Mini Pneumatic Push-In Fitting PC PL M3–M6 Male Thread – 3/4/6mm Tube Quick Connector

Description

Mini Pneumatic Push-In Fitting PC/PL – M3/M4/M5/M6 Male Thread, 3/4/6mm Tube OD

Miniature pneumatic push-in fittings for compact cylinder, valve, and instrument air circuits where standard G1/8” or G1/4” threaded fittings are physically too large. The M3, M4, M5, and M6 metric thread sizes are used on miniature pneumatic cylinders (MAL, MA series), micro solenoid valves, and precision instrument air ports where the port thread is smaller than the standard BSP/NPT range. PC series = straight push-in to male thread; PL series = 90° elbow push-in to male thread.

Key Specifications

Series: PC (straight) and PL (90° elbow)
Thread: M3, M4, M5, M6 metric male thread
Tube OD: 3mm, 4mm, 6mm (select above)
Body Material: Brass or nickel-plated brass
Working Pressure: 0–1.0 MPa (0–145 PSI)
Temperature Range: 0°C to +60°C
Media: Compressed air, water, light non-corrosive fluids

M5 Thread — The Pneumatic Micro-Standard

M5 is the most common thread size in miniature pneumatics — used on the majority of compact cylinders (bore 6–16mm), micro solenoid valves, and miniature flow control valves. Key facts:

M5 × 0.8mm pitch — fine thread, requires care not to cross-thread
Standard port depth: 4–6mm — use short-body fittings to avoid bottoming out
Typical torque: 0.3–0.5 Nm — hand-tight plus 1/4 turn maximum; over-tightening strips the thread in aluminum cylinder bodies
Sealing: M5 fittings seal via the O-ring on the fitting shoulder (face seal) — do not use PTFE tape on M5 threads

PC vs PL — Straight vs Elbow Selection

PC (straight): Tube exits along the fitting axis. Best when there is clearance above the port for the tube to run straight. Lowest profile at the port.
PL (90° elbow): Tube exits perpendicular to the fitting axis. Essential when the cylinder or valve is mounted close to a panel, wall, or adjacent component. Prevents tube kinking at the port exit. Required for side-ported cylinders in tight installations.

What Questions Does This Product Answer?

"What fitting do I need for an M5 port on a mini cylinder?" — PC-M5 (straight) or PL-M5 (elbow) with the tube OD matching your tubing: 3mm OD for 2mm ID tube, 4mm OD for 2.5mm ID tube. Verify tube OD — not ID — when selecting the fitting.
"Can I use PTFE tape on M5 pneumatic fittings?" — No. M5 push-in fittings seal via a face O-ring on the fitting shoulder. PTFE tape on M5 threads alters the thread engagement depth and can prevent the O-ring from seating correctly, causing leaks.
"What is the difference between M5 and G1/8” pneumatic ports?" — M5 is a metric thread (5mm diameter, 0.8mm pitch) used on miniature components. G1/8” is a BSP parallel thread (9.7mm diameter) used on standard-size pneumatic components. They are not interchangeable. M5 ports are physically much smaller than G1/8” ports.
"What tube size should I use with M5 fittings?" — M5 fittings are available for 3mm and 4mm OD tube. 3mm OD (2mm ID) is standard for miniature circuits with flow rates below 10 L/min. 4mm OD (2.5mm ID) provides slightly higher flow for faster cylinder actuation.

Typical Applications

Miniature cylinders: MAL, MA, CJ2 series compact cylinders with M5 ports
Micro solenoid valves: 2-way and 3-way miniature valves with M3–M5 ports
Precision instruments: Analytical equipment air supply, laboratory gas distribution, medical device pneumatics
Robotics: End-of-arm tooling vacuum circuits, gripper air supply, compact actuator connections
3D printing: Extruder cooling circuits, pneumatic filament cutters, enclosure pressure control