Collection: EMC Series SFSA Anti-Rotation ISO 21287 Pneumatic Cylinders

Technical information & FAQs

EMC SFSA Anti-Rotation ISO 21287 Pneumatic Cylinders

EMC Series SFSA pneumatic cylinders are double-acting ISO 21287 compact actuators with a non-rotating piston rod. They are designed for machinery where attached tooling needs to move linearly without being allowed to turn around the piston-rod axis.

This makes SFSA particularly useful for shaped pushers, locating tools, clamps, stops and other mechanisms where angular movement of the piston rod could cause the tooling to approach the workpiece incorrectly.

The current Cylinder Warehouse SFSA range covers 20, 25, 32 and 40 mm bore pneumatic cylinders with a broad selection of short and medium strokes. For the standard compact version without the anti-rotation feature, compare EMC SFS pneumatic cylinders. You can also browse all EMC pneumatic cylinders or compare other ISO 21287 compact pneumatic cylinders.

Why Use an Anti-Rotation Compact Pneumatic Cylinder?

A conventional pneumatic cylinder controls linear movement but does not necessarily prevent the piston rod from rotating around its own axis. For a simple push movement this may not matter, but it becomes important when the piston rod carries tooling that must repeatedly arrive at the same angular orientation.

SFSA provides rotational restraint within the compact actuator itself. This helps keep attached components aligned without requiring a separate external anti-rotation mechanism for straightforward applications.

EMC SFSA Technical Specification

Manufacturer	EMC
Series	SFSA
Product Category	Anti-rotation compact pneumatic cylinders
Dimensional Standard	ISO 21287
Operation	Double acting
Piston-Rod Configuration	Non-rotating / anti-rotation
Current Cylinder Warehouse Bore Sizes	20, 25, 32 and 40 mm
Current Stroke Availability	5 to 100 mm depending on bore
Position Detection	Magnetic piston
Cylinder Switch Types	D and A series
Head and Foot	Aluminium
Cylinder Tube	Anodised aluminium
Piston Rod	Stainless steel on 20–25 mm; hard-chrome-plated steel from 32 mm upward
Seal Materials	NBR / PUR
Maximum Operating Pressure	10 bar
Temperature Range	-20°C to +80°C
Rod Thread Option	External male thread available with -B option

20 to 40 mm Bore SFSA Pneumatic Cylinders

The current Cylinder Warehouse SFSA range is concentrated around four compact bore sizes:

20 mm bore pneumatic cylinders — lightweight anti-rotation movements for compact machinery.
25 mm bore pneumatic cylinders — greater force while retaining a very small ISO 21287 body.
32 mm bore pneumatic cylinders — general automation, fixture and positioning applications.
40 mm bore pneumatic cylinders — the largest SFSA bore currently represented in Cylinder Warehouse.

Current SFSA Stroke Range

SFSA is not limited to ultra-short movements. The current catalogue includes 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 80 and 100 mm stroke combinations depending on bore.

For example, Cylinder Warehouse currently contains SFSA 25/80, SFSA 32/100 and SFSA 40/100, giving the anti-rotation platform considerably more travel capability than a purely short-stroke clamp or stopper cylinder.

Pneumatic Connections by Bore

Bore	Verified Pneumatic Port	Standard Rod Thread
20 mm	M5	M6
25 mm	M5	M6
32 mm	G1/8	M8 × 1.25
40 mm	G1/8	M8 × 1.25

The change in pneumatic port and rod connection is another reason to use the complete EMC MPN when replacing an existing SFSA pneumatic cylinder.

Different Piston-Rod Materials Across the Range

EMC specifies stainless-steel piston rods on the smaller 20 and 25 mm versions. From 32 mm upward, verified SFSA product data specifies hard-chrome-plated steel.

This distinction should be retained in the product-level data rather than applying one generic piston-rod material to every SFSA pneumatic cylinder.

Magnetic Position Sensing

SFSA uses a magnetic piston and supports compatible EMC D- and A-series cylinder switches.

This allows the machine control system to confirm whether the anti-rotation tooling has reached its required position before the next stage of the process starts.

SFS or SFSA?

EMC Series	Piston-Rod Configuration	Best Starting Point When...
SFS	Standard piston rod	A conventional ISO 21287 compact pneumatic movement is required
SFSA	Non-rotating piston rod	Attached tooling must maintain its angular orientation during extension and retraction

This is the key distinction between the two collections. SFSA is not simply another naming variation of SFS; the anti-rotation piston rod changes the mechanical function of the pneumatic cylinder.

SFSA Is Not the Same as a Fully Guided Pneumatic Cylinder

The anti-rotation piston rod helps control angular movement, but it should not automatically be treated as a substitute for a dedicated guided pneumatic cylinder designed to support substantial lateral loads and bending moments.

If the attached tooling creates significant side loading, compare EMC SGM guided pneumatic cylinders or browse the wider guided pneumatic cylinder range.

ISO 21287 Compact Dimensions

SFSA follows the ISO 21287 compact-cylinder standard, giving engineers a recognised dimensional basis when evaluating the actuator for a machine build or replacement.

ISO 21287 itself covers compact pneumatic cylinders from 20 to 100 mm bore at pressures up to 10 bar. The standard does not provide adjustable pneumatic cushioning, so applications requiring adjustable end-of-stroke deceleration should be reviewed separately.

