SMC MGQM25-30 Compact Guide Cylinder 25 mm, Slide Bearing

A cylinder with its own guide rods

MGQM25-30 is a compact guide cylinder from the SMC MGQ series: a double-acting air cylinder with two guide rods and a plate built into one unit. The guide takes lateral loads and prevents the rod from turning, so the cylinder can push, lift or stop a part without an external guide, which saves space and parts on conveyor lines and transfer units.

The code reads MGQ (series), M (slide bearing; L is ball bushing bearing), 25 (the 25 mm bore) and 30 (the 30 mm stroke). With no thread letter, the 20 to 100 mm bores have Rc ports; TN is NPT and TF is G. No auto-switch code is included, but the cylinder is available with a built-in magnet for switches.

Technical specifications

Slide bearing or ball bushing

The MGQM version uses a slide bearing, which is economical and rugged, while the MGQL version uses a ball bushing and is chosen for smoother, lower-friction guiding. The two have the same bore and stroke range and similar weight; the 25 mm, 30 mm models weigh 0.93 kg in both cases. For a lifting or stopper duty on a conveyor, the slide bearing is the usual choice.

The catalogue also lists made-to-order variants such as a low-speed type, a heat-resistant type, fluororubber seals and a long bushing type, which are separate codes.

Using the guide properly

The allowable lateral load and the allowable moment depend on the stroke and on the overhang of the load from the plate, and the catalogue gives graphs for each bore and bearing type. The load should be fixed to the plate close to the guide rods; a long overhang increases the moment, shortens the bearing life and can bind the guide. Speed controllers on the exhaust side give smooth movement.

Keep air clean and dry, mount the body on a flat surface so that it does not twist, and do not use the cylinder as a mechanical stop for impacts above the rubber bumper rating.

Documents and quotation

The SMC MGQ catalogue PDF below has the how-to-order page, specifications, weights, load graphs and dimensions. Please confirm bearing type, bore, stroke, thread and switch needs before ordering. More cylinders are listed under Pneumatic Cylinders. Seven Star LLC is an independent supplier and quotes the exact code on request.

MGQM25-30 Additional Catalogue Data

How the MGQM25-30 Compact Guide Cylinder Works

The MGQ combines a double-acting air cylinder with two guide rods that run in bearings in the cylinder body. The piston rod and both guide rods are fixed to a common end plate. Supplying air to one port extends the plate by 30 mm. Supplying the other port retracts it. Because the guide rods carry the lateral load and torque, the piston rod only provides thrust, and the plate holds its angle within the rated non-rotating accuracy. In the MGQM version, the guide rods run in slide bearings (bushings). These handle shock and lateral loads well and are well suited to stopper and lifter duties on conveyors.

Selection & Ordering Guide for the MGQM25-30

Code structure

• MGQ: compact guide cylinder series.
• M / L: M is a slide bearing, L is a ball bushing bearing.
• 25: bore size in mm.
• 30: stroke in mm. Standard strokes for the 20 and 25 mm bores are 20, 30, 40, 50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 175 and 200 mm.
• Port thread: Nil (Rc), TN (NPT) or TF (G).
• Auto switch: add the switch model and quantity suffix for position sensing.

Sizing tips

Start from the required force. The catalogue gives 245 N extending and 189 N retracting at 0.5 MPa for the 25 mm bore. Apply a suitable load factor, then check the allowable lateral load and the plate rotational torque graphs for the load and its overhang. If the plate must resist a side impact from conveyed goods, such as a stopper on a carton or pallet conveyor, the slide-bearing MGQM is normally preferred. For smoother, lower-friction vertical lifting, compare it against the MGQL. Made-to-order versions include -XB6 heat resistant (to 150°C), -XB9 low speed (10 to 50 mm/s), -XC22 fluororubber seals, -X399 long bushing and -X367 bottom mounting.

Installation & Maintenance

• Mount the body on a flat, rigid surface. Twisting the body by mounting it on an uneven surface can cause guide binding and early bearing wear.
• Fix the load close to the guide rods to keep the moment small. Do not exceed the lateral load or torque values in the catalogue graphs.
• Control speed with meter-out speed controllers. The rubber bumpers are not meant to stop heavy, fast loads.
• Use clean, dry compressed air. The cylinder is non-lube.
• Replace the seals with the MGQ25-PS kit when leakage appears, and order a grease pack separately.

Typical Applications in Oman & the GCC

Conveyor stoppers and lifters, pusher and transfer units, press-fit and clamping stations, packaging and palletising equipment, and assembly fixtures in manufacturing, food processing and logistics centres across Oman and the GCC regularly use the MGQM25-30, because it replaces a separate cylinder, guide and plate with one compact unit.

Why Source the MGQM25-30 from Seven Star LLC

Seven Star LLC supplies SMC compact guide cylinders, auto switches, speed controllers and seal kits across Oman and the GCC. Our team can help confirm the correct ordering code, including the thread type and switch suffix. Request a quote with your quantity.