MG996R Digital Servo Motor 180 Degree Metal Gear

The MG996R is the workhorse servo of the robotics community. With 11kg/cm of torque at 6V and full metal gears, it delivers the muscle needed for robotic arms, pan-tilt mechanisms, and walking robots without breaking the bank.

The metal gear train is the key upgrade over the plastic-geared SG90 and MG90S. Under load, the gears hold up well and produce noticeably less backlash than their plastic counterparts. This matters for precision applications like camera gimbals and articulated joints.

Digital control provides smoother operation and better holding torque compared to analog servos. The standard 3-pin connector (signal, VCC, GND) works with any Arduino or ESP32 PWM output.

One important note: these servos draw significant current under load (up to 2.5A stall). Never power them from your microcontroller's 5V pin — use a separate power supply or BEC. A capacitor across the power rails helps prevent brownouts.

Quality control varies between sellers. We've seen occasional units with rough gear meshing or inconsistent centering. Buying a 2-pack is wise for having a spare.