TECHNICAL FEATURES
Rotocon Brushless Slip Rings Deliver Superior Performance
- Suitable for power (AC/DC), signal transmission, communication, thermocouples, and more.
- Offers a wide range of mechanical and electrical options for seamless customization.
- Built with durable materials to ensure long-lasting performance.
- Provides low, stable resistance for exceptional signal quality.
- Designed for operation in any orientation and direction, including continuous or indexing rotation.
- Sealed construction enables reliable use in dusty and wet conditions.
Meridian Laboratory’s MX Series of ROTOCON brushless slip rings are designed to mount at the end of a rotating workpiece and are available with up to 30 channels / conductors total. For higher channel counts, see our entire offering of ROTOCON brushless slip rings.
ROTOCON brushless slip rings are offered in a variety of models and configurations, accommodating both high-current power applications up to 20 amps per contact and signal-level transmission. The ROTOCON MX Series of brushless slip rings are frequently used in semiconductor, automotive, packaging, and manufacturing applications. ROTOCON brushless rotating electrical connectors can be readily configured with a variety of mechanical, electrical, and environmental options to precisely meet your requirements in a cost-effective and timely manner.
ROTOCON brushless rotary slip rings are a proven and reliable alternative to traditional brushed slip rings, which often face issues such as wear, signal degradation, and frequent maintenance.
All of Meridian Laboratory's ROTOCON brushless slip rings utilize a superior design that eliminates the conventional brush-and-ring contact mechanism, resulting in enhanced electrical performance, zero introduced electrical noise, and extended operational lifespan. Our ROTOCON technology delivers excellent signal integrity, is environmentally sealed, and offers easy configurability for numerous application types.
For channel counts higher than 12, please see our full MX Series for additional models.
Advantages
Why Choose ROTOCON Brushless Slip Rings?
General Specifications
Brushless Slip Ring Specifications
MOUNTING
End-of-Shaft
This series of rotating electrical connectors is intended to be mounted at the end of a workpiece and is typically secured via set screws to the shaft, or has a variety of other options available.
RPM
2,000
The maximum rotational speed of a ROTOCON rotating electrical connector is directly limited to the temperature the slip ring reaches under maximum current load and rotational speed within a given environment. The speeds shown are up to and not guaranteed in absolute maximums.
TEMPERATURE
-35˚F to 160˚F
(-20°C - 70°C)
Temperature rating is measured at the body of the ROTOCON slip ring under maximum current load and rotational speed; it should not exceed 160˚F for continuous periods of time. For application specific scenarios, please contact Meridian Laboratory.
CONTACT RESISTANCE
0.2mΩ
Contact resistance refers to the electrical resistance between the stationary and rotating portions, internal to the ROTOCON rotating electrical connector. This is measured without additional cabling or connectors, and is internal to the units themselves. This is measured stationary or rotating, regardless of rotational direction, speed, or orientation.
Configurations
MX Series Models (8-12 Channels)
| Name | Channels | Amperage | Voltage | Data Speed | Thermocouple Wire | Mounting | Shaft Electrical Term | Body Electrical Term | 2D Download Action Type | File Datasheet | Model Download (3D STP) | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MX-12 | 12 | 10A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Standard Model | MERIDIAN-LABORATORY-ROTOCON-MX-12.pdf | Yes | |||
| MX-12-0824 | 12 | 10A | 600V | 100 Mbps | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Odoo Custom Model | MERIDIAN-LABORATORY-ROTOCON-MX-12-0824.pdf | Yes | ||
| MX-12-0703 | 12 | 18A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Odoo Custom Model | MERIDIAN-LABORATORY-ROTOCON-MX-12-0703.pdf | Yes | |||
| MX-12-BAR0113 | 12 | 18A | 600V | 1 Gbps | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Custom Model | Yes | |||
| MX-12-1214 | 12 | 18A | 600V | 100 Mbps | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Custom Model | Yes | |||
| MX-12-1122 | 12 | 18A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Custom Model | Yes | IMG_3028.jpg, IMG_3035.jpg | |||
| MX-12-0409 | 12 | 7A | 600V | 100 Mbps | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Custom Model | Yes | |||
| MX-10 | 10 | 10A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Standard Model | MERIDIAN-LABORATORY-ROTOCON-MX-10.pdf | Yes | |||
| MX-10-0322 | 10 | 18A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Odoo Custom Model | MERIDIAN-LABORATORY-ROTOCON-MX-10-0322.pdf | Yes | |||
| MX-10-CAT5 | 10 | 10A | 600V | 100 Mbps | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Custom Model | Yes | |||
| MX-10-1005 | 10 | 20A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Custom Model | Yes | ||||
| MX-10-0921 | 10 | 4A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Connector | Custom Model | Yes | ||||
| MX-10-0705 | 10 | Signal | 250V | 100 Mbps | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Custom Model | Yes | |||
| MX-10-0628 | 10 | 5.5A | 600V | Flange | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Custom Model | Yes | ||||
| MX-10-0525 | 10 | Signal | 600V | 100 Mbps | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Custom Model | Yes | |||
| MX-10-0511 | 10 | Signal | 600V | 100 Mbps | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Custom Model | Yes | |||
| MX-10-0321 | 10 | 18A | 600V | Flange | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Custom Model | Yes | ||||
| MX-10-0121 | 10 | 18A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Custom Model | Yes | ||||
| MX-10-0105 | 10 | 7A | 600V | Flange | Flying Leads | Connector | Custom Model | Yes | ||||
| MX-8 | 8 | 18A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Standard Model | MERIDIAN-LABORATORY-ROTOCON-MX-8.pdf | Yes | IMG_8548.jpg, IMG_8560.jpg | ||
| MX-8-GE | 8 | Signal | 250V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Connector | Odoo Custom Model | Yes | ||||
| MX-8-0107 | 8 | 18A | 600V | Flange | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Odoo Custom Model | Yes | ||||
| MXS-8 | 8 | 18A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Ring Terminals | Custom Model | Yes | _R4A6679.jpg | |||
| MX-8-BARECAT | 8 | 1.5A | 300V | 1 Gbps | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Custom Model | Yes | |||
| MX-8-0920 | 8 | 18A | 600V | Flange | Flying Leads | Connector | Custom Model | Yes | ||||
| MX-8-BAR0113 | 8 | 18A | 600V | End of Shaft | Flying Leads | Flying Leads | Custom Model | Yes |
MOUNTING
MX Series Mounting Options
END-OF-SHAFT (STANDARD)
SHAFT FLANGE
BODY FLANGE
DOUBLE END-OF-SHAFT
For through-hole slip rings, check out our MXT-Series of through-hole rotary electrical connectors.
