Profile & Tie-Rod Cylinders

Both conform to ISO 15552, ISO 6431, VDMA 24562 and NFE 49-003-1 — same bore-stroke-mounting compatibility. The difference is in the barrel construction. The profile-barrel (PRA = ISOLine P) uses a shaped extruded aluminium barrel that gives a clean exterior and allows M/50 switches to be mounted flush directly on the cylinder. The round-barrel (RA = ISOLine R) is a robust external tie-rod build for more aggressive environments; switches mount via the adapter delivered with the switch. Choose profile if clean appearance and direct flush switch mounting matter; choose round-barrel tie-rod for aggressive environments or legacy drawing-spec compliance.

Adaptive Cushioning System — replaces the conventional adjustable cushioning needle with a self-tuning mechanism. As the piston enters the end cushion, ACS senses speed and automatically restricts the exhaust port — slowing the piston smoothly without manual setup. Result: the cushion works at any load and speed within the cylinder's rated range, no installation tuning. Saves significant commissioning time on multi-cylinder machines.

Use PSA when you need real-time piston position as an analogue signal back to the PLC. Applications: servo-pneumatic positioning (continuous position control instead of just detecting two end-positions), force-control loops where position correlates to applied force, dimensional inspection (use the cylinder as a contact gauge), or diagnostic monitoring (drift detection, slow-motion troubleshooting). For pure end-position sensing, the cheaper PRA + M/50 switches at the stroke ends is sufficient. Note: the PSA/802000/F1 is non-cushioned and limited to max 1000 mm stroke.

EN 61373 is the shock and vibration test standard for railway rolling stock. Rail-rated cylinders are tested at Category 1 (body-mounted equipment) with Class A + B — tested for installation on vehicle bodies and bogies. ISOLine rail-rated cylinders pass these tests and are suitable for installation on locomotives, multiple units and metro vehicles. The same standard is also commonly required for heavy off-road vehicles and military applications.

Double-acting (PRA/802000, RA/802000) uses compressed air for movement in both directions — most flexible, controlled force in both stroke directions, adjustable speed. Standard choice for general industrial automation. Single-acting PRA/801000 / RA/801000 (spring-return): air extends the rod, spring retracts it — rest position: retracted, ideal for fail-safe clamp release. Single-acting PRA/803000 / RA/803000 (spring-extend): spring extends the rod, air retracts it — rest position: extended, for fail-safe safety positioning. Single-acting variants are limited to Ø 32-100 mm and max 250 mm stroke.

No. ACS adaptive cushioning is available only for Ø 32-125 mm (PRA/802000, RA/802000, PRA/801000, PRA/803000 and their tie-rod equivalents). The Ø 160-320 mm version (RA/8000) uses manually adjustable cushioning — set with the adjustment screw for the specific load and speed. The PSA/802000/F1 is non-cushioned — an external shock absorber is required for high-speed applications.

Operating pressure depends on bore size and barrel type: PRA/802000 (profile, Ø 32-125 mm): 1-12 bar standard, 16 bar high-pressure variant available. RA/802000 (round-barrel, Ø 32-125 mm): 1-16 bar standard. RA/8000 (Ø 160-200 mm): 1-16 bar standard. RA/8000 (Ø 250-320 mm): 1-10 bar max (16 bar not available at these sizes). PSA/802000/F1: 1-12 bar. PRA/802000/M/EX (ATEX): 1-10 bar. Always check the datasheet for the specific variant's operating pressure.

Standard strokes for all ISOLine double-acting variants: 25, 50, 80, 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400, 500 mm. Non-standard strokes on request: PRA/802000, RA/802000 (Ø 32-125 mm) max 2800 mm; RA/8000 (Ø 160-320 mm) max 2600 mm; PSA/802000/F1 max 1000 mm; PRA/801000/803000 single-acting max 250 mm (only 25, 50, 80, 100 mm standard). For long strokes, buckling check is mandatory — use a guided unit or external guide bearings for high side loads.