The SMC CDRB1BW80-270S is a vane type pneumatic rotary actuator designed for applications that require stable angular movement, compact installation, and long service life in industrial automation systems. Within the SMC CRB1/CDRB1 family, this configuration combines an 80 mm body size, a 270 degree single-vane rotation range, a basic mounting style, and a double shaft design with long shaft key and four chamfers. The official SMC configurator for the CRB1 family also confirms that this series is intended for compact, space-saving rotary motion, supports direct mounting, offers side or axial port arrangements, and allows unrestricted auto switch mounting positions.
In practical machine building, the CDRB1BW80-270S is a useful choice when a designer needs more than a short indexing angle but does not want the complexity, cost, or footprint of an electric rotary axis. A 270 degree pneumatic actuator is often selected for turning stations, diverter mechanisms, part transfer arms, opening and closing fixtures, and orientation devices in packaging, assembly, and material handling lines. Compared with simpler 90 degree or 180 degree rotary motions, the 270 degree range offers greater flexibility for mechanical linkage design and can simplify equipment layouts where the workpiece or attached tooling must move through a wider sweep. The CRB1/CDRB1 series is explicitly presented by SMC as a vane type rotary actuator with compact construction, direct mounting capability, high reliability, and selectable port locations.
Technical Summary
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Brand | SMC |
| Model | CDRB1BW80-270S |
| Product Category | Pneumatic rotary actuator |
| Series | CRB1 / CDRB1 |
| Actuation Principle | Vane type |
| Mounting Style | Basic |
| Shaft Type | Double shaft, long shaft key and four chamfers |
| Body Size | 80 mm |
| Rotation Angle | 270° |
| Vane Style | Single vane |
| Fluid | Air, non-lube |
| Proof Pressure | 1.5 MPa |
| Operating Pressure Range | 0.15 to 1.0 MPa |
| Ambient and Fluid Temperature | 5 to 60°C |
| Rotation Time Adjustment Range | 0.1 to 1 s / 90° |
| Allowable Kinetic Energy | 0.398 J |
| Allowable Radial Load | 490 N |
| Allowable Thrust Load | 490 N |
| Port Location | Side ported or axial ported |
| Port Size | 1/8 or 1/4 depending on size / configuration table |
| Mounting Options in Series | Basic, Foot |
| Volume for 270° Single Vane Size 80 | 188 cm³ |
| Published Main Body Net Weight | 1950 g |
| Auto Switch Unit + 2 Auto Switches | +95 g |
| Foot Bracket Assembly | +993 g |
The data above comes from the official SMC CRB1 catalog and the current SMC configurator pages for the CRB1/CDRB1 family. The catalog table specifically lists the size 80, 270 degree, single-vane main body weight as 1950 g. It also lists 95 g for the auto switch unit with two switches and 993 g for the foot bracket assembly.
Product Weight
For commercial listings, quotation sheets, and product content, the safest published reference is:
| Weight Type | Value |
|---|---|
| Main body weight | 1950 g |
| Main body weight | 1.95 kg |
| Main body + auto switch unit with 2 switches | approximately 2045 g |
| Main body + foot bracket assembly | approximately 2943 g |
This distinction matters. The catalog weight table separates the main body from optional assemblies, so the final installed mass depends on whether the actuator is supplied with switch units, foot brackets, or additional mounting hardware. Since your model code is written as CDRB1BW80-270S, it is part of the CDRB1 naming structure associated with the auto-switch version of the family, but the exact final shipped weight still depends on the full switch and accessory suffix. Therefore, for a clean and technically defensible product introduction, it is best to state main body weight: 1.95 kg and then note that the installed weight increases when switch and bracket assemblies are included.
Structure and Functional Characteristics
The most important feature of the SMC CDRB1BW80-270S is its single-vane 270 degree operating range. In the CRB1 family, the single-vane versions are the ones used for wider rotation angles such as 180 degrees and 270 degrees, while double-vane versions are associated with shorter rotation ranges and different torque characteristics. This makes the 270S version a good fit when wide angular travel is more important than maximizing torque density at a shorter stroke. The official SMC catalog groups 270 degree travel under the standard single-vane rotation options for sizes 50, 63, 80, and 100.
