The FESTO 532318 DFM-32-250-B-P-A-GF is a guided pneumatic drive designed for industrial linear motion tasks that require a longer stroke, reliable guidance, and better resistance to side loads than a standard rod cylinder can usually provide. In Festo’s product structure, this model belongs to the DFM-B series, a family of guided drives that combine pneumatic actuation with an integrated guide unit. For this exact model, the official Festo documentation identifies a 32 mm piston diameter, 250 mm stroke, double-acting operating mode, plain-bearing guide, proximity-switch position detection, and an operating pressure range of 1.5 to 10 bar.
Product Overview
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Brand | FESTO |
| Part Number | 532318 |
| Model | DFM-32-250-B-P-A-GF |
| Product Type | Guided pneumatic drive |
| Series | DFM-B |
| Piston Diameter | 32 mm |
| Stroke | 250 mm |
| Mode of Operation | Double-acting |
| Guide Type | Plain-bearing guide |
| Cushioning | P cushioning, with pneumatic cushioning variant listed in DFM-B documentation |
| Position Detection | Via proximity switch |
| Operating Pressure | 1.5 to 10 bar |
| Operating Medium | Compressed air to ISO 8573-1:2010 [7:4:4] |
| Product Net Weight | 6259 g |
| Moving Mass | 3164 g |
The official DFM-B datasheet shows that for the 32 mm piston and 250 mm stroke version with plain-bearing guide GF and cushioning P/PPV, the product weight is 6259 g, and the moving mass is 3164 g. The same documentation also states that the drive uses compressed air according to ISO 8573-1:2010 [7:4:4], and that position detection is achieved via proximity switch.
What This Product Is
The DFM-32-250-B-P-A-GF is not a simple air cylinder with an attached bracket. It is a purpose-built guided actuator for applications where the moving load must remain better aligned throughout the stroke. That distinction matters in industrial automation. A conventional pneumatic cylinder can generate linear force efficiently, but when the payload introduces eccentric load, transverse force, or a turning moment, external guidance is often necessary. The DFM-B concept addresses that directly by integrating the actuator and guide in one engineered assembly. Festo classifies the product as a guided drive, and the documentation separates it clearly from standard cylinders because its mechanical role is broader than just extending and retracting a piston rod.
The GF suffix identifies the plain-bearing guide version. That is significant because guide type affects wear behavior, tolerance to contamination, permissible applications, and suitability for different load conditions. Festo’s documentation also notes that when the device is used as a stopper cylinder, only the versions with plain-bearing guide GF may be used, which shows that the guide variant is not a minor naming detail but a real selection parameter.
Main Technical Characteristics
| Technical Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Piston diameter | 32 mm |
| Stroke | 250 mm |
| Drive principle | Yoke |
| Guide | Plain-bearing guide |
| Design | Guidance |
| Mode of operation | Double-acting |
| Operating pressure | 0.15 MPa to 1 MPa |
| Pressure in bar | 1.5 bar to 10 bar |
| Position sensing | Via proximity switch |
| Operating medium | Compressed air to ISO 8573-1:2010 [7:4:4] |
| Product net weight | 6259 g |
| Moving mass | 3164 g |
| Max. impact energy in end positions for piston 32, cushioning P | 0.40 J |
These values come from the official Festo datasheets for part number 532318 and the DFM-B series technical documentation. For the 32 mm size in the DFM-B family, the theoretical force at 0.6 MPa (6 bar) is listed as 482 N advancing and 415 N retracting, which gives a useful reference for general sizing and application planning. The same series documentation lists the maximum impact energy in the end positions for the 32 mm piston with cushioning P as 0.40 J.
Product Weight and Why It Matters
A key requirement in your request is the product weight, and for this model the official value is 6259 g, or approximately 6.259 kg. That is not a trivial catalog detail. It tells you immediately that this is a substantial guided actuator intended for real industrial duty rather than a light miniature slide. In practical terms, the weight affects packaging, freight calculation, support-frame design, mounting hardware selection, and total moving system mass when the actuator becomes part of a larger machine assembly.
