MG996R High Torque Metal Gear Servo Motor Continuos 360 Degree

Specifications

• Operating Voltage: 4.8V to 7.2V DC
• Stall Torque (4.8V): 9.4 kg/cm (130.5 oz/in)
• Stall Torque (6.0V): 11.0 kg/cm (152.8 oz/in)
• Operating Speed (4.8V): 0.19 sec/60 degrees (No load)
• Operating Speed (6.0V): 0.15 sec/60 degrees (No load)
• Rotation Angle: 360 Degrees (Continuous Rotation)
• Gear Type: All Metal Gears
• Bearing: Double Ball Bearing
• Temperature Range: 10°C to +40°C
• Dimensions: 40.7mm x 19.7mm x 42.9mm
• Weight: 55g (approx. 65g with horns/wires)

Applications

• Mobile Robotics: Direct drive motors for 2WD and 4WD rover wheels and tank tracks.
• Automated Mechanisms: Motorized camera sliders, automated curtain pullers, and continuous conveyor belts.
• Sensors & Scanning: 360-degree continuous sweeps for LiDAR or Ultrasonic radar systems.
• Dioramas & Displays: Rotating display stands with adjustable speed control.

Unlock New Capabilities

• Past Projects: You’ve likely built basic RC cars using yellow TT gear motors and standard L298N motor drivers, or you've used 180-degree servos for simple steering.
• The Upgrade: This 360° MG996R unlocks driverless continuous motion. You can directly control the speed and direction of a wheel using a single digital pin from your microcontroller—no bulky motor drivers or dual H-bridges required!
• Effort & Requirements: Intermediate. You only need a microcontroller (Arduino/ESP32) and a dedicated 5V power supply. Understanding how Servo.writeMicroseconds() maps to speed and direction is the key to mastering this component.

Virtual Technician & Wiring Guide

• ⚠️ CRITICAL WARNING: High-torque servos draw massive current spikes (up to 1.5A to 2.5A at stall). NEVER power this servo directly from the 5V pin of your Arduino, ESP32, or Raspberry Pi. Doing so will cause brownouts, random resets, or permanently fry your board's voltage regulator. Always use a dedicated external power supply (like a 5V 3A UBEC or a bench power supply) and connect the grounds together.
• Brown Wire: Ground (GND) - Must connect to both your Power Supply GND and Microcontroller GND.
• Red Wire: VCC (4.8V - 7.2V) - Connect to external power supply ONLY.
  Orange Wire: PWM Signal - Connect to a PWM-capable digital pin on your microcontroller.

Package Includes:

• 1 x MG996R High Torque Metal Gear Servo Motor

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• What is the difference between the 180-degree and 360-degree MG996R?
  A 180-degree servo moves to a specific angle and holds it. A 360-degree (continuous) servo acts like a gear motor; the PWM signal controls its rotation speed and direction, not its position.
• Can I command this 360 servo to stop at exactly 45 degrees?
  No. Continuous rotation servos do not have internal positional feedback. You can only control how fast it spins and in which direction.
• How do I make the 360 servo stop spinning?
  Send a PWM signal of exactly 1500 microseconds (or Servo.write(90) in Arduino). If it still creeps slowly, you may need to adjust the value slightly (e.g., 1490 or 1510) to find the true center point.
• What is the maximum operating voltage?
  It operates safely between 4.8V and 7.2V DC. 6.0V is the sweet spot for maximum efficiency and torque.
• Why is my microcontroller resetting when the servo moves?
  The servo is drawing too much current, causing a voltage drop (brownout) on your board. Power the servo from a separate, high-current power supply.
• What is the stall current of the MG996R?
  Depending on the voltage, the stall current can safely reach between 1.5A and 2.5A. Plan your power supply accordingly.
• Are the internal gears actually metal?
  Yes, the primary drive and reduction gears are metal (brass/aluminum alloy), providing high durability under heavy mechanical loads.
• Do I need a motor driver like the L298N to use this?
  No, the servo has an internal control circuit. You only need to supply power and a PWM signal directly from your microcontroller.
• Can I use this with an ESP32 or Raspberry Pi?
  Yes. While the control signal from these boards is 3.3V, it is generally enough to trigger the servo's logic. However, the servo's VCC must be connected to a 5V-7.2V source.
• What PWM frequency does the MG996R expect?
  It expects a standard analog servo control signal: a 50Hz frequency (20ms period).
• Does this fit standard servo brackets and pan/tilt kits?
  Yes, it features standard "standard size" servo dimensions (approx. 40x20x43mm) and fits most standard robotics brackets.
• How do I control the speed of rotation?
  Vary the pulse width. For example, 1500us is stop. 1600us is slow forward, 2000us is fast forward. 1400us is slow reverse, 1000us is fast reverse.
• Can I run this servo underwater?
  No, the standard MG996R is not waterproof. Moisture will damage the internal control board and potentiometer.
• What do the wire colors mean?
  Brown is Ground (-), Red is Power (+), and Orange is the PWM Signal.
• Is this a digital or analog servo?
  The standard MG996R is an analog servo. It updates the motor position at 50Hz.
• Does this servo have an internal encoder?
  No. If you need precise positional tracking over multiple rotations, you will need to attach an external rotary encoder to your mechanism.
• What is "dead band width"?
  It is the minimum change in the PWM signal required to make the servo respond. For this servo, it is 5 microseconds