Slip Rings
Power, data and media across a rotating joint.
Transmission of electrical currents, signals, data fieldbus, and ethernet as well as liquids and gases. Contacting or contactless transmission. From standard to customised solutions, supplied and supported by Pacific Automation from Kübler.
What is a slip ring?
Slip rings allow the transfer of power, data or signals between a stationary and a 360 degree rotating surface. Without a slip ring the wires would get wrapped around and snap.
Inside a slip ring you will find two main components, a metal ring and contact brushes that transmit the power, data or signal. As the ring turns, the electric current is conducted through the brush to the ring making connection.
Kübler use a number of different electrically conductive metals and combinations depending on the application, speed and power. The number of rings and brushes found in a slip ring assembly vary depending on the needs of the device and are stacked along the shaft or axis of the slip ring.
It starts before the order
Three questions we ask alongside the part number, so the slip ring carries everything the joint has to pass.
Where does it run?
Washdown, dust, vibration and temperature, the housing material that suits it, and the bore and installation depth available.
What is it doing?
How many power, signal and data channels, the current and data rate, the rotational speed, and whether air, hydraulics or fluids also pass through.
What if it is wrong?
Cable wind-up and a snapped harness, signal noise on a data channel, brushes worn early, a machine stripped down to replace it.
Standard slip rings
Three standard series: compact, modular and contactless. Explore Kübler's range of slip ring solutions including customisable options.
Industrial ethernet, now in the 85 mm size
Reliable transmission of industrial ethernet is now also possible in the 85 mm size. For this purpose, the SR085 slip rings from Kübler have been expanded with a fast ethernet module, which enables a transmission rate of up to 100 Mbit/s.
The connection for data transmission is made as standard via a CAT5e cable with RJ45 plug connection. Customer-specific solutions can also be implemented on request.
Specific solutions for specific requirements
Talk to our slip ring experts today.
Customised solutions
Providing an individual and tailored slip ring solution for your application.
Contacting slip rings
Contacting transmission is based on special contact brushes that slide against the matching counter-rotating contact rings. The appropriate contact technology is selected based on the application. Our modular system includes a wide range of contacting transmission technologies, including gold wire, silver bundles, and metal graphite brushes.
Contactless slip rings
Contactless transmission is either inductive, capacitive, or optical. Depending on requirements, we also use these technologies in combination with other contactless and contacting transmissions. For example analogue signals could be inductive, field buses and industrial ethernet up to 16 Gbps capacitive, and power up to 120 A contacting.
Slip ring design
Whether standard or customised, we offer you the right design for your application. The housing is available in plastic, aluminium, or stainless steel and is therefore protected against water spray, water jets, and dust. In addition, slip rings from Kübler are tested for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). Integrated sensors such as Kübler encoders, temperature monitoring, and much more are used to implement condition monitoring.
Media lead-through
In addition to electrical transmission, other media are often also connected. We develop the suitable solution for you for a fast and uncomplicated mounting. Examples of media we can also connect:
Configured for performance
Four configurations, from 100 Mbps with 25 A through to 1 Gbps with 150 A, plus a pancake design for end-of-arm tooling.
Often scoped alongside
For reliable slip ring solutions contact Pacific Automation to discuss your next project
Send us the application: the channels you need to pass, the current and data rate, the rotational speed, the bore and depth available, and any air or fluid that has to go through with it. Our team will scope the slip ring to match.
We supply and support the product. Your team or your integrator installs and commissions it. We make sure it is the right one.