Pololu 2149 - Power HD Continuous Rotation Servo AR-3606HB

Overview

The AR-3606HB is a standard-sized servo that has been built by Power HD specifically for continuous rotation. At 6 V, it has a maximum rotation speed of 71 RPM (no-load) and can produce up to 93 oz-in (6.7 kg-cm) of torque. It features two ball bearings on the output shaft for reduced friction, and it offers easy access to the rest-point adjustment potentiometer. The servo can be controlled using a direct connection to a single microcontroller I/O line without any additional electronics, which makes it a great actuator for beginner robotics projects.

The AR-3606HB continuous rotation servo converts standard RC servo position pulses into continuous rotation speed. The default rest point is 1.5 ms, but this can be adjusted by using a small slotted screwdriver to turn the middle-point positioner. Pulse widths above the rest point result in counterclockwise rotation, with speed increasing as the pulse width increases; pulse widths below the rest point result in clockwise rotation, with speed increasing as the pulse width decreases.

The servo has a 12" (300 mm) lead that is terminated with a JR-style connector and includes additional servo horns and mounting hardware. The following picture shows an example of the hardware that might be included (actual hardware could vary):

This robotics servo, which also sometimes goes by the Power HD part number AR3606HB, is compatible with our servo controllers and has a Futaba-compatible output shaft, which means it works with our servo wheels and sprockets.

Continuous rotation servo comparison

SpringRC SM-S4303R (left), Power HD AR-3606HB (middle), and Parallax (right) continuous rotation servos.

	SpringRC SM-S4303R	PowerHD AR-3606HB	Parallax (Futaba S148)
Max Speed @ 6 V:	54 RPM	71 RPM	50 RPM
Stall torque @ 6 V:	71 oz-in	93 oz-in	42 oz-in
Max Speed @ 4.8 V:	43 RPM	62 RPM	39 RPM
Stall torque@ 4.8 V:	46 oz-in	83 oz-in	33 oz-in
Weight:	41 g	40 g	43 g
Size:	41.3A—20.7A—40.2mm	40.5A—20.0A—38.0mm	40.5A—20.0A—38.0mm
Price:	$12.95	$14.95	$13.95