Lifespan of Servo Motor

Other Hardware Motors, Mechanics, Power and CNC
1

Hello,

I recently purchased a FEETECH Mini Servo FT1117M-FB with Position Feedback. I am running this motor +/-20degs at 2Hz for an intended100K cycles. After every 10 cycles, I have the position reset to its home. This is needed in order for syncing purposes with another motor. The reset moves the motor less than a degree as it is already close to the home position just not quite there yet. I am running power from a 5.0V Teensy 4.1 Microcontroller.

However, after about 8K cycles, the motor begins to stutter and it is audibly louder. The motor is not hot. I don't believe it is a code issue since I have been running the same code for a while with <1000 cycles at a time with no problems. The servo would run smoothly.

  1. What is the lifespan of these motors?
  2. Am I asking them to do too much?
  3. What would be a good alternative motor to handle such tests?

Thanks!

Link to Pololu Mini Servo FT1117M-FB

2

Gear material can wear away or become obstructed. I suspect this little, plastic fella in red.

0J7757.1200
0J7757.12001200×1004 161 KB

3

Can You show that in a drawing? It's not clear what You try to tell.

You need to search for that information from the supplier or manufacturer.

You could be but the answer is found in the answer to 1.

More knowing helpers can tell. Heavy duty stuff of some brand.

4

@Railroader Basically I am just powering the servo motor with 5V from the microcontroller board. The motor doesn't have a separate power supply. There is no life info from the manufacturer. I have reached out to them but haven't heard anything.

5

Makes sense. But I have only had these motors for less than a month. With maybe a total of 10K cycle use. It sounds like if it is that part then these motors will need to be replaced often then.

6

They look receptive to opening. When grease is used, loose particles mix with it. The combination slowly becomes "paste" further ruining the paste and quickening the death of the gear.

7

Rather than using a feedback signal servo, maybe try a high quality digital servo.

Analog verses Digital servos.

8

That is generally No, No.
How is the board powered?

1 Like
9

@Railroader Just through the usb computer connection. I did just switch the motor power input to its own power supply with 5V and 6V and the servo was still not running as smoothly as it was when first purchased.

10

For this project, I need to be able to record the position of the servo. So unfortunately, I don't think I can get around not having the feedback.

11

Hummm :thinking:

If you say to the digital servo “go to position 67” then you know the servo goes to the 67 position.

12

Also a no-no. Servos generate voltage spikes in the power supply, and most draw higher startup current that a USB output can provide. Either can damage an attached Arduino or computer.

servo_pwr
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The rule of thumb for an external power supply is 5-6V at 1 Ampere per struggling small servo (SG-90), or 2.5 Amperes per struggling large servo (MG996R).

Cheap servos are intended for only occasional use in toys, and tend to have short lives.

13

That is not good according to standards. It's too much current fot the tiny copper stripes on the board.

14

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