203-846-2021
sales@airpot.com
35 Lois Street, Norwalk, CT 06851
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TRC ISO
  • Home
  • Company
    • About
    • Blog
    • Quality
  • Product Lines
    • Low Friction Air Cylinders
    • Dashpots and Shock Absorbers
    • Piston Cylinder Sets
    • Airpel – FFR (Filter-Filter Regulator)
    • GramForce® Grippers
    • Position Sensors
  • Applications
    • Damp Motion
    • Actuate with Air or Vacuum
    • Piston Position Sensing
    • Apply a Precision Force
    • Pump or Pulse Air
    • Sense / Indicate / Relieve Pressure
    • Make Your Own Low Friction Device
    • Filter & Regulate Air Supply
    • Ventilators
  • Support
    • Terms Of Sale
    • Engineering Guides
    • Videos
    • FAQs
    • Decipher Part Number
  • Contact
    • Airpot
    • Distributors
Home / Product Lines / Low Friction Air Cylinders
  • Low Friction Air Cylinders
    • Airpel
    • Airpel Plus
    • Airpel-AB
    • Compact Actuators
  • Dashpots and Shock Absorbers
    • Airpot Air Dashpots
    • Snubbers (Pneumatic Shock Absorbers)
  • Piston Cylinder Sets
    • Stock
    • Custom
  • Airpel – FFR (Filter-Filter Regulator)
    • Compact Systems
    • High Flow Systems
  • GramForce® Grippers
    • Sensor Ready Gripper
    • Sensors for Grippers
  • Position Sensors

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOW FRICTION AIR CYLINDER FOR YOU

The chart below offers a quick comparison of our four basic designs.
Airpel Plus
Airpel
Airpel-AB
Compact Actuators
Double Acting
Available?
No (Air Extend Only) Yes No (Air Extend Only) No (Air Extend Only)
Friction Very Low

(0.5% of Load MAX)
Low

(2% of Load Typical)
Zero

(Small Friction in Rod Joints)
Low

(1-2% of Load Typical)
Output Force 0.04 N to 1086 N

0.008 lbf to 244 lbf
0.24 N to 573 N

0.053 lbf to 128.8 lbf
2 N to 581 N

0.45 lbf to 130.6 lbf
0.03 N to 1070 N

0.008 lbf to 240.5 lbf
Best Applications Z-Axis
Counterbalancing

Dancer Arm Tensioning
Back and Forth
Movement

Spring Return Needed
Clean Rooms

Matched with Air
Bearing Slide
Very Low
Supply Pressure

Tight Spaces
Limitations Straight-Line
Motion Only

Load Must be Guided
Not Suitable for
Counterbalancing

Not Suitable for
Dancer Arm Tensioning
Straight-Line
Motion Only

Higher Minimum
Pressures
Less Rugged

Load Must be Guided

EXPLORE LOW FRICTION AIR CYLINDERS

actuate with air or vacuum

Airpot Corp. manufactures four basic families of pneumatic actuators, Airpel Anti-Stiction cylinders, Airpel Plus, Airpel-AB air bearing cylinders, and Airpot Self- Aligning Actuators. All employ our unique combination of a borosilicate glass cylinder and either a graphite or specially shaped stainless steel piston and have outstanding performance properties with respect to friction, cleanliness, and temperature range. The major differences are in the level of friction, actuation direction capabilities, outer construction, mounting features, and dimensions. READ MORE

The performance properties of all four of our product families are vastly superior to those of conventional cylinders. Airpot and Airpel actuators are ideal for applying a precise force, a repeatable motive or counterbalancing force, applying a gentle or precise holding or squeezing force (as low as a few grams) and for actuation with uniform motion. You will also find our actuators ideal for requirements involving the need to move something slowly and smoothly, even over distances less than 0.1 inch and to cycle at very high speeds- up to 100 cps.

AIRPEL PLUS

The Airpel Plus model offers less than 25% of the friction of the already low friction basic Airpel and designed to be pressurized in the extension direction only.

BUILD YOUR PART

AIRPEL

The basic Airpel and the Airpot Self-Aligning Actuator lines share the capability to extend under pressure and vacuum actuate if desired.

BUILD YOUR PART

AIRPEL-AB

Our fourth family of actuators, the Airpel-AB line, offers the ultimate in accurate force control, responsiveness, cleanliness, and long life.

BUILD YOUR PART

COMPACT ACTUATORS

Airpot Corp. self-aligning pneumatic actuators employ our unique combination of a borosilicate glass cylinder and graphite piston and have notable performance properties with respect to friction, cleanliness, and temperature range.

BUILD YOUR PART
Airpot offers four product families in our line of customizable pneumatic actuator.
GET FREE SAMPLE
Get a free sample

CONTACT

sales@airpot.com
203-846-2021
Airpot Corporation 35 Lois Street, Norwalk, CT 06851, US

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HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday-Friday:
8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET
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Design and Development by Noble House Media Group
© 2025 Airpot. All rights reserved
Airpot®, Airpel®, Airpel Plus®, Airpel-AB®, and Gramforce® are registered trademarks of Airpot Corp.

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