The official series documentation also provides a moving mass of 3164 g for the same 32 mm / 250 mm configuration. That figure is particularly useful for motion design because it helps engineers assess deceleration behavior, cushioning requirements, end-position impact, and the effect of payload on cycle dynamics. For procurement teams, the weight data also improves the accuracy of quotations and shipping estimates. For e-commerce or B2B listings, including the exact official weight improves credibility and reduces technical ambiguity for buyers comparing guided drives from different brands.
Why the 250 mm Stroke Version Is Distinct
A 250 mm stroke changes the application profile significantly compared with shorter guided drives. Short-stroke guided actuators are often chosen for clamping, stopping, separating, or indexing. A 250 mm version is more relevant where a longer controlled travel is required, but where the user still wants the structural advantages of an integrated guide. This makes the DFM-32-250-B-P-A-GF suitable for transfer movements, feeder motions, pick-and-place sub-travel, workpiece positioning, and handling operations in which alignment over a longer distance matters. The DFM-B documentation shows dedicated technical tables for long-stroke versions, including product weight, moving mass, and deflection/load considerations, which indicates that long-stroke guided drives are treated as a distinct engineering case rather than just a longer version of the same small actuator.
Festo also publishes deflection and permissible-load information for the DFM-B family, including references specifically covering longer strokes such as 250 to 400 mm. That is important because a long-stroke guided actuator must be evaluated not only by force and stroke, but also by deflection behavior and side-load conditions. This is exactly the kind of actuator selected when a designer wants more control over carriage alignment than a simple cylinder can provide.
Typical Industrial Applications
| Application Area | Why This Model Fits |
|---|---|
| Material transfer systems | Long guided stroke supports stable linear motion |
| Assembly machinery | Suitable for controlled part movement with alignment |
| Packaging equipment | Useful where payload guidance matters over longer travel |
| Workpiece handling | Better suited than a plain cylinder for eccentric loads |
| Stopper and positioning units | Plain-bearing guide version is specifically relevant in stopper use cases |
| General factory automation | Appropriate for robust pneumatic linear motion tasks |
In practical machine building, this model is well suited to applications where the tooling or payload is mounted directly to the moving plate and where the system cannot tolerate excessive wobble or rotational play. The integrated guide reduces the need for separate external guide rods in many layouts, which can simplify assembly and reduce alignment work. The plain-bearing GF guide can also be advantageous in certain industrial environments where robustness and function take priority over ultra-low-friction rolling guidance.
Selection Considerations
When selecting the FESTO 532318 DFM-32-250-B-P-A-GF, the buyer should verify the complete designation rather than relying on partial code matching. In this series, the model string carries real technical meaning: 32 identifies the piston diameter, 250 the stroke, B the DFM-B generation, P the cushioning type, and GF the plain-bearing guide version. Changing any one of those elements can result in a materially different actuator. This matters in aftermarket replacement and export supply, where ordering by appearance alone is a common source of mistakes.
Another point worth noting is operating medium quality. Festo specifies compressed air to ISO 8573-1:2010 [7:4:4]. That means the actuator is designed around standard industrial compressed air quality assumptions, and the condition of the air supply will affect service life and performance. The stated operating pressure range of 1.5 to 10 bar also provides a broad working window for integration into standard pneumatic systems.
Commercial Value for Product Listings
From a search and product-page perspective, the DFM-32-250-B-P-A-GF is a strong industrial identifier because it contains the essential technical description directly in the model code. Buyers often search by exact part number, by full model string, or by major attributes such as guided drive, 32 mm, 250 mm stroke, and Festo. A well-built English product description should therefore include the complete designation, the actuator category, the official weight, the stroke, the piston size, and the guide type. That combination improves relevance for technical buyers while keeping the listing aligned with the manufacturer’s terminology.
Conclusion
The FESTO 532318 DFM-32-250-B-P-A-GF is a long-stroke guided pneumatic drive built for industrial linear motion applications where alignment, guidance, and stable load handling are essential. It features a 32 mm piston diameter, 250 mm stroke, double-acting operation, plain-bearing GF guide, proximity-switch sensing, and an operating pressure range of 1.5 to 10 bar. The official Festo documentation gives this exact model a product weight of 6259 g and a moving mass of 3164 g, confirming that it is a substantial actuator suited to real machine-duty applications rather than light-duty pneumatic work. For industrial buyers, machine builders, and maintenance teams, it is a solid choice when a standard cylinder is not enough and a guided solution is required.
