Slip Rings

colin · 2006-05-25T23:31:21+00:00

Hi,I have a device that is rotating fairly slowly (1-5rps) and I need to supplypower (atm 12v at 1amp, possibly needing 24v at 4 amps peak) and read acouple of vlf signals,At the moment I have tried to make some slip rings using (4) concentriccircular tracks on a pcb and some springy contact strip, I didnt expect itto last forever but the experiment only has to run for a few minutes once anhour for a few days.However it now seems I now need to run the thing continuously for severaldays, the slip rings make an awefull noise and the contacts wear out toofast (theyr rather stiff) although the pcb seems to hold up fairly well wichis the opposite of what I expected. contact lube/grease makes a bigdifference but not for very long.Im just wondering if anyone has sucesfully made any slip rings, Im going toramake them but this time I think I will have to make them axialy instead ofradialy, (the shaft is 15mm diameter on the end of an induction motor), Ivetaken apart some relays, I might try and use the contacts from them, andmake the rings out of the contact strip.Im also considering other options like tramsiting the data via wireless,just one ring for the power would be a lot easier,Is there an easy setup to go from usb to pc via wireless? or a (cheap) datalogger that conects to a pc wirelessly ?I also could do with monitoring a few more signals, I already have a USBdata logger wich has many inputs, would the USB signals actualy cope withgoing through slip rings ?Colin =^.^=

May 25, 2006 24 Replies

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Mike Monett 20 years ago

Cathedral ceilings? Regards,

Mike Monett

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Jim Thompson 20 years ago

No, just high conventional ceilings. Great room is 16'. Kitchen and patio are 14'. Bedrooms are 10'.

As long as I've been using the Silicone Spray I can use a pole with suction cup to change all the floods.

Previously I had a few bulbs break and I had to climb up there with a raw potato to extract the bases :-(

...Jim Thompson

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Mike Monett 20 years ago

Silicone spray or vaseline work great on light bulbs. But I only need a foot stool to reach mine:)

Regards,

Mike Monett

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Zak 20 years ago

Gallium alloys seem more plausible here. Gallium wets many materials, which could make such a device easier (or more difficult). Gallium allows have a lower melting point than the 30 degrees C of pure gallium.

Thomas

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Richard Henry 20 years ago

rings.

The Mercotac website warns of mercury content.

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