |
| Packaging and light transfer systems | Reliable double-acting pneumatic motion |
This model is especially attractive where machine space is limited and the designer wants fewer separate mechanical parts. Because the air cylinder and slide table are integrated, the MXS20-50 can often replace a more complicated custom arrangement involving guide rods, adapter plates, and floating couplings. That usually shortens assembly time and reduces alignment work during installation.
Selection Notes
When specifying this model for procurement or resale, it is best to keep the description technically precise:
SMC MXS20-50 Air Slide Table, 20 mm bore, 50 mm stroke, standard weight approx. 1.63 kg
That wording is better than saying only “SMC cylinder” or “linear actuator,” because those phrases are too generic and do not reflect the guided-table construction that defines the product. It is also important to confirm whether the customer needs a standard type, axial piping type, buffer type, end lock type, or switch-equipped variant. SMC’s ordering structure shows that these suffixes exist and can materially change the final configuration.
Conclusion
The SMC MXS20-50 is a compact, guided air slide table built for stable linear motion in industrial automation. Its official base specifications include 20 mm bore, 50 mm stroke, double-acting air operation, 0.15 to 0.7 MPa operating pressure, 50 to 500 mm/s average operating speed, and non-lube construction. For product listing and quotation purposes, the most reliable weight statement is approximately 1.63 kg, based on SMC’s standard weight table for the base MXS20-50 model.
