This SMC double-acting NCA1 Series air cylinder has a tie-rod body, basic-style mounting, and comes "switch ready" for connecting to mechanical proximity and limit switches for precise timing in automated applications. The air cylinder (also called a pneumatic cylinder) has an anodized aluminum body to help resist corrosion and tarnishing, and it comes with a single piston rod made of carbon steel for strength and durability. The double-acting air cylinder uses airflow through two air ports on opposite ends of the cylinder barrel to push out and retract the piston rod to produce continued movement. The air cylinder’s tie-rod body design uses four exterior rods to hold the end caps securely on the cylinder barrel. Air cushioning is standard to this series to absorb kinetic energy and to dampen the sound of the piston striking the air cylinder’s end caps. Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) seals that contain air help protect the barrel and piston rod. This air cylinder is "switch ready" with a magnet sensor installed for connecting to electrical circuits for pneumatic automation. The air cylinder has basic-style mounting and includes a rod jam nut to hold added brackets (sold separately) in place for rigid surface installation. The maximum pressure of the pneumatic cylinder is 250 pounds per square inch (psi), and it has a temperature range of 40 to 140 degrees F. The tie-rod air cylinder's square head meets ANSI (NFPA) T3.6.6 Re-1996 mounting standards for quality assurance. This non-repairable air cylinder is suitable for medium-duty clamping, pressing, and lifting applications.

Pneumatic actuators fall into two classes: linear and rotary. Linear actuators move objects in straight lines, while rotary actuators turn objects, or rotate them in varying directions. Air cylinders (also called pneumatic cylinders), the most common type of linear actuators, use pressurized air to pull and push piston rods in and out of cylinder barrels. This motion moves mechanisms connected to the rods, or (for detached items) directs or blocks travel using rod-attached plates. Air cylinders execute pushing, pulling, lifting, lowering, pressing, and stopping functions, and they come in several different body types, including round, compact, tie-rod, guided, slide, and clamp. Pneumatic cylinders can be either single acting, with one compressed air port to push the rod in a single direction and a spring to return the rod, or double acting, with two compressed air ports on opposite ends of the cylinder to both extend and retract the rod. For quieter piston operation, air cylinders can come with cushioning in one or both ends of their barrels. Several mounting styles are available both for attaching the air cylinder ends to moving components in a pneumatic system and for mounting to rigid surfaces. Air cylinders are used in industrialized automation tasks in automotive, food processing, material handling, and robotics applications, among others.

SMC Corporation manufactures actuators, valves, airline equipment, connector fittings, electrical products, vacuum products, dryers, temperature control chillers, and accessories. SMC Corporation of America is headquartered in Noblesville, IN, and meets International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9000:2000 standards.