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Presenting the Hitec HS-65HB, one of the the best micro servo's available with Karbonite Gears. So what's so special about this servo? Well how about 31 ounces/inch of torque and 0.11 sec speeds at 6 volts in a compact 23.60 x 11.60 x 24.00mm footprint, Super Strong Karbonite Gears capable of cycles in excess of 300,000 with Zero Wear and almost five times the strength of nylon gears, Top Ball Bearing for smooth and quiet operation, versatile enough for small and large applications, and best of all it's extremely easy to modify for continuous rotation. This is one servo Futaba, GWS and JR can't touch. A micro monster with whopping torque/speed and if you can afford the $21.00 price then you can't go wrong for the quality/durability you get with this fine product. So why bother with extra torque in a compact unit and not just get a cheap servo instead? Well let me give you an example. Torque complements speed and let's say you have a mobile robotic platform using cheap micro servos for drive. As you begin to add weight (eg. batteries, sensors, controllers) your platform begins to suffer and the speed is heavily decreased, not to mention the excess strain on those weak nylon gears. Having that extra torque output and the Karbonite gears gives you an advantage, the boost your platform needs to counter the effects of weight and keep it moving. This servo gets it done and does a fine job in its modified continuous rotation form. So how easy is it to modify? So easy that you only need to touch one gear. That's Right! No extracting of PCB boards, replacing of potentiometers with resistor networks or even cutting a single wire. Don't even mess with the electronics and save your servos in case you want to return to standard servo performance (see step 7). Why the steps are so easy you could just follow the photos. But please do read for "reading is knowledge" and well worth it. With that said, let's begin....................
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Signing UpStep 1Tools Required
To perform this modification, you will need these tools:
1 x Phillips Screwdriver
1 x Precision Screwdriver 1.0m/m
1 x Needle Nose Plier
1 x Wire Cutter
1 x Drill
1 x Drill Bit 1/16"
(Optional) Small Hand File OR Sandpaper
1 x Phillips Screwdriver
1 x Precision Screwdriver 1.0m/m
1 x Needle Nose Plier
1 x Wire Cutter
1 x Drill
1 x Drill Bit 1/16"
(Optional) Small Hand File OR Sandpaper
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1. "Rip out" the electronics so that your servo works like an ordinary DC motor (no control through a Digital Pin).
2. Desoldering the potentiometer and replacing it by 2 resistors. In this way you retain control over the servo trough a Pin.
3. Your method described in the above I'ble seems the most elegant one. However, one small remark confused me in step 6 (about fully stopping the servo). Why does the potentio meter has to be glued? And will the servo fully stop?
Sorry for my extremely late response. I need to update my email address associated with this instructable.
Yes, My method for modifying a servo is the best and does not require any permanant alteration of the electronics. You only need to touch one Main Gear!
You asked why glue the potentiometer to make the servo fully stop? First off if you don't glue the potentiometer the servo will come very close to stopped except there may be a slight vibration that results in creeping but it's hardly noticeable.
Now, by adding a little hot glue to the potentiometer, not super glue, remember nothing permanent., you will be able to dampen the vibrations on the potentiometer thereby causing the servo to remain stopped completely when you command it to.
I realized this when I removed the case and the Main Gear and tested the servo were vibrations were much less and the servo would remain stopped on command. When the main gear is on and running you introduce vibrations that cause the servo to creep extremely slowly but like I said it's hardly noticaeble. So just add a little hot glue around the potentiometer and you can further eliminate the vibrations.
Remember, you have nothing to lose by trying my instructable. If you don't like the performance you could just buy a replacement gear set on ebay for $3.00-$5.00 and just put a new Main Gear back on and you will have your old servo performance back instantly. The best of both worlds! So have a little faith and you will be rewarded. Take it easy and make it easy on yourself!
I have read your I'ble several times and then felt confident enough.
When I opened my servo, I got a different idea al together and decided to deviate from you instructable. I even turned it into an Instructable (and gave some credits to you by presenting it as a variation of your idea). My variation is irreversible though.
Check it out here
After looking you up I see you have checked out almost every servo modification on here.
I have read your version which does do permanant damage which is opposite to what I recommend but you have the freedom post whatever you want.
The point is all servos will never modify exactly the same. Some will be easy while others will be more difficult. Some will have gears on top of the potentiometer so you can't cut out or destroy it even if you wanted to. I chose my particular servo because it was simply one of my favorite models. My same instructable will also work for many of the other Hitec models including the HS-300 and HS-400 series standard size servos.
I'm sure I could figure out how to modify any servo but since everybody has their own favorite servo to use, you would have to make instructables for every single servo to please everybody. We do a few just to teach the different techniques and people have to decide which technique they like best. I personally don't want people to destroy or permanently alter their servos if they don't have to. It's great to be able to return to standard perfomance someday down the road. My modification has worked perfectly for my applications. Another modification might work best for some other application. There are many roads to take and I see that this was very important to you since you discussed it everywhere.
Did you know that you can buy servo's already modified for continuous rotation if you need it fast and don't want to do it yourself? Stores like Parallax, Lynxmotion, SuperDroidRobots, etc. sell these ready to go for people who don't want to mess with servos or simply want it done right. The only drawback is the servos they sell are limited models so they most likey wont have the brand or model you want to use. Then you're left with no choice but to do it yourself. Also, most stores don't sell micro servos in continuous rotation form which is why I did a Micro Servo Instructable. They say modifying smaller servos are usually harder than large servos. Not for my particular model but some are very small and delicate so it's easy to lose parts or even forget how to put it back together.
Anyway bertus52x11, I wish you luck on your project or whatever you plan to do with your servos and advise that you choose the best speed/torque output to match your application. Like they say, it's better to be overpowered than underpowered. So choose wisely before you decide to modify. The world is full of great servos..............
Hello Eonir,
The Main Gear has a "D" shaped bore or hole which locks onto the "D" shaped potentiometer shaft. By drilling through the Main Gear you turn the "D" shape into a full circle so now when gear is placed onto the "D" shaped potentiometer shaft it will not lock but spin freely around thereby allowing continuous rotation. Pretty Easy Right!
With my modification, anytime you wish to go back to standard servo performance all you have to do is buy a replacement gear set and install the Main Gear back onto the "D" shaped potentiometer shaft. So you get the best of both worlds with this modification.............
amclaussen