The standard MX-8-12 is mounted by the shaft at the end of a rotating device and secured via a set screw on a flat on the shaft. Shaft drivers are available for larger diameter mounting holes upon request.
Shaft flanges can be attached to the MX-8-12 shaft to mount the slip ring to your workpiece. Standard and customized flange offerings are available.
Body flanges can be attached to the MX-8-12 body to mount the slip ring to your workpiece. Customized flange offerings are available.
Double end of shaft options exist to transmit low value torque through the MX-8-12 slip ring. This allows for devices such as encoders, resolvers, motors, and other instruments to be attached to the slip ring’s shaft.
FAQs
Common Brushless Slip Ring Questions
How good is the signal quality of a ROTOCON slip ring?
The signal quality of ROTOCON brushless rotary electrical connectors is unmatched when compared to conventional brushed slip rings. In laboratory testing, measured channel resistance of rotating multi-channel ROTOCONs was found to vary less 0.2mΩ (zero point two milli-ohm) on average; orders of magnitude lower than that of conventional brushed slip rings. This stable resistance and low impedance allow ROTOCONS to be modeled as simple wires/cables in electrical systems designs. For more information, see our ROTOCON Advantages page for demonstration videos and white papers related to slip ring signal quality.
Can a ROTOCON pass Profinet, Ether-CAT, Ethernet, and other industrial communication protocols?
Yes, ROTOCON rotary electrical connectors and slip rings are capable of transferring many signal types and communication protocols, including Etherlink, Profinet, EtherNet/IP, Profibus, Modbus TCP/IP, Powerlink, CC-Link IE, SERCOS III, SynqNet, MECHATROLINK-III, ControlNet, RS485, RS432, RS422, EtherCAT, and more generally speaking – any 1000BASE-T Ethernet-based or similar communication protocols. If you have a specific protocol not listed, please contact us directly to determine if your signal is compatible.
What kind of electrical terminations are available?
Meridian Laboratory offers various electrical termination types to meet the requirements of different applications. For most multi-channel models, we offer flying leads, ring terminals, or connectors to terminate to. For application-specific connections, please contact us to discuss how we can best fit your needs.
Can a single ROTOCON be used to transmit both power and signal?
Yes, ROTOCON rotary electrical connectors are extremely capable and successful at transmitting both power and signal within the same assembly, minimizing interference or crosstalk.
Are thermocouples compatible with a ROTOCON?
Yes, thermocouples are fully compatible with Meridian Laboratory’s ROTOCON brushless slip rings. Our ROTOCON technology is engineered to accept virtually any thermocouple type and we can integrate thermocouple wires directly into the assembly. This design attribute minimizes the number of different materials and cold junctions present, ensuring more consistent and reliable temperature measurements.
Are ROTOCONs suitable for indexing or oscillating applications?
Yes, ROTOCON slip ring technology is excellent for indexing / oscillating applications due to the unique brushless design characteristics. Traditional brushed slip rings struggle with repeated operation in non-full rotational (indexing) movements because they experience mechanical wear and electrical arcing on a limited part of the conductive ring. This leads to a limited portion of the contact part seeing all of the wear, and the non-contacting point being unused.
ROTOCON brushless rotary electrical connectors have a full 360 degrees of internal contact via its fluid contact medium. This means that regardless of if the application rotates completely around, or just momentary back-forth (oscillating) motions – the contact never experiences any wear or degradation over time. For more information, please visit our ROTOCON Advantages page or Contact Us for further questions!
Customization
Brushless Slip Ring Customization Options
APPLICATIONS & USES
Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP)
ROTOCON brushless slip rings are used in CMP processing to provide electrical power and Ethernet communication between the logic controller and the wafer polishing heads.
Thin Film Deposition (ALD / PVD / CVD)
ROTOCON brushless slip rings are used within all types of deposition-based semiconductor manufacturing processes, including Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD), Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), and Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD).
Robotics
ROTOCON brushless slip rings are used in robotics and automated systems to supply electrical power, signal, and data from control panels to robotic devices. They are ideal for high-volume, repetitive processes, including pick-and-pack machines, sorting, positioning, and many other automated tasks.
Resources
Helpful Information
Get the details you need—explore our complete resource library on every slip ring series.