Servos - Digital or Anaglog

[Jim Fowler]

Guys,

Is anyone out there using "Digital" servos in their tanks?

Are they worth the cost investment?

Any and all feddback welcome.

[Armortek]

Hi Jim

The steering servo that we use on both the 222 and 7 is a digital servo. In operation these are the same to use as analogue servos. Digital servos do try at all times to find the exact position commanded, so they can sometimes sit and "sing" when the model is static. Generally they are higher performance, higher cost.

Mark

[Jim Fowler]

Thanks Mark!

I see that most digital servos are program-able. you can set the travel limits and the individual directional speed of them.

I was investigating this for a main-gun recoil animation and then wondered about elevation control as well - actually that aspect is for a non-AT (ArmorTek) model - sorry.

I was just wondering if they would sort of simplify the controls.... BUt, they do cost more; and, you also have to buy a programmer and learn to use it......

One of the things that got me looking at this is a comment made by the Futaba Rep at the Toledo show this past year. He sort of pushed the concept that they and other manufacturers were sort of headed away from marketing the old servos.

I am working with them now and wanted to ask folks to see if that was true and get any insight available.

So, I am just pondering this at the moment.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Jim
If I was choosing a servo for a vital position in my latest pride and joy
it would have to be the best I could afford.
Like Mark said the Digital have the Speed and Precision over the
Analogue servo's.
If what the Futaba Rep was saying is correct,it may be down to
the fact that the bulk of servo's are probably used in the Helecoptors and
other Air craft market 4 or 5 + in each model and the bulk beeing Digital to cope with the demands of Giro's etc,so its probably more economical aswell to go Digital.
Sounds like a programable one would be best for you if they are able
to have adjustable speed different for each direction.
I know you can adjust the speed of the tail servo in a helicoptor via the radio,but its the same speed for both direction(piroette speed).
I was choosing a servo for the retractible landing gear on a large model
Helicoptor and although the first servo was digital and powerfull enough
to operate the retracts it would not shut up complaining at the end of
each end of its travell,no matter how I tried to adjust it.
It was an Align Servo and I think had plastic gears.
I bought a new Hitec servo,Digital again but this had metal gears and it
was mutch more precise on the travel adhustments and stopped each
end without a murmer of protest.
In short by the best you can and I would say deffinatley go for power and metal gears for your application,of a barrel recoil.
I would love to see some photo's if you get it going.
Cheers
phil

[Jim Fowler]

Thanks Phil!


I will!