Example: EMC SFSA 25/40

SFSA 25/40 is a 25 mm bore × 40 mm stroke double-acting ISO 21287 pneumatic cylinder with a non-rotating piston rod and M5 pneumatic connection.

Verified product data specifies an aluminium head and foot, anodised aluminium tube, stainless-steel piston rod, NBR / PUR seals, magnetic piston, maximum 10 bar operating pressure and -20°C to +80°C temperature range.

Example: EMC SFSA 32/5

SFSA 32/5 is a 32 mm bore × 5 mm stroke version with a G1/8 pneumatic connection and non-rotating piston rod.

The verified 32 mm construction changes the piston-rod material to hard-chrome-plated steel while retaining the anodised aluminium tube, NBR / PUR seals, magnetic piston and ISO 21287 compact format.

Replacing an Existing EMC SFSA Pneumatic Cylinder

The complete manufacturer code should be preserved wherever possible. A code such as SFSA 32/100 identifies not only a 32 mm bore and 100 mm stroke but also the anti-rotation SFSA configuration.

Replacing it with a standard SFS of the same bore and stroke may remove the rotational restraint that the machine tooling relies on.

If an exact EMC unit is unavailable, use the ISO 21287 compact pneumatic cylinder range to compare alternatives while preserving the anti-rotation requirement.

EMC SFSA Selection Questions

What is the main difference between SFSA and SFS?

SFSA uses a non-rotating piston rod. SFS uses the standard piston-rod configuration. Choose SFSA where attached tooling must remain angularly aligned.

Is SFSA definitely ISO 21287?

Yes. Verified SFSA product data identifies it as a double-acting ISO 21287 compact pneumatic cylinder.

Does SFSA support position sensors?

Yes. Standard SFSA pneumatic cylinders use a magnetic piston and support compatible D- and A-series switches.

Is anti-rotation the same as full external guidance?

No. SFSA restricts piston-rod rotation, but a dedicated guided pneumatic cylinder such as EMC SGM is more appropriate where the actuator also needs to support significant side loads or moments.

What bore sizes are currently available from Cylinder Warehouse?

The current SFSA catalogue contains 20, 25, 32 and 40 mm bore pneumatic cylinders.

How long do the current SFSA strokes go?

Cylinder Warehouse currently carries SFSA combinations up to 100 mm stroke.

What does -B mean on an SFSA product?

The -B option identifies an external male piston-rod thread rather than the standard internal connection.

Where can I compare the normal non-rotating-free version?

See EMC SFS pneumatic cylinders for the standard ISO 21287 compact configuration.

Where can I browse all EMC pneumatic cylinders?

Return to the complete EMC pneumatic cylinder range or browse all pneumatic cylinders.

Request Quote

44 pneumatic cylinder products in this range.

EMC
SFSA 32/25
32mm bore x 25mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/25

£59.40 EX VAT

£71.28 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/15
32mm bore x 15mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/15

£57.62 EX VAT

£69.14 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/80
32mm bore x 80mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/80

£66.96 EX VAT

£80.35 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/60
32mm bore x 60mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/60

£63.17 EX VAT

£75.80 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/50
32mm bore x 50mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/50

£62.81 EX VAT

£75.37 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/5
32mm bore x 5mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/5

£55.80 EX VAT

£66.96 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/40
32mm bore x 40mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/40

£61.02 EX VAT

£73.22 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/30
32mm bore x 30mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/30

£60.12 EX VAT

£72.14 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/20
32mm bore x 20mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/20

£58.35 EX VAT

£70.02 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/100
32mm bore x 100mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/100

£70.82 EX VAT

£84.98 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 32/10
32mm bore x 10mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 32/10

£56.54 EX VAT

£67.85 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/25
25mm bore x 25mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/25

£51.45 EX VAT

£61.74 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/15
25mm bore x 15mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/15

£50.00 EX VAT

£60.00 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/80
25mm bore x 80mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/80

£57.95 EX VAT

£69.54 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/60
25mm bore x 60mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/60

£54.84 EX VAT

£65.81 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/50
25mm bore x 50mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/50

£54.62 EX VAT

£65.54 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/5
25mm bore x 5mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/5

£48.18 EX VAT

£57.82 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/40
25mm bore x 40mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/40

£52.83 EX VAT

£63.40 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/30
25mm bore x 30mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/30

£52.17 EX VAT

£62.60 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/20
25mm bore x 20mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/20

£50.72 EX VAT

£60.86 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/100
25mm bore x 100mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/100

£61.08 EX VAT

£73.30 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 25/10
25mm bore x 10mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 25/10

£48.90 EX VAT

£58.68 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 40/25
40mm bore x 25mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 40/25

£66.11 EX VAT

£79.33 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 40/15
40mm bore x 15mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 40/15

£64.19 EX VAT

£77.03 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 40/80
40mm bore x 80mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 40/80

£73.32 EX VAT

£87.98 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 40/60
40mm bore x 60mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 40/60

£69.60 EX VAT

£83.52 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 40/50
40mm bore x 50mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 40/50

£69.27 EX VAT

£83.12 INC VAT

View Details
EMC
SFSA 40/5
40mm bore x 5mm stroke
ISO 21287 | ISO 21287 Compact Pneumatic Cylinder
Manufacturer Part Number SFSA 40/5

£62.24 EX VAT

£74.69 INC VAT

View Details