Basic Type Selection Guide: MY1B vs MY3A vs MY3B
| Attribute |
MY1B / MY1B-Z |
MY3A |
MY3B |
| SMC type name |
Basic type |
Basic short type |
Basic standard type |
| Bore sizes |
16, 20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63, 80, 100 mm (MY1B-Z: 25, 32, 40 mm) |
16, 20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63 mm |
16, 20, 25, 32, 40, 50, 63 mm |
| Stroke |
100 to 5000 mm, depending on bore |
100 to 3000 mm (long stroke -XB11) |
100 to 3000 mm (long stroke -XB11) |
| Cushion |
Air cushion |
Rubber bumper |
Air cushion |
| Piston speed |
See SMC catalog by bore and stroke adjusting unit |
80 to 500 mm/s |
80 to 1000 mm/s (up to 1500 mm/s with external shock absorber) |
| Envelope |
Reference size for the MY family |
Height reduced by up to 36% and length by up to 140 mm compared with the MY1B, per SMC |
| Best fit |
Large bores, long strokes, existing MY1B machines |
Tight envelopes, simple end-to-end moves |
Tight envelopes that still need a repeatable stroke end |
Basic Type or Guided Type?
| Your application |
Start with |
| Light load inside the cylinder's allowable load and moment |
Basic type (MY1B, MY3A, MY3B) |
| Machine already has an external guide; cylinder only provides thrust |
Basic type with a floating connection (MYAJ floating bracket for MY3) |
| Higher load or moment, moderate accuracy |
Slide bearing guide or cam follower guide |
| High load, high accuracy or traveling parallelism |
Linear guide |
Ordering Notes That Prevent Mistakes
Stroke adjusting unit. The suffix after the stroke sets the end-of-stroke hardware. No suffix means no adjusting unit. L adds low load shock absorbers on both sides, H adds high load shock absorbers on both sides, and mixed codes such as HL, LH, LS, SL, HS, and SH set each side separately. Size the shock absorber to load mass and collision speed using the SMC catalog.
MY3A stop position. SMC notes that the MY3A rubber bumper stroke varies with operating pressure. If the stroke end must be repeatable, choose the MY3B or add an external positioning mechanism.
MY1B vs MY1B-Z. The MY1B-Z is SMC's updated basic type in 25, 32, and 40 mm bores, with reduced weight and the same mounting dimensions as the existing MY1B. Match the Z suffix when ordering a direct replacement, and check stroke adjusting unit and switch compatibility with your SMC drawing.
Port thread and piping. No port code means Rc (M thread on the smallest bores), TN means NPT, and TF means G. A G after the bore code denotes centralized piping, which lets you plumb both ports from one end.
Auto switches. MY3 cylinders accept SMC M9 series solid state and A9 series reed switches, in horizontal or vertical lead versions. Switch code, lead length, and quantity are part of the cylinder part number.
Copper-free. A 20- prefix designates copper-free construction. SMC lists it for MY3B and MY3M, not MY3A.
Need to build a specific part number? Use the SMC basic type rodless cylinder configurator or go straight to the MY3 low profile configurator.
Basic Type Rodless Cylinder FAQ
What is the difference between the SMC MY3A and MY3B?
The MY3A is SMC's basic short type with a rubber bumper, rated 80 to 500 mm/s. The MY3B is the basic standard type with an air cushion, rated 80 to 1000 mm/s. The MY3A has the shortest overall length, but its stroke end varies with operating pressure, so the MY3B is the better choice when stop position must be repeatable.
Should I choose the MY1B or the MY3 rodless cylinder?
Choose the MY3 when height and length are the constraint: SMC rates it up to 36% lower and up to 140 mm shorter than the MY1B. Choose the MY1B when you need 80 or 100 mm bores, strokes beyond 3000 mm, or a direct replacement on an existing MY1B machine.
Can a basic type rodless cylinder carry a load directly?
Yes, within the allowable load and moment SMC publishes for each bore. Loads or moments above that range call for a guided type such as the slide bearing, cam follower, or linear guide versions, or an external guide. SMC also recommends a load factor of 0.5 or less relative to cylinder output.
What does the Z suffix mean on an MY1B part number?
The Z suffix identifies SMC's new basic type MY1B, offered in 25, 32, and 40 mm bores. It is lighter than the previous version and keeps the same mounting dimensions, so it fits existing MY1B mounting layouts.
What do the L and H codes mean on SMC rodless cylinders?
They are stroke adjusting unit codes. L adds low load shock absorbers with adjustment bolts and H adds high load shock absorbers with adjustment bolts; a single letter applies to both ends, while two letter codes such as HL set the left and right sides separately.
How do I connect an MY3 cylinder to an external guide?
SMC offers the MYAJ floating bracket, which mounts to the MY3 carriage and connects it to an external guide. The floating connection absorbs misalignment so the guide carries the load and the cylinder provides thrust.
Need Help Sizing a Basic Type Rodless Cylinder?
Send your load, stroke, speed, and mounting orientation, and Automation Distribution will help you choose between MY1B, MY3A, and MY3B, size the stroke adjusting unit, or step up to a guided type.
Contact Automation Distribution
