TECHNICAL FEATURES

ROTOCON Through-Bore Slip Rings – Stable, Maintenance-Free Electrical Connectivity

  • Supports shaft diameters up to 2.00” (50.8mm).
  • ROTOCON brushless technology ensures flawless, consistent power and signal transmission.
  • Zero maintenance – no brush replacements or adjustments required.
  • Reliable performance in any orientation or rotational direction.

ROTOCON through-bore slip rings are configurable, featuring a central bore diameter of up to 2.00” for seamless integration with both solid and hollow shafts. This design supports torque transmission through a rotating shaft or allows air, water, gas, and other fluids to pass through the center – all while maintaining a stable, interference-free electrical connection for both power and signal level transmission. ROTOCON through-bore slip rings are widely used in rotary indexing tables, packaging and filling equipment, semiconductor manufacturing, instrumentation, and various industrial and scientific applications.

Unlike traditional brushed slip rings, which rely on metal-on-metal contact and degrade over time, ROTOCON through-bore slip rings feature a brushless design that eliminates wear components. This ensures exceptional reliability, superior signal integrity, and zero maintenance, even in high-duty cycle and high-vibration environments. Built for long-term durability, ROTOCON through-bore slip rings are environmentally sealed and constructed from robust, industrial-grade materials, making them the preferred choice for manufacturing, R&D, and high-performance applications.

For enhanced functionality, Meridian Laboratory offers custom solutions that integrate ROTOCON through-bore slip rings with rotary unions and fiber optic rotary joints, providing a fully optimized system for specialized applications.

For applications requiring different bore diameters, explore the MXT Series of ROTOCON through-bore slip rings and rotating electrical connectors.

If your application requires end-of-shaft mounting, the MX Series of multi-channel ROTOCON slip rings offers a tailored solution.

Advantages

Why Choose ROTOCON Through-Bore Slip Rings?

ROTOCON SLIP RING TECHNOLOGY PROVIDES SUPERIOR RESULTS

ROTOCON through-bore slip rings and rotating electrical connectors are brushless by design, functioning through a molecularly bonded, viscous metal film contact to transfer electrical power and signal. ROTOCON through-bore slip rings exhibit near-zero electrical resistance while stationary or during rotation – regardless of rotational speed or total number of revolutions.

  • Near-zero electrical noise, stationary or rotating
  • High speed capable without fluctuation in electrical resistance
  • No internal wear parts

MAINTENANCE FREE THROUGH-BORE SLIP RINGS

Conventional brushed slip rings rely on metal-on-metal contacts to transfer power between stationary and rotating components. ROTOCON through-bore slip rings and rotating electrical connectors do not have any internal wear parts, and therefore do not require any maintenance, adjustment, or replacement of parts during the lifetime of their use.

  • No metal-on-metal contact
  • 100% maintenance-free
  • Outlast traditional brushed slip rings
  • Routinely surpass 500m+ total revolutions

RELIABLE, HIGH-SPEED ETHERNET SLIP RING PERFORMANCE

ROTOCON through-bore slip rings transmit high-speed Ethernet-based communication up to 100 Mbps reliably and without bit errors, packet loss, or crosstalk. They are also capable of many other 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.

  • Guaranteed ethernet transmission without bit errors or crosstalk
  • High speed capable up to 100 Mbps
  • Compatible with many other digital communication protocols

STATIONARY OR ROTATING, PERFECT SIGNAL INTEGRITY

ROTOCON through-bore slip rings and rotating electrical connectors are unique in their ability to provide excellent analog signal transmission, without fluctuation or noise – whether stationary or while rotating. They are the ideal choice for sensitive electrical signals such as encoders, thermocouples, strain gauges, and more.

  • Perfect signal integrity – regardless of speed
  • Near-zero electrical noise
  • Excellent for analog signal transmission

THROUGH-BORE SLIP RINGS ENVIRONMENTALLY SEALED TO PROVIDE SAFE AND LONG-LASTING OPERATION

ROTOCON through-bore slip rings and rotating electrical connectors feature an environmentally sealed design, ensuring a reliable and durable rotating electrical connection. Fully protected from dust, liquids, humidity, and other environmental factors, they outperform traditional brushed slip rings, which often struggle in harsh conditions. With an internally arc-free operation, they are ideal for use in dust-filled, wet, cleanroom, and other demanding environments requiring maintenance-free performance.

  • Environmentally sealed design
  • Unaffected by liquids, dust, and other factors
  • Robust design for harsh environments

SEAMLESS POWER & SIGNAL TRANSMISSION WITHOUT INTERFERENCE

Traditional slip rings often struggle to transmit both power and signal within a single assembly, leading to noise and interference issues. ROTOCON through-bore slip rings and rotary electrical connectors are engineered with a unique design that ensures lossless signal transmission and interference-free operation for superior performance.

