The SMC MSQB50A is a pneumatic rotary table from SMC’s MSQ series, designed for controlled rotary motion in industrial automation systems. According to SMC’s official product structure, MSQB identifies the basic type, 50 is the size designation, and the suffix A indicates the version with adjustment bolt. SMC describes this series as a rotary table with an integrated table and rotary actuator, an angle adjustment mechanism, and a structure that supports easy alignment when mounting the load and the body.
This means the MSQB50A is not merely a rotary actuator with an output shaft. It is a more integrated rotary platform intended for machine builders who need to mount tooling, fixtures, or workpieces directly on the rotating table. In practical equipment design, this can reduce assembly complexity, improve installation consistency, and simplify mechanical layout compared with building a turning platform from separate components. That interpretation is consistent with SMC’s official description of the MSQ series as a table-actuator integrated product.
Technical Snapshot
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Brand | SMC |
| Model | MSQB50A |
| Product Type | Rotary Table |
| Series | MSQ Series |
| Type | MSQB Basic Type |
| Size | 50 |
| Suffix Meaning | With Adjustment Bolt |
| Operating Fluid | Air (non-lube) |
| Maximum Operating Pressure | 1.0 MPa |
| Minimum Operating Pressure | 0.1 MPa |
| Ambient / Fluid Temperature | 0 to 60°C, no freezing |
| Angle Adjustment Range | 0 to 190° |
| Maximum Rotation | 190° |
| Cylinder Bore Size | Ø25 mm |
| Port Type | Rc 1/8 |
| Auto Switch | Without auto switch, built-in magnet |
| Number of Auto Switches | 2 pcs. or none |
| Adjustment Angle per Rotation of Adjustment Screw | 8.2° |
| Rotation Direction | A port: clockwise / B port: counter-clockwise |
| Product Net Weight | 1990 g |
| Weight Note | Auto switch weight not included |
The table above is based on SMC’s official web catalog and the MSQ series catalog. The official part-number page for MSQB50A identifies it as MSQ Series Rotary Table Rack & Pinion Style MSQB Basic Type, size 50, suffix A = With Adjustment Bolt, with built-in magnet, no standard auto switch, and 2 pcs. or none as the switch configuration. The MSQ catalog gives the size-50 basic type with adjustment bolt weight as 1990 g, excluding auto switch weight, and lists the size-50 basic-type specifications including air (non-lube), 1 MPa maximum operating pressure, 0.1 MPa minimum operating pressure, 0 to 60°C, 0 to 190° angle adjustment range, 190° maximum rotation, Ø25 mm cylinder bore, and 8.2° adjustment angle per rotation of the angle adjustment screw.
Product Design and Mechanical Concept
One of the most important features of the MSQB50A is its integrated mechanical concept. SMC explicitly positions the MSQ series as a structure that combines the rotary actuator and the table into one unit. In machine building, that is useful because it eliminates some of the extra brackets, couplings, and alignment work that are often required when a separate actuator is used to drive an independently mounted turntable. The result is a more compact rotary module that is easier to install and easier to standardize across repeated equipment builds.
The model belongs to the MSQB basic type, which is distinct from the MSQA high precision type in the same series. That distinction matters. The official MSQ catalog separates the two families in its ordering and weight tables, indicating that MSQB is the general basic version while MSQA is the precision-focused version. As an engineering interpretation, that makes the MSQB50A more suitable for mainstream industrial rotary positioning where solid functionality, compact design, and installation convenience matter more than the tighter displacement behavior associated with the high-precision version.
Adjustable Rotation and Motion Control
A key functional advantage of the MSQB50A is its adjustable rotation capability. SMC’s official MSQ catalog states that the series supports an angle adjustment range from 0 to 190° and a maximum rotation of 190°. It also states that, for size 50, the adjustment angle per rotation of the angle adjustment screw is 8.2°. This gives users practical control over the final stopping position of the table. Rather than being locked into a single preset stroke, the installer can fine-tune the end position to match the machine’s fixture layout or process requirement.
