Servo not rotating 180 degrees

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
#1

I am trying to get my DFRobot servo to work:
http://www.dfrobot.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=120

I am using the sample sketch that is provided by the IDE. I am using external power for the servo, so that the Arduino is not stressed on that part. The code is:

#include <Servo.h> 

Servo myservo;  // create servo object to control a servo
                // a maximum of eight servo objects can be created
 
int pos = 0;    // variable to store the servo position
 
void setup()
{
  myservo.attach(8, 544, 2400);  // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object
}
 
 
void loop()
{
  
  for(pos = 0; pos < 180; pos += 1)  // goes from 0 degrees to 180 degrees
  {                                  // in steps of 1 degree
    myservo.write(pos);              // tell servo to go to position in variable 'pos'
    delay(30);                       // waits 15ms for the servo to reach the position
  }
  for(pos = 180; pos>=1; pos-=1)     // goes from 180 degrees to 0 degrees
  {                                
    myservo.write(pos);              // tell servo to go to position in variable 'pos'
    delay(30);                       // waits 15ms for the servo to reach the position
  }
  
  
  // myservo.write(0);
}

My problem is that I am unable to sweep the full 180 degrees that is supported by the servo. I guess the rotation is around 120 degrees. I have not found any solution for this.

Is anyone been able to use this servo as it is supposed to be.

#2

Are you 100% sure that it actually can do 180 degrees?

I got a few 180 degrees servo's too, but not one of them can actually do 180

#3

Below is simple servo test code that might be of use in testing your servo.

// zoomkat 10-4-10 serial servo test
// type servo position 0 to 180 in serial monitor
// for writeMicroseconds, use a value like 1500
// for IDE 0019 and later
// Powering a servo from the arduino usually DOES NOT WORK.

String readString;
#include <Servo.h> 
Servo myservo;  // create servo object to control a servo 

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  myservo.attach(7);  //the pin for the servo control 
  Serial.println("servo-test-21"); // so I can keep track of what is loaded
}

void loop() {

  while (Serial.available()) {
    delay(10);  
    if (Serial.available() >0) {
      char c = Serial.read();  //gets one byte from serial buffer
      readString += c; //makes the string readString
    } 
  }

  if (readString.length() >0) {
    Serial.println(readString);  //so you can see the captured string 
    int n;
    char carray[6]; //converting string to number
    readString.toCharArray(carray, sizeof(carray));
    n = atoi(carray); 
    myservo.writeMicroseconds(n); // for microseconds
    //myservo.write(n); //for degees 0-180
    readString="";
  } 
}
#4

Not all servos have a mechanical 180 degree travel, so 120 degrees may be the mechanical limit for your servo. Also some servos require pulse widths shorter and longer then the standard widths of 1 and 2 millisecond provided by the arduino servo command when using degree values of 0 and 180 respectively.

There is a writeMicroseconds() command where you can give the pulse width commands longer then 2millec and shorter then 1 millisecond to determine how much 'over-travel' your specific servo has. http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/ServoWriteMicroseconds

Lefty

#5

Not all servos have a mechanical 180 degree travel, so 120 degrees may be the mechanical limit for your servo.

Per the link provided for the servo: "The DF15MG is a double bearing, high torque 180 degree rotation servo." Still could have mechanical issues.

#6

I am still unable to rotate the full 180 degrees. The servo shaft can rotate over 180 degrees; but the Arduino is not able to control it that way.

Maybe I have to live with it.

#7

Have you tried the writeMicroseconds method?

#8

I have tried to delayMicroseconds; same issue. I will now try the library from IDE 16. It seems that the servo library and NewSoftSerial don't work together. Maybe that gives me the 180 degrees too?

#9

It seems that the servo library and NewSoftSerial don't work together.

In the code you posted, you are not using NewSoftSerial, so the relevance of this observation escapes me.

#10