Servo
MG996R Metal Gear Servo
High-torque metal-gear servo for robotic arms, RC vehicles, and load-bearing joints.
A metal-gear servo offering significantly more torque than the SG90, favored in robotic arms and RC vehicle steering.
Specifications
| Operating voltage | 4.8V - 7.2V DC (6V typical) |
| Torque | ~9.4 kg·cm at 4.8V, ~11 kg·cm at 6V |
| Rotation | ~120° on most units (some rebadged versions claim 180° — verify with your specific unit) |
| Speed | ~0.17 sec/60° at 4.8V, ~0.14 sec/60° at 6V |
| Control signal | PWM, 50Hz, ~1ms-2ms pulse width |
| Stall current | Up to ~2.5A — needs its own 5-6V supply, not the MCU board's 5V rail |
| Weight | ~55g |
Pinout
| Pin | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | GND | Ground — usually the brown wire |
| 2 | VCC | Power, 4.8V-7.2V DC — usually the red wire |
| 3 | Signal | PWM control input — usually the orange wire |
A single MG996R under load can brown out an Arduino running from USB. Power it from a separate 5-6V supply and tie grounds together.
Variants
The MG996R is the right size for most robotic-arm and RC-steering projects that need real torque. Step down to an SG90 or MG90S for lightweight, low-load mechanisms where size and cost matter more than strength; step up to a digital servo like the DS3218 when the MG996R's analog control loop and torque ceiling aren't enough for a heavier arm joint.
| Variant | Price |
|---|---|
| SG90 (9g micro) | ~$1-3 |
| MG90S (metal-gear micro) | ~$2-4 |
| MG996R (this listing) | ~$3-6 |
| DS3218 (digital, waterproof) | ~$10-18 |