The Power of Servos

[Oreoiorio]

Servos aren't that powerful, but with a strain on the number of motors left to use, we need to use them. Using a lever, we got a single servo to release something with a strong force, but when we increase the opposing force, the servo is no longer powerful enough.

My question is, is there any way to double up two servos to pull on the same thing? If so does this method provide any extra power?

Servos aren't my thing, and I would prefer we didn't even use them, but right now a solution would be much appreciated.

[EricH]

I remember seeing a picture of a device that could gang 3 servos last year or the year before. Can't find it right now, but it's in CD-Media. (Trying to remember who posted it...)

[Vikesrock]

This picture Eric?

[EricH]

Originally Posted by Vikesrock

This picture Eric?

That one exactly.

[Jon Stratis]

Doubling up the servo's would give you more power (torque), yes. Thing about the KoP gear boxes for the CIM's - you can stick two CIM's in there in order to increase the torque available on the output shaft at any given speed. You would need to buy or design some sort of linkage that works in the same way to combine the servo's.

What might be easier to do, however, is increase your mechanical advantage when using the servo's. This can be done through gear reductions, levers, pulley's, or any number of other methods. Simply put, you decrease the amount of torque the servo needs by increasing the distance the servo moves (rotates) to do the same job. It's like shifting down on a bike to get up a hill.

For example, if the servo is simply rotating a rod into place to hold something, and it requires a 90 degree turn to do so, put a small sprocket on the rotating piece, and another one on the servo, with a 4:1 reduction. Now you turn the servo 360 degrees, the rotating piece turns 90 degrees, and you've accomplished your goal while requiring less torque from the servo.

[Oreoiorio]

Thanks for all the help, I think we figured out what we need to do.