Slip Rings for Weather Radar Systems
Weather radar systems rely heavily on continuous 360-degree rotation to be able to monitor storm activity and atmospheric conditions in real time. To support this movement, the electrical connection between stationary and rotating components must remain dependable. Fabricast slip rings have been used in weather radar systems providing long term protection and performance in field applications. These slip rings are built to deliver reliable signal transfer, continuous power transmission, dependable operations during constant rotation, and long service life with minimal maintenance.
Customer feedback shows that many units remain in service for years, even decades with little to no maintenance required. The same slip ring design is used for multiple radar bands, helping to simplify production, stocking, and long-term support and maintenance. Along with the slip ring future system upgrades may include:
- Sealed slip ring designs
- Wire brush technology to reduce carbon dust
- Custom cable harnesses
- Connected assemblies
- Integrated fiber optic rotary joint options
- Open center bore configurations for fiber and waveguide routing.
As radar systems move towards solid state technology, UEA and Fabricast can support higher power requirements and evolving technical needs and capabilities. These solutions are well suited for commercial weather radar, government weather monitoring, defense and military radar systems, and long-term outdoor installations. UEA and Fabricast continue to provide custom slip ring solutions built for applications with reliability and long service life.