Slip Rings
Precision rotary interfaces designed for demanding industrial, medical, and aerospace systems.
High-reliability components that transmit electrical power, sensitive signals, and high-speed data across continuously rotating joints. Represented in the UK by Torquety, Servotecnica solutions eliminate wiring stress and enable unrestricted 360-degree rotation.
Rotary Interfaces Portfolio
Capsule Slip Rings
Precision instrumentation in surgical robotics, video surveillance, and scanner modules requires continuous rotation of sensor arrays. Transmitting clean analog and high-frequency digital signals through compact, rotating joints is essential to prevent data corruption.
Standard capsule designs often suffer from high dynamic electrical noise due to mechanical instability or generic copper contact wear. The SVTS A Series solves this by utilizing precision gold-on-gold contact technology, which limits contact resistance to under 10 mΩ and protects data integrity over a long operating life.
Mechanically, these capsule joints are available in diameters from 12.4 mm to 25 mm with weights ranging from 20 g to 150 g. They support up to 56 circuits and offer specialized configurations like the SVTS A 06, which provides an integrated 3 GHz RF coaxial channel for HD-SDI digital video.
| Model | Outer Diameter | Circuits | Max Current | Max Speed | IP Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVTS A 01 | 12.4 mm | Up to 18 | 2 A (peak) | 500 rpm | IP51 / IP65 |
| SVTS A 02 | 15.5 mm | Up to 24 | 2 A (peak) | 500 rpm | IP51 |
| SVTS A 03 / A 04 | 22 mm / 25 mm | Up to 36 (A03) / 56 (A04) | 2 A (Ethernet opt.) | 500 rpm | IP51 / IP65 |
| SVTS A 05 | 22 mm | 3 | 20 A | 250 rpm | IP51 / IP65 |
| SVTS A 06 / A 07 | 22 mm / 25 mm | Up to 24 (A06) / 36 (A07) + RF | 2 A + 3 GHz RF | 100 rpm | IP51 |
Faston & Terminal Slip Rings
In automated process lines and packing machinery, thermal sealing and sensor monitoring operate under constant rotation. Standard wiring in these setups is subjected to constant stress and high temperatures, demanding quick-change components to prevent expensive line downtime.
Soldering signal lines on site often introduces thermal offset errors (EMF) that corrupt thermocouple readings. The SVTS B Series addresses this by featuring solderless Faston or screw terminal connections, allowing fast maintenance and precise temperature signal transmission without EMF noise.
Mechanically, the series utilizes long-life multi-fiber brushes, supports up to 8 circuits with a current capacity of 20 A at 400 VAC/VDC. It features high-precision stainless steel bearings and an optional IP65 washable rating designed to withstand food-grade washdown cycles.
| Model | Outer Diameter | Circuits | Max Current | Connection Style | IP Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVTS B 01 | 32 mm | Up to 5 | 20 A / 14 A | Faston terminals | IP51 / IP65 |
| SVTS B 02 | 45 mm | Up to 8 | 20 A | Faston terminals | IP51 / IP65 |
| SVTS B 03 | 77 mm | Up to 5 | 20 A | Screw connectors | IP65 (installed) |
| SVTS B 04 | 70 mm | Up to 5 | 20 A | Screw connectors | IP51 |
Through-Bore Slip Rings
Automated packaging carousels, medical CT scanners, and rotary tables require passing mechanical shafts, pneumatic lines, or cooling pipes through the center of a rotating assembly. Managing both electrical transmission and fluid lines along the central axis is a core mechatronic design layout constraint.
Solid-shaft slip rings block the axial center, forcing complex and bulky external cable routing layouts. The SVTS C Series solves this by utilizing a hollow-bore design (inner diameters from 3 mm to 100 mm), allowing hydraulic lines, shafts, or fiber optic channels to pass directly through the core.
The C Series uses multi-fiber brush technology to transmit power (up to 20 A at 600 V) and high-speed data (Gigabit Ethernet and fieldbuses up to 1000 Mb/s). It supports up to 96 circuits and reaches rotation speeds up to 1000 rpm.
