What do you do if you need a lot of power plus speed and can't (or don't want to) fit a standard size servo? Your best alternative is usually a mini and this superb example makes as astonishing 205oz-in, has a brushless motor (most competitors rely on a coreless motor, instead, and is lightning fast at 0.05sec/60°.
The secret to this kind of performance? There is none because basically, all we do is shoehorn a standard size servo motor into a mini-class frame by slotting the sides of the case. This lets the larger motor hang out in the breeze, exposed to one and all. Anyway, this fantastic mini is what you want if you have a fast mover like a turbine, or fly aggressive 3D/XA maneuvers
Based on our popular DS175BLHV, this servo is ideal for 80N turbine powered models, 550-class helicopters, and 3D acrobatic models sporting wingspans into the mid-70" range where 12S power systems and 35cc gasser engines rule. Quite simply, it's a fantastic servo for your next project . . . and it's our very best mini!
Featuring a case hogged out of a solid billet of 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum, you're basically looking at the very best mini-size servo we know how to make. And it's a beast because of that huge hoss of a motor. This is what's letting this thing make stupid fast transit speeds and incredible power. Bottom line? If your high performance 3D/XA model, jet, or heli requires loads of torque with serious transit speed, then we're not making a big secret of what's involved - the best motor, the best pot, the best gears, and it's all stuffed into the best CNC-machined aluminum case we know how to make!
Note; competing servos like an MKS HV9767 offer you aluminum cases but with coreless motors. Coreless motors are great when you're on a budget, where our DS160CLHV is a better choice . . . . but if you want the very best mini we make, then DS205BLHV is it. Could we make it even more powerful? Sure, but at the expense of speed and for some models, especially 3D and helis when rotor blades and control surfaces move at the blink of an eye, you can't trade off too much speed just to have more torque since you can more economically get that in a standard size. Remember, servos are always a compromise between torque and speed and when you want the best, this is the mini you want.
1. Start with the best possible brushless-motor. When commutation happens electronically (instead of mechanically), the motor runs cooler because there's no insulating build up of brush dust over time. And since electrons don't wear out, a brushless-motor lasts 5X longer than a coreless-motor.
2. Of course, if you want a stronger mini-size servo, it helps to start with a stronger motor. Like the one in our standard-size 470oz-in servo. Stuffing it into a mini-class case required outside the box thinking. The gearing it to be really fast. It's how's we it makes 205oz-in/0.050sec/60° within a compact frame.
3. The trick to shoehorning a large-frame motor into a mini-size frame is simple. It merely involves slotting the CNC-machined case and letting the monster motor hang out a little bit (which has a benefit of added cooling). Beginning with a solid billet of 6061-T6 aircraft aluminum, the end result is more than just pretty . . . it's bullet proof.
4. Then we use 10 Allen-head machine screws to secure the assembly instead of 4 (like our competitors) because once we ran the FEA (finite element analysis) within the CAD-computer we discovered this made the transmission assembly a lot more rigid. Of course, a more rigid assembly is the key to a gear train that better withstands abuse.
5. Dual dual ball bearings? You betcha! But instead of ABEC-3 bearings, we opted to use ABEC-9 because ultra high precision bearings offer better performance. Naturally, these cost more and we mention it because we're proud of what goes in our servo (and because we noticed our competitors don't publish bearing specs).
6. In this class of servo you're right to expect metal gears, but instead of COTS (commercial off the shelf) gears featuring brass/steel (plus fake titanium), we opted for pricey but much tougher custom steel/steel gears (with anodized aluminum 25T output shaft). Plus, our gears are wider (thicker) than usual because increasing the surface area means greatly increasing wear characteristics.
7. Optimized for high voltage (HV) battery packs because higher voltage means lower current (rated at 7.4V nominal, 8.4V max - but specs given at a realistic 7.4V instead of a voltage you'll only see when the pack is fresh off charge). As experienced modelers know, this becomes especially important when using servo extensions. Plus, a 2S LiPo pack weighs much less than an equivalent capacity NiCd, LiFe, or NiMH pack.
8. Since centering is the sine qua non for a high performance servo, we use MIL-SPEC components. Along with a genuine Nobel potentiometer, this means the best possible performance because we don't compromise in our goal of building the best mini-size servo money can buy.
9. If you believe protecting the electronics against vibration is important then you'll be happy to learn how instead of a cheapo piece of foam we protect the electronic components of the PCB (printed circuit board) against vibration with potting compound. This is exactly how the military and NASA bullet proof their electronics. And quite honestly, it's a pain in the hind quarters, but we think of it as going the extra mile because like you, we're modelers too. Or put another way, we fly what we sell.
Bottom line? The ProModeler Brushless SuperMini is the one you want because it's better. It's super precise, centers superbly, and is simply stronger than competing minis. This makes it ideal for cyclic duty on 500-class helicopters like a Goblin. Plus, it's compact enough for the slim wing of a super fast jet. Plus, it's über strong for 60" class freestyle electric acrobat. We don't hide what we put into it and we welcome comparison to any other mini-size servo on the planet Earth. Granted, others may offer you a similar looking mini, but for your money you'll get a less expensive motor, inferior gears, an assembly with fewer screws, cheaper bearings, and and they'll leave out little touches like the potting compound. Is it pricey? Yup! But as usual, you get what you pay for.
Note:
These are mini-size servos with very small gears and operating
them manually via the servo horn may damage them. This damage is not
covered by warranty. Please do not treat these like a standard size
servos. You've been warned. Also, operating voltage is 4.8-8.4V, but
optimal performance is obtained with
a 2S LiPo instead of a BEC. This is because LiPos deliver the required
current without voltage spikes, noise, or otherwise adversely affecting
the delicate avionics (15C or better is recommended). After all,
synthetic orange colored Tang may have gone to the moon, but it doesn't
compare to freshly squeezed orange juice. Same thing when it comes to
feeding your avionics!