This feature is particularly useful in real automation projects. Many machines do not require only a simple 90° or 180° turn. They often need a customized end angle for component presentation, loading and unloading, inspection, sensor access, or transfer to the next station. By using adjustment bolts, the MSQB50A allows that rotational endpoint to be set within the available range. SMC’s catalog also states that the rotary table turns clockwise when the A port is pressurized and counter-clockwise when the B port is pressurized, which provides a straightforward basis for pneumatic motion control.
Operating Characteristics
From a pneumatic specification standpoint, the MSQB50A fits standard factory air systems. The official MSQ catalog lists air (non-lube) as the working medium, with 1.0 MPa maximum operating pressure and 0.1 MPa minimum operating pressure for the adjustment-bolt version. The ambient and fluid temperature range is given as 0 to 60°C without freezing. These are mainstream industrial values, which means the product can normally be integrated into common pneumatic equipment without special infrastructure.
The cylinder bore size is Ø25 mm, placing the model in the medium-to-large compact rotary table range within the MSQ family. This size level, combined with the 50-frame body, makes the MSQB50A more substantial than the smaller MSQ sizes while still remaining far more compact than a heavy-duty indexing table. That gives it a useful position in automation: it is large enough for practical fixture rotation and moderate workholding tasks, but still compact enough for machines where space efficiency matters. This last point is an engineering conclusion based on the official size, bore, and weight data.
Weight and Installation Value
The official product weight for MSQB50A is 1990 g, and SMC specifically notes that this figure does not include auto switch weight. For a buyer or machine designer, this is a meaningful data point. Product weight affects bracket design, moving-mass calculations, support rigidity, packing estimates, and the overall mechanical balance of an automation module. At just under 2.0 kg, the MSQB50A offers a relatively robust body without becoming excessively heavy for standard industrial equipment.
In practical terms, a rotary table in this weight class is often well suited to medium-duty automation stations, where the machine requires a stable rotating platform rather than a miniature motion element. The body is heavy enough to suggest structural stability, yet light enough to remain easy to mount on common machine frames and fabricated subassemblies. For OEMs building repeatable machine platforms, that balance is commercially useful because it supports both durability and reasonable installation effort. This application perspective is an inference based on the official mass and size data.
Mounting, Sensing, and Configuration Flexibility
The official part page shows that the MSQB50A is supplied without auto switch as standard, but it includes a built-in magnet, and the switch configuration is listed as 2 pcs. or none. That means the product is compatible with switch-based position detection even when the basic ordered model does not include switches already assembled. This is useful because not every machine needs the same degree of feedback. Some systems rely on pneumatic timing and hard-stop positioning alone, while others require switch signals for PLC confirmation, sequencing, or diagnostics.
The part page also identifies the port type as Rc 1/8 for this size class. This is a common industrial port format and helps simplify integration into standard pneumatic piping systems. In the broader MSQ ordering information, SMC shows Rc 1/8 among the standard size-50 port selections, which is consistent with the exact MSQB50A part entry.
Typical Industrial Role
From its official configuration and published data, the MSQB50A is best understood as a compact rotary table for fixture turning, part orientation, transfer positioning, and indexing tasks in pneumatic automation. That application description is not copied from a marketing line; it is an engineering inference drawn from the model’s integrated table structure, adjustable angle range, medium size, and direct-load-mounting format. In other words, it is a product intended for mounted rotary handling, not just free rotary shaft motion.
This makes the MSQB50A relevant in assembly equipment, packaging systems, test fixtures, inspection stations, and general automation modules where a part or tooling element must rotate to a defined angle and remain stable at the new position. The built-in table structure reduces the need for extra mechanical conversion parts, while the angle adjustment feature helps match the product to the actual working geometry of the machine.
Conclusion
The SMC MSQB50A is a well-defined pneumatic rotary table for industrial automation applications that require direct-load rotary positioning in a compact integrated format. Official SMC sources identify it as an MSQ Series Rack & Pinion Style MSQB Basic Type, size 50, with adjustment bolt, featuring 0 to 190° angle adjustment, 190° maximum rotation, Ø25 mm cylinder bore, Rc 1/8 port type, built-in magnet, and a published product weight of 1990 g excluding auto switch weight. For users who need a practical rotary table rather than a simple shaft actuator, the MSQB50A is a technically credible and commercially useful option.
