SpringRC SM-S4303R Continuous Rotation Servo

Surplus units available: We have made a one-time purchase of surplus new SM-S4303R continuous rotation servos that we are able to offer at specially discounted pricing. They are functionally identical this stock SM-S4303R servo except for the direction of rotation, which is reversed, and we are selling them as pairs under a different product number (item #3448) to differentiate them. Please consider them as discounted alternatives to the our stock item #1248 servos while supplies last.

Overview

The SM-S4303R is a standard-sized servo that has been built by SpringRC specifically for continuous rotation. At 6 V, it has a maximum rotation speed of 54 RPM (no-load) and can produce up to 71 oz-in (5.1 kg-cm) of torque. It features two ball bearings on the output shaft for reduced friction, and it offers easy access to the rest-point adjustment potentiometer. The servo can be controlled using a direct connection to a single microcontroller I/O line without any additional electronics, which makes it a great actuator for beginner robotics projects.

The SM-S4303R continuous rotation servo converts standard RC servo position pulses into continuous rotation speed. The default rest point is 1.5 ms, but this can be adjusted by using a small screwdriver to turn the middle-point positioner. Pulse widths above the rest point result in counterclockwise rotation, with speed increasing as the pulse width increases; pulse widths below the rest point result in clockwise rotation, with speed increasing as the pulse width decreases.

The servo has an 11? (270 mm) lead that is terminated with a JR-style connector and includes additional servo horns and mounting hardware. The following picture shows an example of the hardware that might be included (actual hardware could vary):

This robotics servo is compatible with our servo controllers and has a Futaba-compatible output shaft, which means it works with our servo wheels for standard servos (25T, 5.8 mm spline). This servo is also compatible with our Mounting Bracket for Standard-Size Servos:

If you are looking for a similar servo that is capable of limited-range position control as opposed to continuous rotation speed control, consider the FEETECH FS5106B servo or Power HD standard servo 6001HB, which have comparable size, weight, speed, and torque.

Note: The spline on this servo is slightly bigger than on our other continuous rotation servos, so some servo horns and wheels might have a tight fit. If you find it difficult to push a compatible servo horn or wheel on by hand, please try the installation method shown in the video below. Similarly, the servo’s mounting tabs are a tight fit with our mounting bracket, so you might consider filing them or the mounting bracket down a little if you want to use them together.

Note that, as with most hobby servos, stalling or back-driving this servo can damage it.

Note: This servo is SpringRC part number SM-S4303R-CCW.

Continuous rotation servo comparison

Continuous rotation servo size comparison. From left to right: SpringRC SM-S4303R, Power HD AR-3606HB, FEETECH FS5106R, Parallax Feedback 360°, Parallax (Futaba S148), and FEETECH FS90R.

	6 V		4.8 V		Weight (g)	Size (mm)	Direction vs pulse (1ms → 2ms)	Digital?	Feed­back?	Price
	Max speed (RPM)	Stall torque (oz·in)	Max speed (RPM)	Stall torque (oz·in)
SpringRC SM-S4303R	54	71	43	46	41	 41.3Â × 20.7Â × 40.2Â	CW→CCW			$21.39
SURPLUS SpringRC SM-S4303R 2-Pack	54	71	43	46	41	 41.3Â × 20.7Â × 40.2Â	CCW→CW			$24.74 for a pair of servos
FEETECH FS5106R	95	83	75	67	43	 40.8Â × 20.1Â × 38.0Â	CW→CCW			$24.35
Parallax Feedback 360°	140	35	–	–	41	 40.0Â × 20.0Â × 37.2Â	CW→CCW			$29.95
FEETECH FT90R	135	21	108	18	9	 22.9Â × 12.1Â × 26.5Â	CW→CCW			$12.63
FEETECH FS90R	130	21	100	18	9	 22.5Â × 12.1Â × 23.4Â	CW→CCW			$9.82