How to Power a Rotating Turret

[sxysweed]

*doesn't read thread*

What I've seen used in various devices (namely cheap RC Car Remotes, Pistol Grip Style) is mounting contacts on the turntable. You have prongs that dip down from the rotating assembly onto a turntable with copper/silver/whatever tracs, one for positive/negative/whatever, so that it retains constant contact. It's like take a Brushed Electric Motor and making it 2-D... You may not have huge current flow, but with silver 'brushes' and something highly conductive for the tracks, along with "Comm Drops*" for use inbetween, you should be able to achieve good numbers for power transfer. Can't be that bad.

*They are used in Brushed RC Cars. Little drops that you drop between the Com(uter) and the brushes. It helps improve output of the motor and keep it running cooler until it burns off. I could see where it is useful if applied as described above...

[MrForbes]

Brushes probably are not needed for a rotating turret, unless you want to make it turn 360 degrees. We decided against that.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by sxysweed

*doesn't read thread*

You should at least have read the original question. The problem is not one of providing power through a rotating connection. The problem is merely how to rotate the turntable.

[Jared Russell]

We are using a rubber wheel in contact with the outer ring of our bearing to provide rotation. As long as the surfaces are sufficiently grippy and tension is applied, you will get smooth, quiet rotation.

Since slipping is still possible using this method, a sensor mounted on a separate contact wheel is being used for positioning.