SMC CDQ2 to AirTAC ACQ compact cylinder cross-reference
A close functional match — with two things you must check before you treat it as a drop-in.
SMC’s CDQ2 compact cylinders cross-reference to AirTAC’s ACQ series. They match closely on bore, stroke, action, port thread (SMC’s Rc and AirTAC’s PT are the same taper), and NBR seals. But two things need care: (1) neither series declares the ISO 21287 compact standard, so the shared mount matches in practice — the ACQ follows the SMC CQ2 shape, but no common standard guarantees it — so verify the mounting-hole pattern against both dimension tables; and (2) match the magnet variant(an SMC CDQ2…D has a built-in magnet; use the AirTAC ACQ…S, not the base part). Verdict: application-dependent — a close match, not a blind drop-in.
Verified cross-references
AirTAC International Group is headquartered in Taiwan and manufactures in mainland China (Ningbo, Foshan) and Taiwan. Each card cites its catalog sources.
| Spec | SMC | AirTAC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bore | 32 mm | 32 mm | match |
| Stroke | 50 mm | 50 mm | match |
| Mounting | CQ2 / JIS | ACQ / JIS | not ISO 21287 — verify dims |
| Magnet | …DZ has magnet | base ACQ none — use ACQ…S | match the variant |
| Port thread | Rc 1/8 | PT 1/8 | same taper (Rc ≡ PT) |
| Seal | NBR | NBR | match |
| Min. pressure | 0.05–0.07 MPa | 0.15 MPa | higher — low-pressure only |
Before you substitute: Neither cylinder declares ISO 21287 — the shared mount matches in practice but is not set by a standard (the ACQ follows the SMC CQ2 / JIS shape), so verify the mounting-hole pattern against both dimension tables before you commit. Match the magnet variant: SMC's …DZ has a built-in magnet, so use AirTAC ACQ…S (with magnet), not the base part. Both use NBR seals; the AirTAC needs a higher minimum pressure (0.15 vs 0.05 MPa).
Sources: SMC CQ2/CDQ2-Z catalog (Best Pneumatics No.2); AirTAC ACQ series catalog (2024-09). Neither series declares ISO 21287. Verified 2026-07-24.
| Spec | SMC | AirTAC | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bore | 40 mm | 40 mm | match |
| Stroke | 50 mm | 50 mm | match |
| Mounting | CQ2 / JIS | ACQ / JIS | not ISO 21287 — verify dims |
| Magnet | …DZ has magnet | base ACQ none — use ACQ…S | match the variant |
| Port thread | Rc 1/8 | PT 1/8 | same taper (Rc ≡ PT) |
| Seal | NBR | NBR | match |
| Min. pressure | 0.05–0.07 MPa | 0.15 MPa | higher — low-pressure only |
Before you substitute: Neither cylinder declares ISO 21287 — the shared mount matches in practice but is not set by a standard (the ACQ follows the SMC CQ2 / JIS shape), so verify the mounting-hole pattern against both dimension tables before you commit. Match the magnet variant: SMC's …DZ has a built-in magnet, so use AirTAC ACQ…S (with magnet), not the base part. Both use NBR seals; the AirTAC needs a higher minimum pressure (0.15 vs 0.05 MPa).
Sources: SMC CQ2/CDQ2-Z catalog (Best Pneumatics No.2); AirTAC ACQ series catalog (2024-09). Neither series declares ISO 21287. Verified 2026-07-24.
What matches, and what to verify
Unlike ISO 15552 profile cylinders, compact cylinders are not tied to one interchange standard here. The SMC CQ2 is SMC’s own JIS-derived compact, and the AirTAC ACQ states it follows the JIS standard — so the two share a footprint in practice, but neither guarantees it through ISO 21287. That changes what you can assume:
- Mounting — verify it.The match is real in the field but not standard-backed, and we did not dimension-compare the bolt-hole pattern. Check the mounting holes and body square against both makers’ dimension drawings before you commit.
- Magnet variant — match it.The “D” in the SMC part number means a built-in magnet. Pair it with the AirTAC ACQ…S, or you lose position sensing.
- Minimum pressure — check it.The ACQ starts at 0.15 MPa against 0.05–0.07 MPa for the CDQ2. Only relevant for low pressure or gentle, low-force movement.
- Port and seal — already aligned. Rc and PT are the same taper at the same size, and both default to NBR seals.
Distributor pages that call the ACQ a “direct replacement” for the CQ2 are marketing, not a dimensional guarantee. Treat the mount as verify-before-commit.
Frequently asked
Is the AirTAC ACQ a drop-in for the SMC CDQ2?
It is a close functional match — same bore, stroke, action, port (Rc and PT are the same taper), and NBR seals — but not a verified blind drop-in. Neither series declares the ISO 21287 compact standard, so the shared mount matches in practice (the ACQ follows the SMC CQ2 shape) but no standard guarantees it. Verify the mounting-hole pattern against both dimension tables first.
Why does the magnet matter when I cross-reference these?
The SMC part number tells you. A CDQ2 with a 'D' (e.g. CDQ2B32-50DZ) has a built-in magnet for a position switch. The base AirTAC ACQ32X50 has no magnet — the magnet version is ACQ32X50S. If you need switch sensing, pair with the 'S' part, not the base part.
Do the port threads match?
Yes, at the same size. SMC's default is Rc 1/8 and AirTAC's is PT 1/8 — Rc and PT are the same tapered thread form, so they are interchangeable. Both makers also list G (BSPP) and NPT as options if you need them.
Is the AirTAC ACQ a Chinese product?
AirTAC International Group is headquartered in Taiwan and manufactures in mainland China (Ningbo and Foshan) and Taiwan. The ACQ is China-manufactured.
Sources
- SMC CQ2 / CDQ2-Z catalog (Best Pneumatics No.2) — spec, ordering code, construction.
- AirTAC ACQ series catalog (2024-09) — specification, stroke table, material of major parts.
- ISO 21287 — compact-cylinder standard; noted here because neither series declares conformance to it.
Matching a compact cylinder?
Send us the SMC part you run today. We confirm the mount, the magnet variant, and the rest of the spec before you commit.