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Motors and Actuators

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Motors and actuators for your moving projects: SG90 and MG90S servomotors, NEMA stepper motors, 12 V gearmotors, pumps, solenoid valves, and the drivers that control them.

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Choosing a motor and its driver

The choice starts with the motion you want. For an articulated arm, an RC car steering, or a shutter, a servomotor like the SG90 or MG90S is enough: it is driven with a single PWM pin and holds a precise angle over 180°. To turn a wheel or a propeller, a gearmotor such as the JA12-N20 or a 12 V DC motor gives torque after reduction. For a displacement counted in steps (CNC, 3D printer, linear axis), you need a stepper motor: 28BYJ-48 for small loads, NEMA17 for a standard axis, NEMA23 or NEMA34 when torque needs to go up.

A motor is never connected directly to an Arduino or ESP32 board: you need a driver sized for its voltage and current.

  • DC motors: L298N or TB6612FNG for low power, BTS7960 when the current gets high.
  • Bipolar stepper motors: A4988 or DRV8825 for NEMA17, TB6600 or DM860H for larger motors.
  • Unipolar steppers such as the 28BYJ-48: ULN2003 module.
  • Several servos: the PCA9685 over I2C frees up the microcontroller's pins.

Also think about the power supply: plan for a source able to provide the startup current, which largely exceeds the rated current. The rest of the range can be found in Sensors and robotics.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a servomotor and a stepper motor?

A servomotor positions itself on a limited angle (generally 180°) using a PWM signal and internal electronics. A stepper motor turns without an angle limit, step by step, and requires an external driver; it suits the repeatable movements of a machine.

Can a motor be powered directly from an Arduino output?

No, a microcontroller pin only supplies a few tens of milliamps. You need to go through a driver (L298N, TB6612FNG, ULN2003…) and a separate power supply for the motor, with grounds connected together.

Which driver for a NEMA17 motor?

An A4988 suits moderate currents, a DRV8825 handles a bit more current and offers finer micro-stepping. For a NEMA23 or NEMA34, move to a TB6600 or a DM860H, with proper heat dissipation.

What is the ULN2003 used for with a 28BYJ-48?

The 28BYJ-48 is a five-wire unipolar stepper; the ULN2003 is a Darlington transistor array that switches its coils in place of the microcontroller's pins. This is the most common pairing for this motor.

Why doesn't the same type of motor have the same price?

Torque, housing size, the presence of a gearbox or an encoder, metal gears versus plastic ones, and the brand all affect the price. A servo with metal gears costs more than a plastic model of the same size.