TECHNICAL FEATURES
ROTOCON HOLLOW-SHAFT SLIP RINGS PROVIDE PERFORMANCE AND LONGEVITY
- Accommodates shaft diameters up to 4.00” (101.6mm).
- Maintenance-free design eliminates the need for brush replacements or adjustments.
- Dependable operation in any mounting position or rotational direction.
- ROTOCON brushless technology delivers stable, uninterrupted power and signal transfer.
ROTOCON hollow-shaft slip rings and rotating electrical connectors are highly configurable, featuring a central bore diameter of up to 4.00” 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 transmission. ROTOCON hollow-shaft slip rings and rotating electrical connectors 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 hollow-shaft slip rings and rotating electrical connectors utilize 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, they 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 hollow-shaft slip rings and rotating electrical connectors 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 hollow-shaft 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 Hollow-Shaft Slip Rings?
General Specifications
Hollow-Shaft Slip Rings Specifications
Hole Diameter
Up to 4.00” ⌀
This frame size features a hole diameter rating of up to 4.00” ⌀, providing flexibility for mounting onto solid or hollow-shafts. For other sizes, see our <a href="/product/mxt-series-through-hole-rotating-electrical-connectors/">MXT Series</a> of hollow-shaft slip rings.
RPM
Up to 50 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
-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
MXT Series Standard Models (4.00” Diameter)
| Name | Channels | Amperage | Voltage | Maximum Hole Diameter | Shaft Electrical Term | Body Electrical Term | 2D Download Action Type | File Datasheet | Model Download (3D STP) | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MXT-12 | 12 | 18A | 600V | 4.00" | Ring Terminals | Ring Terminals | Custom Model | Yes | IMG_8288.jpg | |
| MXT-12 | 12 | 18A | 600V | 4.00" | Ring Terminals | Ring Terminals | Custom Model | Yes | IMG_8288.jpg |
Mounting
MXT Series Mounting Options
Solid Shaft
Hollow-Shaft
Rotary Union
Fiber Optic Rotary Joint
FAQs
Common Hollow-Shaft 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.
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.
Does Meridian Laboratory offer a through-hole ROTOCON in sizes greater than 4.00”?
Currently Meridian Laboratory does not offer any ROTOCON rotary electrical connectors or rotary grounds with a through-hole bore diameter greater than 4.00”. If you require a larger bore diameter, contact us for application support on how we can potentially still help you integrate a ROTOCON into your assembly.
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
Hollow-Shaft Slip Ring Customization Options
APPLICATIONS & USES
Common Uses for Hollow-Shaft Slip Rings
Plastic & Foam Container Production
ROTOCON hollow-shaft slip rings are used in plastic and foam container manufacturing, as well as other heated thermoforming processes, to deliver power to rotating cartridge heaters. They also transmit thermocouple temperature data from the forming head, ensuring precise and accurate process control.
Rotary Fillers
ROTOCON hollow-shaft rotary electrical connectors are crucial components in rotary fillers, commonly used in filling and bottling machinery. They enable continuous electrical power and data transfer to rotating parts of the machinery, such as filling heads or conveyors.
Radioactive Cranes & Material Handling
ROTOCON hollow-shaft slip rings are used to transmit power and signal from control panels to the rotating arms and tooling of heavy equipment, overhead cranes, and material handling equipment.
Resources
Helpful Information
Get the details you need—explore our complete resource library on every slip ring series.