Professional Selection Guides & Technical Insights
Short answer: Match Festo cylinders within the same ISO standard, never by bore alone. ISO 15552 profile cylinders (DNC, DSBC) interchange on mounting dimensions; ISO 6432 round cylinders (DSNU) and ISO 21287 compacts (ADN) do not. Decode the series, bore and cushioning code, then cross-reference inside that standard.
Festo has thousands of cylinder variants, but every model number is assembled from the same blocks: series prefix, bore, stroke, cushioning and a variant code. Learn to read those blocks and you can tell, without a catalog, whether two part numbers are the same cylinder, a compatible successor, or two unrelated products that merely share a bore size. This guide works through the real families you will meet in the field: DNC, DSBC, DSNU and ADN. Every series, standard and parameter below comes from Festo's own documentation, so you can verify it before you order.
Take a common Festo standard cylinder: DNC-32-100-PPV-A. It breaks down like this:
| Block | Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Series | DNC | ISO 15552 profile cylinder, classic series |
| Bore | 32 | 32 mm piston diameter |
| Stroke | 100 | 100 mm stroke |
| Cushioning | PPV | Pneumatic cushioning, adjustable at both ends |
| Variant | A | Standard variant |
The same grammar covers the other families. DSNU-32-100-PPV-A is a round cylinder of the same bore and stroke. DSBC-40-50-PPVA-N3 is a DSBC profile cylinder, 40 mm bore, 50 mm stroke, with pneumatic cushioning and an "N3" series detail. The series tells you which ISO standard the cylinder is built to, and that standard decides what will physically fit in place of the old unit.
Festo's cylinder families map cleanly onto three international standards. The standard number is the single most useful piece of information in a cross-reference, because it defines bore sizes, mounting dimensions and port positions that manufacturers agree on.
| Festo series | Type | ISO standard | Bore range (Festo) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSNU | Round cylinder, double acting | ISO 6432 | 8–25 mm (ISO); 32 mm also offered | Stainless steel barrel and piston rod, not repairable, PPS/PPV cushioning |
| DNC | Profile cylinder | ISO 15552 | 32–125 mm | Classic series, widest variant range on the market, incl. -KP clamping, -EL end-position lock, V1–V6 cylinder/valve combos |
| DSBC | Profile cylinder | ISO 15552 | 32–125 mm | Current series, two integrated sensor slots, self-adjusting cushioning (PPSA) or adjustable (PPVA), magnetic piston for sensing |
| ADN | Compact cylinder | ISO 21287 | Compact sizes, from ADN-12 (12 mm) up; short strokes | Short-stroke design for tight spaces; magnetic piston, piston bumpers, air cushioning options |
Bore availability varies slightly between generations of a series, so confirm the exact range in the current Festo catalog before quoting an equivalent.
Two series, DNC and DSBC, share ISO 15552. That is the pair you will cross-reference most often, so it gets its own section below. Round and compact cylinders each sit alone on their own standard, which is exactly why they are not drop-in equivalents of each other.
DNC is the long-running classic; DSBC is Festo's current ISO 15552 profile cylinder. Neither has replaced the other in Festo's catalog, and both are listed today. What matters for a cross-reference is that they share the same ISO 15552 mounting standard, so a DNC and a DSBC of the same bore and stroke line up on the same holes, ports and rod thread. They are not identical units, though. The table below shows what to compare before you swap one for the other.
| Original (old) model | Current equivalent | Parameter differences | Replacement cautions |
|---|---|---|---|
| DNC-32-100-PPV-A | DSBC-32-100-PPVA-N3 (same bore and stroke, ISO 15552) | DSBC has two integrated sensor slots for proximity switches (e.g. SMT-8); DNC needs its own sensor mounting arrangement. DSBC offers self-adjusting cushioning versions (PPSA) that adapt to load and speed changes; PPV-type adjustable cushioning remains available | Confirm bore, stroke, cushioning type and port size against your drawing. If your machine uses sensors clamped in the DNC's arrangement, re-check the sensing kit: it must fit the DSBC's slots. Compare force and cushioning length for high-speed or heavy-load strokes. Seals: standard NBR; check FKM/high-temperature versions if your media or ambient heat demands them |
| DNC-50-… (any stroke) | DSBC-50-… (same stroke) | DSBC versions with magnetic piston for position sensing are standard options; drive catalogue ordering | If the old DNC had no position sensing but the machine relies on external switches, order the DSBC with the magnetic-piston option or fit switches to the slots |
| DNC with special variant (-KP, -EL, -V…) | No direct DSBC equivalent | DNC-KP clamping, DNC-EL end-position lock and V-series cylinder/valve combinations are DNC-specific derivatives | Do not replace a special-variant DNC with a plain DSBC; the machine may depend on the clamping or locking function. Keep the DNC series or contact a supplier to confirm a matched solution |
The honest rule here: within ISO 15552, DNC and DSBC are interchangeable in mounting terms but not identical in engineering terms. Treat every parameter as a checklist item, not a given.