  • Supports AC/DC power and signal transmission within the same assembly
  • Ensures reliable Ethernet, encoder, strain gauge, and other sensitive signals
  • Delivers zero noise or added resistance to your system

General Specifications

Through-Bore Slip Ring Specifications

Hole Diameter

p

Up to 2.00” ⌀

This frame size features a hole diameter rating of up to 2.00” ⌀, providing flexibility for mounting onto solid or hollow shafts. For other sizes, see our MXT Series of through-bore slip rings.

RPM

p

Up to 150 RPM

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

p

-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

p

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

MXT Series Standard Models (2.00” Diameter)






      You are requesting a custom model, please fill out the information below, and we will be in contact within 24 hours.

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      Mounting

      MXT Series Mounting Options

      Solid Shaft

      Hollow Shaft

      Rotary Union

      Fiber Optic Rotary Joint

      FAQs

      Common Through-Bore Slip Ring Questions

      Can I specify an exact bore diameter for a through-hole ROTOCON?

      Yes, customers are able to specify custom bore diameters up to 4.00” for our through-hole, multi-channel MXT Series of brushless slip rings and up to 2.50” for our through-bore, single-contact ERGT Series of rotary grounds. If you do not see a hole diameter that meets your requirements, please contact us for further assistance.

      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.

      Does electrical resistance change under rotation?

      The electrical resistance of a ROTOCON is extremely stable and resistive noise is effectively zero – typically less than 0.2mΩ of variation at all speeds up to the rated maximum.

      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.

      How often is maintenance required for a ROTOCON?

      Never. Once installed, ROTOCON brushless slip rings are engineered for continuous operation throughout their entire lifespan. Their brushless design not only ensures industry-leading signal quality, but also eliminates wear points and common failure modes found in traditional brushed slip rings.

      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.

      Customization

      Through-Bore Slip Ring Customization Options

      ROTOCON through-bore slip rings are offered with comprehensive electrical connectivity solutions for your specific machine, application, or use case, guaranteeing a seamless integration. Supporting a vast range of termination types, wire types, communication protocols, signal types, and power, our ROTOCON through-bore slip rings and rotating electrical connectors ensure reliability and ease of use for different applications.

      • Termination Types: Ring terminals, flying leads, potted connectors, overmolded cables, and connectors.
      • Wire Types: Single and multi stranded cables, coaxial, heater (fiberglass shielded), strain gauges, shielded cables, and thermocouple wires.
      • Communication Protocols: High-speed Ethernet-based communication up to 100 Mbps. They are also capable of many other 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.
      • Signal Types: Sensors, thermocouples, strain gauges, audio, transducers, resistance temperature detector (RTD), digital up to 250MHz, hall effect, and general analog (4-20mA, 0-5V, etc.).

      Meridian Laboratory provides a range of mechanical options for our ROTOCON through-bore slip rings, guaranteeing hassle-free integration into your system. We can customize the shaft inside diameter and add shaft flanges to fit your specific needs, providing flexibility for different applications.

      • Custom shaft inside diameter available from 1.00” to 2.00”
      • Body and shaft flanges available to easily integrate into your system

      Meridian Laboratory offers a variety of environmental protection features for the ROTOCON MXT Series of through-bore slip rings and rotating electrical connectors. We offer protection options for dust, fluid, and moisture, along with durable material choices that withstand harsh, demanding environments.

      • Up to IP67 sealing capabilities
      • Termination options for protection from dust/fluids
      • Custom housings
      • Waterproof connectors
      • Standard models use robust materials (304SS) for performance in tough environments

      We offer a range of modular components that are designed to integrate seamlessly with ROTOCON through-bore slip rings and rotating electrical connectors, enhancing function and capabilities.

      • Rotary Unions
      • Fiber Optic Rotary Joints
      • Encoders
      • Mating Connectors
      APPLICATIONS & USES

      Common Uses for Through-Bore Slip Rings

      Tablet Filling & Packaging

      ROTOCON through-bore slip rings are used in tablet filling and packaging machines for automated picking and packing, rotating filler carousels, package sealing, and many other applications where consistent power and signal are required to transfer from the stationary source to a rotating assembly or process.

      Web Converting Machinery

      ROTOCON through-bore rotating electrical connectors are utilized in web converting machinery to perform coating, laminating, and film sealing. They deliver power and signal between the rotating heaters and sensors, to the stationary control panel.

      Robotics

      ROTOCON through-bore 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.

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      Resources

      Helpful Information

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