Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!wupost!csus.edu!netcom.com!nagle
From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: defn. "slip ring"
Message-ID: <8a1njzf.nagle@netcom.com>
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 92 07:19:06 GMT
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
Keywords: slip ring(s)
References: <1992Sep13.064605.18798@rti.rti.org> <.59@ccs.carleton.ca>
Lines: 19

@ccs.carleton.ca writes:
>Using printed circit boards, as described elsewhere, etch the a series
>of circles on the boards. Use small ball bearings as brushes and the
>circles as bearing races. Not only would you have a slip ring but also
>a fairly good load bearing joint ( at least for light duty applications)

     One of the best low-cost slip ring assemblies is the gadget available
for allowing rotation where the phone cord enters the handset.  Cheap,
low rotation force, and low noise.  

     Most slip rings for high speed or significant current use something
other than metal-to-metal contact.  Carbon brushes are common for 
high-current applications.  (The invention of the carbon brush made
possible the first electric motors that didn't require frequent
repair and tweaking.)  If you want to homebrew, try using spring-loaded
electric motor brushes against metallic rings.  You can often cannibalize
these assemblies from dead appliance motors.

					John Nagle
