The SMC MHF2-16D-DNB8816 is a compact two-finger pneumatic air gripper built on SMC’s MHF2 series, a product family developed for applications where a low profile body, stable gripping motion, and efficient installation layout are important. In the public SMC materials that are available, the underlying base model MHF2-16D is clearly identified as a double-acting, low profile air gripper with a 16 mm bore size, designed for space-saving handling and gripping tasks in automated machinery. SMC’s product pages also describe the MHF2 family as a low profile gripper that saves space, reduces bending moments, and supports smooth operation, with multiple standard stroke lengths available depending on the selected size.
For buyers, integrators, and machine builders, that positioning is significant. A low profile gripper is not simply a cosmetic variation of a standard parallel gripper. The reduced height directly affects machine packaging, end-of-arm tooling geometry, fixture accessibility, and the moment load acting on the gripper body during transfer. This means the MHF2-16D-DNB8816 is particularly suitable where the design objective is not just gripping force, but also compact structure, predictable motion, and reduced interference with surrounding components. That conclusion is consistent with SMC’s official description of the MHF2 series as a space-saving low profile air gripper.
Technical Summary
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Brand | SMC |
| Model | MHF2-16D-DNB8816 |
| Base Series | MHF2 Series |
| Product Type | Low profile air gripper |
| Finger Style | 2-finger parallel gripping type |
| Action | Double acting |
| Bore Size | 16 mm |
| Operating Fluid | Air |
| Operating Pressure | 0.1 to 0.7 MPa |
| Ambient / Fluid Temperature | -10 to 60°C, no freezing |
| Repeatability | ±0.05 mm |
| Effective Gripping Force per Finger | 90 N |
| Opening / Closing Stroke (Both Sides) | 16 mm short / 32 mm middle / 64 mm long |
| Maximum Operating Frequency | 120 c.p.m. (short and middle stroke) / 60 c.p.m. (long stroke) |
| Lubrication | Not required |
| Finger Mounting Thread | M4 × 0.7 |
| Body Mounting Thread | M5 × 0.8 |
| Base Body Net Weight | 350 g |
| Weight Note | Excluding auto switch weight |
| Suffix Note | Publicly accessible SMC materials do not decode “DNB8816” |
The specification values above come from SMC’s official MHF2 documentation for MHF2-16D*. The official manual lists air as the fluid, 0.1 to 0.7 MPa operating pressure for MHF2-16D, -10 to 60°C ambient and fluid temperature, ±0.05 mm repeatability for the smaller sizes including 16 mm bore, 90 N effective gripping force per finger at 0.5 MPa and gripping point L = 20 mm, and a base product weight of 350 g for MHF2-16D*, explicitly noting that the value excludes auto switch weight. The same manual also shows the opening/closing stroke options for the 16 mm bore version as 16 mm short, 32 mm middle, and 64 mm long, and it identifies the series as double acting and not requiring lubrication.
What This Gripper Is Designed to Do
The MHF2-16D-DNB8816 is best understood as a compact handling component for automated gripping applications where installation space is limited and the designer wants to control the gripping task without adding unnecessary height to the moving assembly. Because the MHF2 family is designed as a low profile air gripper, it helps reduce the overall vertical envelope of the gripping unit. SMC also states that the low profile design reduces bending moments and improves operational smoothness, which is relevant in pick-and-place systems, indexing devices, small transfer units, assembly stations, and light material handling mechanisms.
For practical automation design, this has several consequences. First, a lower-profile gripper generally allows the tooling designer to place the gripping point closer to the moving axis or support structure, reducing leverage and improving motion stability. Second, compact body geometry can improve clearance when the gripper must enter narrow fixtures or work around adjacent parts. Third, when the gripper is mounted on slides, cylinders, or robot end-effectors, a lower center of mass and reduced external moment often contribute to better motion quality and easier overall system tuning. These are engineering implications drawn from the low-profile design objective stated by SMC.
