Welcome to Servotecnica Slip Ring Spotlights, our new interview series offering a behind-the-scenes look at the people driving innovation in rotary transmission technology at Servotecnica.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this first edition, we sit down with Alessandro Gomarasca, Product Manager at Servotecnica, to explore how customization is shaping the next generation of slip ring solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: Certainly! I\u2019ve been with Servotecnica for several years now. I actually started out on the engineering side, working in the technical office, which gave me a solid foundation in how our products work. After a few years, I transitioned into a Product Manager role for several product lines, including our slip rings. In this role, I bridge the gap between the technical development and the customer needs, essentially making sure that what we design in-house truly solves the problems our clients have. It\u2019s a rewarding position because I get to collaborate with both our engineering team and our customers to drive innovative solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A: Customization is at the heart of what we do with slip rings. We recognize that no two applications are exactly the same, so we\u2019ve built a very broad range of slip ring designs to start with. In fact, Servotecnica offers more than 2,000 standard models<\/a> of electrical rotary joints, plus around 400 custom models we\u2019ve developed for specific needs. Having this large portfolio means we can mix-and-match or tweak designs to closely fit a client\u2019s requirements. Our engineering team works closely with customers to tailor every aspect of the slip ring: the size, the number and type of circuits, the choice of connectors and cables, materials, and so on. For example, we make slip rings as small as about 12.4\u202fmm in diameter for tight spaces, and we also build larger through-bore slip rings up to 100\u202fmm or more for applications that need a big opening (like running a pipe or shaft through the center).<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve produced stainless-steel housed slip rings and IP65-rated units for harsh environments where dust or water are a concern. Essentially, our approach is to listen to the specific goals and constraints of the project and then modify or reinvent the slip ring design to fit. This can be as simple as changing a mounting flange or as involved as a complete custom-build from scratch. It might take extra engineering effort, but it means the customer gets a solution that just works<\/em> for their scenario, rather than forcing their system to adapt to a standard off-the-shelf part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A:<\/strong> Two standout projects come to mind. One was for a rigid fixed wingsail<\/a> used in marine propulsion. The customer needed a way to transmit power and control signals to sensors and actuators inside a rotating sail structure exposed to salt spray, wind, and vibration. We developed a 20-channel custom slip ring housed in an IP65-rated enclosure, compact enough to fit within the sail\u2019s tight mechanical envelope while offering reliable operation in harsh marine conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The other was for wind turbines<\/a>, where we were asked to design a robust slip ring for pitch control systems and sensor feedback. These turbines operate in remote locations and extreme weather, so the slip ring needed to combine high-current power channels with low-noise signal transmission, all in a sealed, low-maintenance design. Our modular, long-life solution helped ensure consistent turbine performance while minimizing downtime and servicing needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In both cases, customization was key to meeting demanding technical and environmental requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A: We see a strong demand for custom slip rings in industries that push the limits of what standard components can do. Often it\u2019s because of unique constraints like extremely limited space, unusual electrical specifications (say very high voltages or a large number of circuits), or harsh operating environments that standard units weren\u2019t designed for. For example, the aerospace and defense sector frequently requires custom solutions, think of slip rings in satellites or military radar systems, where reliability under extreme conditions is non-negotiable and designs might need to handle vacuum, radiation, or high G-forces. Medical<\/a> devices are another area; a good example is medical imaging equipment (like CT or MRI machines) which use slip rings for power and data transfer in the rotating scanners. Those often call for custom-engineered rings to ensure absolutely clean signal transmission and to meet strict safety standards. Advanced robotics (including humanoid robots<\/a> and robotic arms) is a growing field for us. These robots often have very tight space and weight constraints in their joints, so we develop miniature, lightweight slip rings tailored to those needs. In robotics, sometimes we\u2019re also asked to combine electrical channels with things like fluid or fiber-optic lines, depending on the robot\u2019s functions. Beyond those, we\u2019ve done custom work for industrial automation systems where the environment is extreme. For instance, an assembly machine that runs 24\/7 at high speed or a processing plant where the equipment is exposed to a corrosive atmosphere. In short, any application with demands that fall outside the norm is a candidate. In these cases, a custom slip ring isn\u2019t about adding complexity for its own sake, but rather ensuring the component can handle the job reliably where a generic solution would fall short.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A: Designing a custom slip ring can be a complex engineering exercise. We often have to balance several competing factors. In my experience, the key challenges include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Each project might throw a new twist at us, but overcoming these kinds of challenges is exactly what makes custom design fun and rewarding as an engineer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A: Absolutely. I have a few pieces of advice for anyone thinking about going the custom route:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Welcome to Servotecnica Slip Ring Spotlights, our new interview series offering a behind-the-scenes look at the people driving innovation in rotary transmission technology at Servotecnica. In […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15589,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15546","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motion-blog"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n<\/a>Q: Can you share an example of a custom slip ring solution you worked on and how it solved a specific challenge?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Q: In what industries or use-cases have you seen the greatest demand for custom slip ring designs?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Q: From a technical perspective, what are some challenges you face when designing a custom slip ring?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/a>Q: Finally, any advice you would give to engineers or customers when they\u2019re considering a custom slip ring solution?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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