Another key advantage is the W shaft type, which SMC defines as a double shaft with long shaft key and four chamfers. In real equipment design, a double-shaft layout can make mechanical integration easier. It allows designers to use one side for power transmission and the other for sensing, linkage, synchronization, or visual position indication. This can reduce the need for auxiliary components and can simplify fixture design in rotary transfer mechanisms or indexing assemblies. SMC’s ordering data explicitly identifies the W shaft code with this shaft construction.
The CRB1/CDRB1 platform is also engineered around bearing support for thrust and radial loads. SMC states that the use of bearings improves reliability and durability, and the specifications table for size 80 gives both allowable radial load and allowable thrust load as 490 N. That is commercially important because rotary actuators are often selected only by angle and nominal output, while real field performance is heavily influenced by shaft loading, offset forces, inertia, and stopping conditions. In other words, the CDRB1BW80-270S is not just a rotary motion device; it is a supported output mechanism that should be matched correctly to the actual load and stopping conditions of the machine.
Performance in Industrial Automation
From the official catalog, the actuator operates with air (non-lube), has a proof pressure of 1.5 MPa, a working pressure range of 0.15 to 1.0 MPa, and an ambient and fluid temperature range of 5 to 60°C. SMC also specifies a rotation time adjustment range of 0.1 to 1 second per 90 degrees, which gives engineers useful room for tuning cycle speed with pneumatic flow control. For the size 80 single-vane version, the allowable kinetic energy is listed as 0.398 J, which is a meaningful design limit when the actuator is driving external tooling, rotary plates, or workpiece carriers.
In practical terms, this means the CDRB1BW80-270S is best suited to controlled rotary motion rather than violent impact duty. If the attached load has significant inertia, the designer should not assume that a larger angle automatically means the actuator can absorb aggressive stopping energy. Good engineering practice is to regulate speed, minimize shock at end of rotation, and keep the effective external load inside the published kinetic-energy and shaft-load envelope. When used within those limits, the CRB1/CDRB1 family offers a compact and reliable rotary solution for automated machinery.
Typical Application Scenarios
The SMC CDRB1BW80-270S is well suited for a wide range of industrial tasks where pneumatic rotary motion is required. Typical examples include rotary jigs in assembly cells, diverting and orienting parts in packaging machinery, opening and closing tooling plates, turning workpieces between process stations, and controlling mechanical gates or stop units on transfer lines. Because the actuator supports direct mounting and is designed as a compact vane type unit, it is especially attractive in machines where installation space is limited and a simple, durable rotary mechanism is preferred over a more complex electric system. SMC’s own series description highlights compactness, direct mount capability, and high reliability as core characteristics of the product family.
The 270 degree range also gives machine designers more freedom in mechanical layout. In many applications, 90 degree motion is enough only for simple opening or closing, while 180 degree motion is used for inversion or side-to-side turning. A 270 degree actuator can support more elaborate path geometry, including partial rotation, wider part exposure for downstream tooling, or positioning that avoids interference with neighboring equipment. This is one reason why the 270S configuration remains useful in specialized automation even when shorter-angle models are more common. The official CRB1 specification table confirms 270 degree single-vane variants for the 80 mm body size.
Selection and Integration Notes
When integrating this actuator into a machine, engineers should remember that the CRB1/CDRB1 family allows side ported or axial ported arrangements and supports basic or foot mounting within the series. The SMC configurator also shows that 270S corresponds to 270 degree single vane, and the 80 mm size is a standard selectable body size. For catalog writing, that means the model can be described accurately as a compact vane type rotary actuator for wide-angle pneumatic motion with flexible mounting and connection layout options.
For commercial content, the most defensible weight statement is still the following: published main body weight 1.95 kg. If a customer asks for packed or installed weight, it should be clarified whether the actuator includes auto switch assemblies, foot brackets, fittings, or other accessories. That avoids the common mistake of mixing catalog body weight with complete installed system weight. Based on the official catalog, the addition of an auto switch unit with two switches adds 95 g, while a foot bracket assembly adds 993 g.
Conclusion
The SMC CDRB1BW80-270S is a compact and practical pneumatic rotary actuator for applications that require 270 degree rotation, reliable bearing-supported output, and space-efficient installation. Its 80 mm body size, single-vane structure, and double-shaft W configuration make it suitable for turning, indexing, orienting, and transfer operations across many industrial automation environments. According to the official SMC catalog, the main body weight is 1950 g, with additional mass added when switch units or bracket assemblies are included. For users who need a technically credible and commercially clear description, this model can be presented as a durable wide-angle rotary actuator designed for clean integration into compact pneumatic automation systems.
