High-Torque MG996R Metal Gear Digital Servo 13KG 180°

Specifications

• Core Motor Type: Coreless DC Motor with Digital Control

• Gear Material: All-Metal (Brass & Steel alloy)

• Bearing Type: Dual Ball Bearing

• Operating Voltage: 4.8V to 7.2V DC

• Stall Torque: 13 kg-cm (at 6.0V)

• Operating Speed: 0.17 sec/60° (at 4.8V), 0.14 sec/60° (at 6.0V)

• Rotation Range: 180 Degrees

• Dead Band Width: 5 µs

• Connector Type: 3-Pin JR / Futaba (Yellow=Signal, Red=V+, Brown=GND)

• Dimensions (Body): 40.7mm (L) x 19.7mm (W) x 42.9mm (H)

• Weight: 55g

Key Applications and Projects

• Articulated Robotic Hexapods: Utilizing multiple MG996R servos at the hip, knee, and ankle joints to support the weight of a complex walking robot while providing smooth inverse kinematics.

• Heavy-Duty RC Steering: Driving a reinforced steering mechanism to accurately maneuver 1/10 and 1/8 scale RC crawlers and buggies.

• Automated Locking Systems: Retrofitting a standard deadbolt with a custom 3D-printed bracket and an MG996R to create an RFID or Bluetooth-actuated smart lock.

Unlock New Capabilities (Project Evolution) The AI-Tracked Sorting Arm: Upgrade a standard 4-DOF desktop robotic arm from toy to industrial prototype by replacing all joints with MG996R servos! Hook the servos up to a PCA9685 PWM driver board to offload the timing requirements from your main processor. Then, interface the driver with a Raspberry Pi running an OpenCV machine-vision script and a connected webcam. As objects pass beneath the camera, the Pi will calculate bounding boxes, detect specific object colors, and instruct the high-torque MG996R servos to smoothly swoop down, grip the heavy items, and physically sort them into designated bins in real-time.

PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x MG996R 13KG Metal Gear Servo Motor

• 1 x Single-Arm Plastic Servo Horn

• 1 x Double-Arm Straight Plastic Servo Horn

• 4 x Anti-Vibration Rubber Grommets

• 4 x Brass Mounting Bushings/Eyelets

• 4 x Long Flanged Mounting Screws

• 1 x Short Servo Horn Center Screw

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What is the maximum operating voltage for the MG996R? The servo is rated for a maximum of 7.2V DC, though it performs optimally around 6.0V.

2. Can I power this servo directly from an Arduino's 5V pin? No. The MG996R can draw a stall current upwards of 2.5A, which will damage an Arduino voltage regulator. Always use a dedicated external power supply.

3. What is the default wiring pinout? Brown is Ground (Negative), Red is VCC (Positive, 4.8V-7.2V), and Yellow is the PWM Signal line.

4. Is this servo an analog or digital type? The MG996R features an upgraded digital control board, offering better holding torque and faster response times than older analog equivalents.

5. What is the spline tooth count for attaching aftermarket aluminum horns? The MG996R uses a standard 25T (25-tooth) spline.

6. What is the total rotational range? This specific model is mechanically designed for a 180-degree sweep.

7. What happens if I try to rotate the servo by hand when it is unpowered? While the metal gears are strong, forcing rotation manually can sometimes backdrive the motor and strip the gear teeth. It is recommended to position it via PWM.

8. What size is the servo? The main body dimensions are approximately 40.7mm x 19.7mm x 42.9mm (excluding the shaft).

9. Does this servo support continuous 360-degree rotation? No, this version has a mechanical stop restricting it to 180 degrees. 360-degree versions lack positional feedback.

10. What is the length of the attached cable? The factory-installed cable length is approximately 30cm (300mm).

11. What material are the internal gears made of? The transmission relies on an all-metal assembly, primarily composed of brass and steel alloy gears.

12. Why are rubber grommets and brass eyelets included? These are vibration dampeners. You insert the brass eyelet into the rubber grommet, push it into the mounting flange, and screw through the eyelet to isolate the servo from chassis vibration.

13. What is the dead band width, and why does it matter? The dead band width is 5µs. This is the minimum change in the PWM signal required to make the servo move. A lower number means higher precision and less "hunting" for the center.

14. What frequency PWM signal does this servo expect? It expects a standard 50Hz PWM signal, which translates to a 20ms period.

15. What pulse widths correspond to the servo's angles? Generally, a 1000µs (1ms) pulse width commands 0 degrees, 1500µs commands 90 degrees (center), and 2000µs commands 180 degrees.

16. How much weight does 13 kg-cm actually translate to? It means the servo can lift or hold a 13-kilogram weight suspended from a lever arm exactly 1 centimeter away from the center of the shaft.

17. Does the servo have ball bearings? Yes, it features a dual ball bearing design on the main output shaft to reduce friction and improve radial load handling.

18. Can I use this for a 1/10 scale RC car steering? Yes, its high torque and standard dimensions make it an excellent, budget-friendly steering servo for 1/10 and 1/8 scale RC crawlers and buggies.

19. What is the operating temperature range? The servo operates safely between 0°C and 55°C.

20. Is this servo waterproof? No, the standard MG996R case is not waterproof. Exposing the seams or the cable entry point to water will damage the internal PCB.