Slip Rings for Rotary Index Table Applications

For many rotary index table applications that are more than two stations and are required to go in a continuous direction there needs to be something to allow for air, electric power, communication or a combination of the three.  In the situations where tooling fixtures require pneumatics, a simple single or multi-port air union can be sufficient.  By utilizing a pneumatic valve bank the single port air union can most cost effective method to bring air to the individual fixtures.    If signal communication is all that is required to operate your valve bank, electrical slip rings can be purchased with low voltage flying leads.   This is a very low cost solution to operating a valve bank on top of the rotary dial table. If some type of communication protocol is necessary most electrical slip rings have the ability to transmit many forms of communication from Ethernet, Profinet, Profibus , Device Net and CanBus. Motion Index Drives offers a wide variety of standard slip rings that can transmit the above mentioned communication protocols.  It is important than when choosing a slip ring with communication capabilities such as Ethernet that the connecting wires landed in the slip ring are twisted pairs.  By having twisted pairs reduces the probability of outside noise interference that will interrupt communications and cause unnecessary faults and downtime.  

Rotary index tables with provision to run wires and hose through center of housing and have a stationary center column for mounting are ideal for slip ring applications.  This will provide a compact package and avoid the need to mount slip rings and air unions from overhead or externally.  Motion Index Drives RT and TMF series index tables are offered in many sizes and all models have center stationary columns to mount slip rings and rotary unions.