Through-hole slip rings can rotate without restriction and transmit signals and power in industrial, aerospace, and amusement facility systems. However, if it operates in an inappropriate environment or lacks proper maintenance, its lifespan will be significantly shortened. So, do you know what problems may occur when using a through-hole slip ring?
1. Unstable Rotation
Occasionally, through-hole slip rings may experience unsmooth rotation during working . This is often caused by damaged internal bearings or a cracked main shaft.
● Solutions:
(1) We need to check whether the slip ring is installed in strict accordance with specifications. Cause improper installation can lead to loose or deviated connections between the slip ring and the equipment. The operation includes adjusting the installation position and angle of the slip ring to make it coincide with the rotation center of the bearing as much as possible.
(2) In addition, the size of the slip ring may not perfect match the inner rotating shaft , which is also a reason for friction or jamming. If the size difference is small, we should consider processing or modifying the shaft to make tight matching,and keep the rotating in concentricity
2. Unstable Signal Transmission
Through-hole slip rings transmit various signals during use. However, slip rings are small in size and have dense wiring, so these transmissions occur in a limited space. During long-term use, its signal may fluctuate and stutter. The main reasons include poor contact between the slip ring and the brush, internal electromagnetic interference, and slip ring quality issues.
● Solutions:
(1) First, we should check whether the spring pressure of the brush is appropriate. Try to adjust the position of the spring or replace it with a spring with better elasticity. But note that the spring pressure cannot be too large. It can be adjusted using a pressure testing tool.
(2) Secondly, we need to consider the structure and internal wiring of the through-hole slip ring. For example, adding a shielding layer at key positions may be useful. This can help avoid crosstalk inside the slip ring or signal loss.
3. Overheating
The heat of a through-hole slip ring mainly comes from two sources. These include friction between its brush and conductive ring or friction with resistance when transmitting signals. When the slip ring overheats, short-circuit phenomena often occur, and the brush and conductive ring will be partially worn. What should we do?
● Solutions:
(1) We need to regularly check a normally operating slip ring, clean the contacting surface. And check whether the brush has quality issues and if possible disassemble the brush for inspection.
(2) A poorly ventilated environment can cause the heat dissipation safety outlet on the surface of the slip ring to be blocked. If the height of the ventilation groove on the surface of the slip ring is less than 5mm, we need to disassemble it according to the instructions to ensure heat dissipation capacity.
(3) If the resistance of the slip ring is too large or uneven, it may also generate heat. At this time, we need to detect the operation of its brush. The pressure difference of the brush should not exceed 5%, generally 140-250g/c㎡.
4. Poor Sealing
After a through-hole slip ring has been in use for a long time, impurities such as dust and moisture may enter the interior and affect its operation. There are two main reasons, including aging, wear, or deformation of the sealing element, or incorrect installation of the sealing element from the beginning.
● Solutions:
(1) Select self-lubricating sealing materials. They can reduce the friction coefficient between slip ring components, reduce heat generation and wear, such as graphite, molybdenum disulfide, etc.
(2) Choose a multi-layer sealing structure design for the slip ring. For example, we use rubber materials on the outer layer and increase the difficulty of impurity ingress through a labyrinth structure on the inner layer. In this way, the second layer of seal is always effective before the first layer of seal fails.
(3) We can also pre-compress the sealing element of the slip ring before installation. This can make it better fit the sealing surface.
5. Inconsistent Protection Level
When customers have no special requirements for the protection level of slip rings, the default level is IP54. When the slip ring is used in marine or underwater environments, water ingress, short circuits, and failures will occur.
● Solutions:
(1) In this case, we need to re-evaluate the use environment of the slip ring. Because moisture, temperature, and corrosive components in the environment will pose challenges to the slip ring.
(2) Adjust the number of sealing layers, the shape or size of the sealing element, etc. according to the characteristics of the use environment.
(3) If possible, we can communicate with customers and provide customized substitutes or recommend suitable sealing upgrade solutions according to specific situations.
Conclusion
In conclusion, during the long use process, through-hole slip rings may experience many failures, including overheating, signal interference, and more. As an experienced slip ring manufacturer, ByTune promises to do is strictly control the details in raw material preparation, production links, and maintenance and keep them in record. This helps to solve slip ring failures that occur at any time in a timely and effective manner.