Modular slip-rings help industrial robots enjoy a long and active life

Citation

(2002), "Modular slip-rings help industrial robots enjoy a long and active life", Industrial Robot, Vol. 29 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2002.04929dad.004

Modular slip-rings help industrial robots enjoy a long and active life

Modular slip-rings help industrial robots enjoy a long and active life

Keywords: Industrial, Robots

Manufacturers of industrial robots looking for a versatile, cost effective and reliable method of transmitting control signals and electrical power across rotating joints will find the ideal solution in the H Series of miniature slip-ring assemblies from IDM Electronics.

Now available in a wide range of configurations up to 36 ways, the H Series is specifically designed for medium to high volume production applications using intermittently or continuously rotating shafts.

The small, robust H Series incorporates a number of special features as standard to ensure reliable, high specification performance over the life of the machine. Using gold plated rings, gold alloy brushes and precision ball bearings, it is a proven product that has been tested to over 40 million revolutions (Plate 4).

Offering 360 degree movement, low noise and low torque it is able to transmit digital control and position signals and electrical power up to 6amps across rotating waist, elbow or wrist joints in operating temperatures ranging from –20 to 90°C.

With a diameter of just 12.5mm for up to 12 channels and 22mm for up to 36 channels, the H Series' compact dimensions allow installation in the smallest spaces. The silver plated, PTFE insulated leads are 300mm long as standard, but any length of leads terminated with connectors to any specification can be supplied.

Plate 4 Modular slip-rings help industrial robots enjoy a long and active life

Suitable for use at all voltages up to 240V AC and DC, insulation resistance is over 200 Megohms at 500V DC.

The H Series can be configured to meet most combinations of up to 36 signal and 12 power channels, enabling the customer to achieve significant cost savings. Unlike competitive units, the modular design allows the customer to specify exactly the configuration required, so, for example, OEMs no longer have to fit 12-way slip rings when the application only needs seven.

The H Series is part of an extensive range of slip rings manufactured in the UK by IDM Electronics Ltd, part of the Kaydon Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of precision high performance electro-deposited slip rings. The group also includes Electro-Tec of the USA and Focal Technologies of Canada, and IDM is able to supply a complete range of slip rings from miniature capsules and separates through to 150cm diameter turret rings, rotary base junctions, twist capsules, fibre optic rotary joints and their associated multiplexing systems.

For further information contact: Warren North, IDM Electronics Ltd, 30 Suttons Park Avenue, Suttons Business Park, Reading, Berkshire RG6 lAW. Tel: 0118 966 6044; Fax: 0118 966 6524; E-mail: info@idmelectronics.co.uk