Only four mounting screws need to be loosened to separate the cylinder and locking unit. Thanks to the design separation, drives or components from other manufacturers can also be equipped with the locking unit, which can be ordered separately.

The locking cylinders also offer a manual unlocking option. The entire unit can be released in no time at all using a single screw. At the same time, the screw is color-coded to indicate the locking status at a glance. Compressed air is not required either when holding or unlocking.

Michael Becker, Product Management at SMC Germany, sees the main areas of application for the MWB series locking cylinders as being processes with intermediate stops, emergency stop procedures and protection against falling parts when the air supply is interrupted. These are typically found in conveyor systems, machine tools and the automotive industry.

Stopping force and stopping accuracy
SMC also draws attention to the stopping force and stopping accuracy of the series. The pistons can be stopped with an accuracy of plus/minus one millimeter. The holding force has been increased compared to the previous MNB series: For the smallest locking cylinders in the MWB series, it is 630 newtons and reaches values of over 6,000 newtons in the largest version with a piston diameter of 100 millimeters. A total of six piston diameters are available: 32, 40, 50, 63, 80 and 100 millimetres. Depending on the piston diameter, the maximum standard stroke is between 500 and 800 millimetres.

The type of end position damping can be selected. An elastic and a pneumatic version are available. SMC specifies the operating pressure at 0.08 and 1 MPa, while the locking unit operates at 0.8 to 1 MPa. The temperature application range is between minus ten and 70 degrees Celsius.

The manufacturer cites the following advantages of its new series: The separate design creates flexibility and reduces labor costs during installation. The holding force in conjunction with the control of the holding point gives users additional safety in their processes. During adjustment and maintenance work, the venting via a screw, which also indicates the locking status, helps users to work efficiently and safely. as