Even a robust metal-gear servo can fail. Here is how to interpret the datasheet to prevent disasters.
| Voltage | Torque (oz-in) | Torque (kg-cm) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 4.8V | 21.7 oz-in | 1.6 kg-cm | | 6.0V | 25.0 oz-in | 1.8 kg-cm |
Interpretation: 1.8 kg-cm is respectable for a 13-gram servo. This means the servo can hold a weight of 1.8 kilograms at the end of a 1 cm horn. Practically, for a 5 cm horn, it can lift roughly 360 grams. This is ideal for small robotic grippers or micro RC car steering. Emax Es08ma Ii Datasheet
| Voltage | Speed | Unit | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 4.8V | 0.12 sec/60° | seconds | | 6.0V | 0.10 sec/60° | seconds |
Interpretation: With a speed of 0.10 seconds at 6V, this is considered a medium-fast servo. It is not a race servo (like a 0.06 sec unit), but it is perfectly adequate for flight control surfaces on a 1-meter wingspan plane or dynamic leg movement in a small robot. Even a robust metal-gear servo can fail
One of the main selling points of the ES08MA II is its metal gear train. Let's disassemble (conceptually) the gear stages:
Compared to the nylon gears of the ES08A (plastic version), the metal gears provide: Compared to the nylon gears of the ES08A
Trade-off: Metal gears transmit more vibration and are slightly noisier. They also add 2g of weight compared to the plastic version.
While the datasheet provides typical values, real-world performance depends on load and temperature.
Datasheets often depict best-case scenarios. Here is what users actually report in real-world applications like RC planes, battle bots, and animatronics.