N20 Micro Metal Gear Motor 3V 15 RPM - Miniature Linear Actuator with M4 x 100mm Threaded Shaft

Specifications

• Motor Type: N20 Micro DC Gear Motor

• Operating Voltage: 3V DC

• No-Load Speed: 15 RPM

• Shaft Type: Fully Threaded Lead Screw

• Shaft Thread Size: M4 (Standard 0.7mm pitch)

• Shaft Length: 100mm

• Shaft Tip: 4mm long unthreaded section (3mm diameter) for bearing support

• Gearbox Length: 9mm

• Motor Body Length: 15.1mm

• Mounting Holes: 2 x M1.6

• Weight: 40 grams

Key Applications and Projects

• Automated Syringe Pumps: Providing the slow, high-torque pushing force required to dispense exact microliters of liquid or solder paste.

• Micro Camera Sliders: Moving a small action camera or smartphone along a rail at a glacial pace for cinematic macro timelapses.

• Astrophotography Star Trackers: Rotating a camera mount at the exact same speed as the earth's rotation to prevent star-trailing during long exposures.

ACCESSORIES / PACKAGE INCLUDED

• 1 x N20 Micro Metal Gear Motor (3V, 15 RPM) with Integrated M4 x 100mm Threaded Shaft

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

1. What is the operating voltage for this motor? It is highly optimized for a 3V DC power source (e.g., two AA batteries or a 3.3V microcontroller pin via a driver).

2. What is the rotational speed? It spins at an ultra-slow 15 RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) when powered with 3V.

3. What size is the threaded shaft? The shaft is a standard M4 metric thread.

4. How long is the threaded shaft? The shaft extends 100mm from the front face of the gearbox.

5. How does this act as a linear actuator? You must thread an M4 nut onto the shaft. If you physically prevent the nut from spinning with the shaft, the rotating threads will force the nut to travel up or down the rod, creating linear motion.

6. Does it come with an M4 nut? No, the package includes the motor and threaded shaft only. You will need to provide your own M4 nut (brass is recommended for low friction).

7. What is the smooth part at the very tip of the shaft? The tip features a 4mm long unthreaded section with a 3mm diameter. This is designed to slot into a 3mm bearing so you can support the far end of the shaft to prevent it from bending under pressure.

8. How do I mount the motor body? The front face of the brass gearbox has two tiny M1.6 threaded holes for secure mounting.

9. Can I run this motor on 5V or 6V? Yes, you can overvolt an N20 to 5V or 6V. It will spin faster (roughly 25-30 RPM at 6V) and have more torque, but it will significantly reduce the lifespan of the tiny internal motor brushes.

10. Can I run it on 1.5V (a single AA battery)? Yes, it will likely turn on 1.5V, but it will spin incredibly slowly (around 7 RPM) and will lose a significant amount of torque.

11. How do I connect wires to this motor? There are two small solder tabs on the rear of the silver motor housing. You will need to use a fine-tipped soldering iron to attach your power wires.

12. Can I reverse the direction of travel? Yes. Because it is a simple brushed DC motor, reversing the positive and negative power connections will reverse the rotation of the shaft, pulling the nut back towards the motor.

13. How fast will a nut travel along this shaft? An M4 thread has a pitch of 0.7mm. At 15 RPM, the nut will move linearly at 10.5mm per minute (15 * 0.7).

14. Is this motor self-locking? No. While the heavy gear reduction provides some resistance, a heavy enough load pushing down on the M4 nut can technically back-drive the motor when power is cut.

15. How much does it weigh? The entire assembly weighs exactly 40 grams.

16. What are the dimensions of the motor body itself? The rectangular gearbox is 9mm long, and the cylindrical motor body is 15.1mm long.

17. Can I cut the threaded shaft if it is too long? Yes, you can use a hacksaw or rotary tool to cut the M4 shaft down to a shorter length, though you will lose the machined 3mm bearing tip.

18. Can I control the speed of this motor? Yes, you can use a micro PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) motor controller (like an L298N Mini or DRV8833) to slow the motor down even further electronically.

19. Are the internal gears metal or plastic? The N20 series utilizes an all-metal micro spur gearbox for maximum durability in a tiny footprint.

20. Can I connect this directly to an Arduino pin? No! Even micro motors pull more current than a delicate microcontroller pin can provide. You must use a motor driver board between the Arduino and the N20 motor.