| Model | Hollow Bore (ID) | Outer Diameter | Circuits | Power/Signal Current | Max Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVTS C 01 | 3 mm / 4.5 mm | 17 mm / 22 mm | Up to 8 | 2 A | 1000 rpm |
| SVTS C 02 | 3 mm / 4.5 mm | 17 mm / 22 mm | Up to 12 | 2 A | 1000 rpm |
| SVTS C 03 | 12.7 mm | 54 mm | Up to 24 | 5 A | 500 rpm |
| SVTS C 04 / C 05 | 25.4 mm / 38.1 mm | 78 mm / 99 mm | Up to 48 | 15 A (power) / 2 A (signal) | 400 rpm |
| SVTS C 06 / C 07 | 50 mm / 60 mm | 120 mm / 135 mm | Up to 72 (C06) / 96 (C07) | 20 A (power) / 5 A (signal) | 300 rpm |
| SVTS C 08 to C 11 | 70 mm to 100 mm | 155 mm to 203 mm | Up to 96 (C08-C10) / 80 (C11) | 20 A (power) / 5 A (signal) | 200 rpm |
Ruggedized Stainless Steel Slip Rings
Industrial machinery in food processing, marine actuators, and chemical plants operate in environments exposed to moisture, washdowns, and corrosive agents. Standard enclosures fail rapidly under these conditions, causing water ingress and electrical short-circuits.
Basic sealed slip rings fail to withstand sustained chemical and moisture exposure over long operational cycles. The SVTS D Series provides standard IP65 protection by combining tight cable glands (PG type) with an external housing constructed entirely from AISI 304 or AISI 316 stainless steel.
Mechanically, the series supports up to 96 circuits with current ratings up to 15 A power at 600 V and 2 A signals. The integration of multi-fiber precious metal contacts ensures signal stability under heavy mechanical vibration and a design life of up to 100 million rotations.
CASE STUDY: WINGSAIL SYSTEM INTEGRATION A leading European maritime customer integrated a customized SVTS D Series slip ring at the base of a rigid fixed wingsail mast. The tailored solution successfully managed over 150 signal and power circuits, motor control lines, and a high-speed fieldbus, protected inside an IP65 marine-grade stainless steel shell.
| Model | Outer Diameter | Circuits | Max Power Current | Max Voltage | Housing Material |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVTS D 01 | 75 mm | Up to 48 | – | 240 VAC/VDC | Stainless Steel / Aluminum |
| SVTS D 02 | 87 mm | Up to 96 | 15 A | 600 VAC/VDC | Stainless Steel |
Open Frame Slip Rings
Heavy-duty industrial machinery, such as wind turbine yaw drives and large rotating display columns, requires high-current electrical transmission. Design engineers face tight budget and weight targets, where fully enclosed slip rings add unnecessary cost.
Enclosed slip rings are over-engineered for installation inside pre-sealed, protected machine cavities. The SVTS E Series features an open, housing-free frame, allowing cost-effective and direct integration into clean internal machine cavities without sacrificing performance.
The E Series features a central hollow bore (ranging from 25.4 mm to 60 mm) and exactly 3 high-current power circuits rated up to 60 A at 400 VAC/VDC. It utilizes multi-fiber brushes, running on precious metal rings, to achieve maintenance-free operation.
| Model | Hollow Bore (ID) | Outer Diameter | Circuits | Current Rating | Operating Temp. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVTS E 01 | 25.4 mm (1″) | 74 mm | 3 | 20 A / 40 A | -20°C to +80°C |
| SVTS E 02 | 38.1 mm (1.5″) | 94 mm | 3 | 20 A / 40 A | -40°C to +80°C |
| SVTS E 03 | 50.0 mm | 115 mm | 3 | 20 A / 40 A / 60 A | -40°C to +80°C |
| SVTS E 04 | 60.0 mm | 130 mm | 3 | 20 A / 40 A / 60 A | -40°C to +80°C |
Flat Pancake Slip Rings
Height restrictions are the primary mechanical bottleneck in revolving doors, base tables, and medical histology analysis equipment. Standard cylindrical slip rings require significant axial depth, making them impossible to integrate when vertical clearance is minimal.
Generic flat slip rings suffer from high radial wear, causing signal noise and short lifespans. The SVTS F Series utilizes a flat pancake geometry (only 40 mm to 45 mm tall) with multi-fiber brush technology that ensures low wear, stable contact resistance, and a long maintenance-free service life.
This flat-profile series features a 40 mm central through-bore and supports up to 17 signal circuits (5 A) and 3 power circuits (10 A) at 240 VAC/VDC with a lifespan of up to 100 million cycles.
CASE STUDY: MEDICAL ONCOLOGY DIAGNOSTICS For histological sample analysis, a medical systems manufacturer integrated a custom ultra-flat pancake slip ring (55 mm ID / 125 mm and 170 mm OD) to power heating plates up to 8 A and transmit temperature sensor signals, successfully meeting CE, RoHS, and UL compliance.
| Model | Hollow Bore (ID) | Outer Diameter | Total Circuits | Configuration | Total Height |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SVTS F 01 | 40 mm | 180 mm | 20 | 3 Power (10 A) + 17 Signals (5 A) | 45 mm |
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct engineering answers on electrical transmission, mechanical envelopes, and custom rotary interfaces from Servotecnica.