The most expensive mistake in Festo spare-parts buying is assuming that two cylinders with the same bore can replace each other. They cannot if they belong to different ISO standards, because the mounting geometry differs.
| Wrong assumption | Example | What is actually different | What to do instead |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Same bore = same cylinder" | DSNU-25-… does NOT replace DNC-25-… | DSNU is a round ISO 6432 cylinder with threaded-mount accessories; DNC is a profile ISO 15552 cylinder with profile-rail accessories. Different overall dimensions, mounting patterns and attachment range | Keep the same ISO family as the original, or re-engineer the mounting (rarely worth it for a spare part) |
| "32 mm DSNU fills the ISO 6432 slot" | DSNU-32-… exists but sits outside the ISO 6432 bore range | Festo documents 8–25 mm as the ISO 6432 range; the 32 mm round cylinder is an extension, not part of the standard | Check the actual mounting and envelope against the machine, and confirm the standard before quoting equivalents |
| "ADN (ISO 21287) replaces a short DNC" | Compact cylinder vs profile cylinder at similar stroke | ADN is built to ISO 21287 with different dimensions; it is not a shorter DNC | Use ADN only where the original is ISO 21287, or where the design explicitly allows the compact envelope |
When a customer sends us a part number that turns out to be a mix of two series, this is usually the reason. Same bore, different standard, no fit.
Valves and fittings follow the same discipline. A valve like a Festo VUVS unit carries its own type code, and the cross-reference must match port size, flow rating and electrical connection rather than the series name alone. Quick-connect fittings in the QS family are specified by tubing outer diameter and the port thread, so read both off the drawing: two fittings that look alike can differ in the thread. We keep this brief on purpose. Cylinder cross-referencing runs on ISO standards you can verify in public documents, while valves and fittings depend on application-specific flow and connection data that should be confirmed order by order.
Part numbers get rubbed off, and older machines carry types that Festo renumbered decades ago. In that case you still have three usable handles: the nameplate (nominal bore, stroke and pressure give you the cylinder class), the mounting pattern (measure it, then match it to ISO 15552/6432/21287 dimension tables) and the machine builder's spare-parts list. Send us any of these, or a photo of the old unit, and we will identify the Festo series, confirm the ISO standard and quote the matching current part number.
Ruilianxin Technology supplies genuine Festo cylinders, valves and fittings sourced from the manufacturers or their first-tier distributors, with original packaging and traceable documentation. Quote us a part number and we will confirm the current equivalent and lead time; send a photo or nameplate if the number is gone. Single-piece orders are fine, and popular models can ship in 1–2 weeks from stock.
Read it left to right: series (DNC = ISO 15552 profile cylinder), bore (32 mm), stroke (100 mm), cushioning (PPV = pneumatic cushioning, adjustable at both ends) and variant (A = standard). The series prefix is the key, because it points to the ISO standard the cylinder is built to, and that standard determines what will physically fit in its place.
Both are ISO 15552 profile cylinders, and Festo lists both today, so DSBC is a mounting-compatible current alternative rather than a formal replacement. A DSBC of the same bore and stroke shares ISO 15552 mounting dimensions, but compare cushioning, sensor mounting and any special variant. DSBC offers two integrated sensor slots and self-adjusting cushioning versions; special DNC derivatives such as -KP clamping or -EL end-position locking have no plain DSBC equivalent.
No. DSNU is built to ISO 6432 with round-barrel mounting, while DNC is an ISO 15552 profile cylinder with different dimensions, mounting pattern and accessory range. The same bore does not mean the same cylinder. Match the ISO family first; only re-engineer the mounting if there is no way to keep the original series.
In mounting terms, yes: ISO 15552 defines the same bore sizes, mounting dimensions and port positions across manufacturers, which is exactly why the standard exists. In engineering terms, no: forces, cushioning, sensor slots, seal materials and options differ by brand and series. Mounting compatibility is a starting point, not a substitute for checking the full specification.
Ruilianxin Technology supplies genuine Festo components sourced from the manufacturers or first-tier distributors, with original packaging and traceable documentation. If the part number is worn off, send a photo of the old unit or its nameplate; we will identify the series and ISO standard and quote the matching current part. Just send an inquiry.
Send us the old part number, a photo of the cylinder or its nameplate. The Ruilianxin technical team will identify the series and ISO standard and quote the matching current part.
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