Collection: Airtec Series XLK ISO 15552 Through-Rod Pneumatic Cylinders

Technical information & FAQs

Airtec XLK Through-Rod Pneumatic Cylinders

Airtec Series XLK pneumatic cylinders use a through piston rod that extends from both ends of the actuator, giving machinery a mechanical connection on either side of the piston. The arrangement is particularly useful where loads need to be driven from both ends, external guidance is required or the machine benefits from more symmetrical extension and retraction characteristics.

XLK retains the established ISO 15552 profile format of the wider Airtec XL platform while changing the rod arrangement substantially. The range includes magnetic piston sensing and adjustable end cushioning, making it suitable for automated handling, fixtures, transfer equipment and special-purpose machinery.

For a conventional single-rod design, compare the Airtec XL pneumatic cylinder range. You can also browse the complete Airtec pneumatic cylinder range or compare other ISO 15552 pneumatic cylinders.

Why Choose a Through-Rod Pneumatic Cylinder?

A standard pneumatic cylinder provides its principal mechanical connection from one side of the piston. XLK extends the rod through both cylinder end caps, allowing the machine designer to access piston movement from either end of the actuator.

Because the piston rod occupies area on both sides of the piston, a through-rod pneumatic cylinder also provides more symmetrical effective piston areas than a conventional single-rod design. This can be useful where similar behaviour in both directions is important to the machine process.

Airtec XLK Technical Specification

Manufacturer	AIRTEC Pneumatic GmbH
Series	XLK
Product Type	Through-rod pneumatic cylinders
Dimensional Standard	ISO 15552
Bore Range	32 to 125 mm
Operation	Double acting
Rod Arrangement	Through piston rod / double-ended piston rod
Position Detection	Magnetic piston
Cushioning	Adjustable pneumatic end cushioning
Operating Pressure	Up to 10 bar
Standard Temperature Range	-20°C to +80°C
Cylinder Tube	Anodised aluminium profile
Standard Piston Rod	Hard chrome-plated steel
Seal Materials	NBR / polyurethane
Options	Stainless steel piston rod, FKM seals and ATEX configurations

XLK Bore Sizes and Machine Connections

Bore	Pneumatic Port	Piston Rod Thread
32 mm	G1/8	M10 × 1.25
40 mm	G1/4	M12 × 1.25
50 mm	G1/4	M16 × 1.5
63 mm	G3/8	M16 × 1.5
80 mm	G3/8	M20 × 1.5
100 mm	G1/2	M20 × 1.5
125 mm	G1/2	M27 × 2

Two-Sided Mechanical Connection

The most important XLK feature is the ability to connect machinery to either end of the piston rod. This can simplify mechanisms where one side performs the working movement while the opposite side drives an indicator, secondary mechanism, external guide or other machine component.

It can also be useful in test rigs, transfer mechanisms and special-purpose machinery where the piston position needs to be mechanically accessed from both ends of the pneumatic cylinder.

XLK or Standard XL?

The choice should be driven by the machine layout rather than simply availability. Standard Airtec XL pneumatic cylinders use a conventional single-ended piston rod, while XLK provides a rod through both cylinder end caps.

If an existing machine was designed around XLK, replacing it with standard XL can remove the second mechanical connection and change the effective force characteristics of the actuator. The original rod arrangement should therefore be retained unless the machine is being redesigned.

Magnetic Sensing and Adjustable Cushioning

XLK pneumatic cylinders use a magnetic piston for non-contact position detection and support Airtec cylinder sensors. Adjustable pneumatic cushioning controls piston deceleration as the actuator approaches either end of its travel.

These features make XLK suitable for automated machinery where the control system needs confirmation of cylinder position while the mechanical system requires controlled stopping at both ends.

Specialist XLK Material Options

Airtec XLK products can be specified with an optional stainless-steel piston rod using the -EK option. FKM seal configurations are also available for elevated-temperature applications, while ATEX versions can be specified for appropriately classified environments.

These options are part of the pneumatic cylinder specification and should be preserved during replacement. A standard XLK should not automatically replace an existing stainless-rod, FKM or ATEX configuration.

Airtec XLK Selection Questions

Why would my machine use a through-rod pneumatic cylinder?

The arrangement allows mechanical access to piston movement from both ends of the actuator. It can also provide more symmetrical operating characteristics because the piston rod occupies area on both sides of the piston.

Can I replace an XLK with a normal Airtec XL?

Not as a direct mechanical substitute where the second rod end is used by the machine. XLK and XL share the wider ISO 15552 platform, but their piston-rod arrangements are fundamentally different.

What does the -EK option mean on an XLK pneumatic cylinder?

Airtec uses the -EK option for a stainless-steel piston rod. If an existing pneumatic cylinder carries this designation, check why the stainless rod was originally specified before substituting the standard chrome-plated version.

Does XLK use adjustable cushioning at both ends?

Yes. Current XLK specifications use adjustable end-position cushioning, which is particularly relevant because the through-rod arrangement may be mechanically active in both directions.

Where can I compare XLK with other profile pneumatic cylinders?

Browse the ISO 15552 pneumatic cylinder range to compare equivalent-format products, or return to the Airtec pneumatic cylinder hub for other Airtec series.

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71 pneumatic cylinder products in this range.

Airtec
XLK63/160
63mm bore x 160mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK63/160

£292.48 EX VAT

£350.97 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK63/200
63mm bore x 200mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK63/200

£299.30 EX VAT

£359.16 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK63/25
63mm bore x 25mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK63/25

£269.49 EX VAT

£323.39 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK63/250
63mm bore x 250mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK63/250

£307.83 EX VAT

£369.39 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK63/320
63mm bore x 320mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK63/320

£319.74 EX VAT

£383.69 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK63/400
63mm bore x 400mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK63/400

£333.38 EX VAT

£400.05 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK63/50
63mm bore x 50mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK63/50

£273.74 EX VAT

£328.49 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK63/500
63mm bore x 500mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK63/500

£350.43 EX VAT

£420.51 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK63/80
63mm bore x 80mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK63/80

£278.84 EX VAT

£334.61 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK80/100
80mm bore x 100mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK80/100

£377.00 EX VAT

£452.40 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK80/125
80mm bore x 125mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK80/125

£383.27 EX VAT

£459.92 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK80/200
80mm bore x 200mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK80/200

£402.08 EX VAT

£482.49 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK80/25
80mm bore x 25mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK80/25

£358.23 EX VAT

£429.87 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK80/50
80mm bore x 50mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK80/50

£364.47 EX VAT

£437.36 INC VAT

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Airtec
XLK80/80
80mm bore x 80mm stroke
ISO 15552 | ISO 15552 Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number XLK80/80

£371.99 EX VAT

£446.39 INC VAT

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