Can Servotecnica slip rings transmit high-speed industrial Ethernet and fieldbuses without packet loss?
Yes. Servotecnica slip rings utilize precious metal multi-fiber brush technology running on gold-plated rings, maintaining dynamic contact resistance under 10 mΩ. This suppresses electrical noise and jitter, ensuring clean transmission of 1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet, EtherCAT, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, and CANopen at speeds up to 1 Gbps with certified attenuation test reports.
How do Hybrid Cable slip rings support decentralized servo drives?
Modern decentralized servo drives combine motor power and high-frequency digital feedback into a single hybrid cable. Servotecnica’s Hybrid Cable Rotary Joints enable direct pass-through of manufacturer-standard hybrid cables (from Bosch Rexroth, Schneider Electric, AMK Motion, and Rockwell Automation), preserving continuous shielding and supporting Hiperface DSL®, EnDat 2.2 / 3.0, and SCS Open Link without splicing or EMI noise.
Can I transmit sensitive thermocouple signals without temperature measurement errors?
Yes. Soldering signal lines on site can introduce thermal electromotive force (EMF) that corrupts sensitive millivolt thermocouple measurements. The SVTS B Series addresses this with solderless Faston and screw terminal connections, eliminating parasitic thermal junctions and ensuring steady temperature monitoring in flowpack packaging and rotary sealing machinery.
Do you offer rotary joints with high-definition digital video or RF coaxial channels?
Yes. The SVTS A 06 and SVTS A 07 capsule slip rings combine up to 36 standard signal/power circuits with an integrated 50 Ω or 75 Ω RF coaxial channel supporting frequencies up to 3 GHz. This allows artifact-free transmission of 1080p 3G-SDI / HD-SDI video for pipeline inspection crawlers, surgical optics, and pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera gimbals.
How do I choose between Through-Bore, Capsule, and Flat Pancake slip rings?
Selection depends on your mechanical packaging constraints:
- Capsule (SVTS A): Ultra-compact diameter (12.4 mm to 25 mm) and lightweight design (20 g to 150 g) for space-restricted robotic joints.
- Through-Bore (SVTS C): Hollow center bore (3 mm to 100 mm) allowing drive shafts, pneumatic lines, or cooling pipes to pass through the rotational axis.
- Flat Pancake (SVTS F): Extremely low axial height (40 mm to 45 mm) for turntables and medical equipment where vertical headroom is strictly limited.
Can fluid, pneumatic, or fiber-optic channels be combined into a single assembly?
Yes. Servotecnica regularly delivers custom hybrid rotary unions. The hollow center of the SVTS C Series allows seamless integration with pneumatic/hydraulic rotating unions (for compressed air, vacuum, or fluids) and single-mode or multi-mode Fiber Optic Rotary Joints (FORJ) for high-bandwidth, noise-immune optical communication.
What is the expected operational lifespan, and do these slip rings require maintenance?
Servotecnica slip rings are 100% maintenance-free throughout their operational life. Models utilizing multi-fiber precious metal brush technology achieve up to 100 million revolutions without contact replacement or re-greasing. Because they do not use carbon-graphite blocks, no conductive carbon dust is generated to contaminate sensitive electronics or internal bearings.
Are Servotecnica slip rings suitable for washdowns and corrosive marine environments?
Yes. For harsh environments, the SVTS D Series features a complete AISI 304 or AISI 316 stainless steel housing with PG cable glands delivering IP65 protection against salt spray and moisture. Additionally, washable IP65 options are available across the SVTS A and SVTS B series for food packaging washdown cycles.
Can Servotecnica slip rings serve as direct drop-in replacements for LTN or Moog?
Yes. Many standard Servotecnica series are designed with form-fit-function compatibility to match industry-standard dimensions from LTN, Moog, Kübler, and Schleifring. You can drop in a Servotecnica replacement without modifying machine shafts or mounting plates. Torquety’s engineers can cross-reference your existing model number upon request.
What is the lead time, MOQ, and customization process for bespoke units?
With a modular architecture offering over 2,000 baseline configurations, custom modifications (such as lead wire length, connectorization, or customized mounting flanges) typically ship in 2 to 6 weeks. Torquety provides full engineering support with no MOQ (MOQ = 1) for qualified OEM development programs.
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