Even the most advanced servo will drift over time without proper maintenance. GXServo units, known for their robust build, still benefit greatly from regular calibration checks, especially in long-term or high-stress use cases.
One of the first indicators of miscalibration is drift from the neutral position. If a servo begins to idle off-center, it’s a sign that mechanical wear or electronic shift has occurred. Regularly powering the servo with a 1500μs signal and verifying center position helps catch this early.
For brushed models, internal potentiometers can degrade, leading to signal misinterpretation. For brushless variants with magnetic encoders, external electromagnetic interference or magnet misalignment may skew readings. Periodic recalibration using a known neutral reference can help realign these discrepancies.
Mechanical slack is another common issue. Over time, gear teeth may wear or case mounts loosen. Inspecting the physical integrity of the servo during recalibration can prevent performance drops or sudden failures.
In field conditions, especially for mobile robots or RC vehicles, impacts and vibrations can shift the mounting base. It’s critical to re-level and re-secure the servo during routine maintenance.
GXServo provides various levels of durability, with waterproof and metal gear models like the GX3370BLS being ideal for outdoor or industrial use. Still, dirt ingress or corrosion can affect internals—scheduled disassembly and cleaning (if model permits) is advised.
If the servo is part of a closed-loop system, recalibrate the control parameters based on long-term drift data. Feedback-enabled GXServo models allow PID loop adjustment, which should be reviewed monthly in continuous deployment settings.
In summary, maintenance-based calibration involves:
- Periodic center position verification
- Inspection of gear wear and mounting security
- Realignment after mechanical shock or transport
- Software adjustments to account for long-term drift
This approach ensures your GXServo servo motors stay reliable over time, maximizing return on investment and minimizing system downtime.
