Choosing a distributor: resist, volumetric or progressive
Once you know how the three architectures meter a dose (see how centralised lubrication works), the question is which one fits your machine. This page compares them by pressure, point count and lubricant, then gives the specs for every distributor we supply so you can pick a model.
Before you compare
Four questions that decide the architecture
How many lube points?
A resist-type distributor suits a handful of points. A single SD2 progressive distributor can feed up to 20 from 3 to 10 blocks; combine volumetric blocks or add further outlets on an RH3 to cover more.
What pressure can you supply?
Resist and volumetric distributors work from a pump delivering roughly 8 to 20 kgf/cm². A progressive SD2 needs a pump capable of its 1.4 MPa starting pressure, and is rated to 25 MPa.
Oil or grease?
Resist-type distributors are oil only. Volumetric and progressive distributors take both, though not every model is rated for grease: check the by-model table below before you specify one on a grease system.
Does a missed point need to be obvious?
A progressive distributor is self-checking: because its blocks fire in strict sequence, one blocked outlet stalls the whole chain and shows up as a pressure rise at the pump. A resist or volumetric distributor doses each point independently, so a single blockage stays local.
Side by side
Compare the three architectures
The single-line metering distributor (DK) is a fourth option worth a row of its own: it doses by a fixed piston stroke like a volumetric distributor, but the dose is fixed at the factory by model rather than adjustable in the field.
Resist type
One continuous flow, proportioned by a fixed restriction. Simplest, but not individually guaranteed.
Volumetric
Each piston discharges the same fixed volume. Distance to the point does not change the dose.
Progressive
Blocks are mechanically interlocked to fire in order, so one stuck outlet stalls the whole chain.
Single-line metering (DK)
Each outlet's dose is fixed by the model fitted, not by an adjustment in the field.
| Architecture | Meters by | Working pressure | Lubricant | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Resist type | Fixed flow restriction; proportional, not individually guaranteed | 1.5 to 20 kgf/cm² | Oil, 20 to 50 cSt | Light machinery with few points: printing, packaging, small tools |
| Volumetric | Piston stroke per outlet; dose is the same regardless of pipe length | 8 to 15 kgf/cm² oil; up to 50 kgf/cm² grease on 35 and RH3 type | Oil, 20 to 500 cSt; grease 00# or 000# on 35 and RH3 type | Points at very different distances from the pump: machine tools, textile machinery, plastics, elevators |
| Progressive | Blocks fire in strict sequence; self-checking | 1.4 to 25 MPa | Oil of ≥ 68 mm²/s at 40 °C, or grease of penetration ≥ 265 | Construction and heavy machinery, or as a single-line master distributor on large equipment |
| Single-line metering (DK) | Fixed piston stroke, set by model rather than adjustable | 12 to 15 kgf/cm² oil | Oil or grease, by model: plain models run oil, G-suffix models run grease | Single-line systems where each point needs a different, fixed dose off one common feed line |
Every model we supply
Specs by model
Once you have an architecture, this is the detail to size a specific model against your point count and dose requirement.
| Model | Architecture | Outlets or points | Discharge volume | Working pressure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TCJ & TCZ | Resist type | Not limited by a piston count | Proportional to restriction size, not a fixed volume | 1.5 to 20 kgf/cm² |
| 34 type | Volumetric | 2, 3, 4 or 5 | 0.03, 0.06, 0.1 or 0.16 mL per outlet | 8 to 12 kgf/cm² (oil) |
| 35 type | Volumetric | 2, 3, 5 or 6 | 0.1 to 0.6 mL per outlet | 12 to 15 kgf/cm² oil; 30 to 40 kgf/cm² grease |
| RH3 | Volumetric | 2, 3, 4 or 5; further outlets can be connected | 0.03 to 0.4 mL per outlet | 12 to 15 kgf/cm² oil; 20 to 50 kgf/cm² grease |
| DK | Single-line metering | Sized to the machine, via joint connectors | 0.05 mL/cycle (DK-05) to 0.5 mL/cycle (DK-50) | 12 to 15 kgf/cm² (DK-05 to DK-30) |
| SD2 | Progressive | 1 to 20 per combined distributor, from 3 to 10 blocks | 0.16 to 0.56 mL/cycle double outlet; 0.32 to 1.12 mL/cycle single outlet | 1.4 MPa starting; 25 MPa maximum |
For the grade or viscosity each of these takes, see choosing the right lubricant. If a distributor is already fitted and not delivering evenly, the troubleshooting guide covers blocked outlets and how a progressive chain shows a fault at the pump.
Not sure which distributor fits?
Tell us the point count, the working pressure your pump delivers, and oil or grease, and we'll recommend the distributor and model.