Core Performance Characteristics
From a performance standpoint, the 16 mm bore version sits in the middle of the smaller MHF2 range and offers a practical balance between compactness and gripping capability. SMC’s official manual gives the effective gripping force per finger for MHF2-16D* as 90 N under the defined catalog condition of 0.5 MPa and gripping point L = 20 mm. That is a useful figure for product selection because it provides a concrete reference point when matching the gripper to a workpiece, tooling setup, and holding-point geometry. SMC also emphasizes in the selection guidance that actual gripping suitability depends on gripping point distance, workpiece weight, friction conditions, and safety margin, and it recommends selecting a gripping force of at least 10 to 20 times the workpiece weight depending on the application.
The public SMC documentation also shows that the MHF2 series is available in three stroke classes for each size. For the 16 mm bore model, the official values are 16 mm for short stroke, 32 mm for middle stroke, and 64 mm for long stroke, measured as both sides opening/closing stroke. This is important because the usable jaw opening range directly affects whether the gripper can handle thin parts, wide parts, or applications that require more generous opening clearance during approach and release. If the exact suffix code corresponds to one of these stroke variants or to a switch configuration, that detail is not publicly decoded in the accessible SMC sources I found, so the safest statement is that the MHF2-16D platform itself supports those documented stroke families.
Installation and Mechanical Practicality
One of the advantages of the MHF2-16D platform is that the official manual provides clear installation information for both the fingers and the body. For MHF2-16D*, the finger attachment thread is listed as M4 × 0.7, with a maximum tightening torque of 1.5 Nm. The body mounting data for top mounting shows M5 × 0.8 with a maximum tightening torque of 4.5 Nm and a maximum screw-in depth of 12 mm, while lateral and lower side mounting also use M5 × 0.8 with 3 Nm maximum tightening torque and 5.5 mm maximum screw-in depth. These details matter in real machine construction because correct mounting practice directly affects accuracy, service life, and resistance to slippage or distortion during use.
The official manual also notes that lubrication is not required, which is commercially useful for many users because it simplifies air system design and routine maintenance. In addition, the unit is specified for double acting operation, which means both opening and closing are pneumatically driven. That generally supports more controlled motion behavior than a simple spring-return format and is often preferred where cycle consistency and repeatable handling are required.
Product Weight
For your requirement about weight, the most defensible official figure is this:
Base body weight of MHF2-16D: 350 g, excluding auto switch weight.
That is the value published by SMC in the official MHF2 specification table. Because the exact suffix DNB8816 is not decoded in the public SMC materials I found, I cannot honestly claim a fully suffix-specific shipping weight. If that suffix includes switch hardware, lead wire, or other assembled options, the final delivered weight may be higher than the 350 g base-body figure. So the correct safe commercial wording is “approx. 350 g base body weight, excluding auto switch weight.”
Application Direction
In real industrial use, the MHF2-16D-DNB8816 is suitable for compact gripping applications such as part transfer, light assembly handling, fixture loading, component sorting, packaging pick-and-place, and small automation modules where low height is important. This application direction is an engineering inference from the official description of the MHF2 family as a low profile air gripper, combined with the documented gripping force, stroke options, and compact mounting format. It is especially relevant where the designer wants to reduce moment load and save installation space without moving to a very small miniature gripper that may lack sufficient gripping capability.
Conclusion
The SMC MHF2-16D-DNB8816 should be treated as a configured model based on the MHF2-16D low profile air gripper platform. From the public official SMC data that can be verified, the core product is a double-acting, 2-finger low profile gripper with 16 mm bore, 0.1 to 0.7 MPa operating pressure, 90 N effective gripping force per finger, three standard stroke classes, and a base body weight of 350 g excluding auto switch weight. The exact suffix DNB8816 is not explained in the public catalogs I could verify, so I have intentionally not fabricated its meaning. On that basis, this is a technically credible compact SMC gripper for automated handling systems that need a low-profile layout, stable gripping action, and practical installation flexibility.
