Arduino Servo Sweep

In this tutorial, you'll learn about Servo Sweep Stalls Mid. We cover key concepts, practical examples, and best practices to help you understand and apply this topic effectively.

The Problem

Servo sweeping 0-180 stalls or vibrates at certain angles during sweep.

Quick Fix

Wrong

#include <Servo.h>

Servo myServo;

void setup() { myServo.attach(9); }

void loop() {
  for (int i = 0; i <= 180; i++) {
    myServo.write(i);
    delay(5);  // Too fast
  }
}```

Servo vibrates at mid-range and cannot reach 180. Loud buzzing noise.

### Right

```cpp
#include <Servo.h>

Servo myServo;

void setup() { myServo.attach(9); }

void loop() {
  for (int i = 0; i <= 180; i += 1) {
    myServo.write(i);
    delay(15);
  }
  for (int i = 180; i >= 0; i -= 1) {
    myServo.write(i);
    delay(15);
  }
}```

Servo sweeps smoothly 0-180-0 in ~5.4 seconds. No stalls.

## Prevention

Servo speed is limited by mechanical gear train. Standard servos: ~0.15 sec/60 deg (~4.5 sec for 180 deg). delay() between write() calls must allow the servo to physically reach each position. Too fast = stall, vibration, stripped gears, or burned motor. Use 15-20 ms per degree for smooth motion.

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## FAQ

<details style="margin-bottom:12px;border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:10px;overflow:hidden"><summary style="cursor:pointer;padding:14px 18px;font-weight:600;font-size:1.05rem;background:#f8fafc;border-bottom:1px solid #e2e8f0;color:#1e293b">### What max sweep speed is safe?</summary><div style="padding:14px 18px;color:#475569;line-height:1.7;background:#fff"><p>Standard analog: ~0.15 sec/60 deg. Digital: ~0.08 sec/60 deg. Check your servo datasheet. Never exceed the rated speed.</p>
<h3 id="how-to-make-sweeping-smoother">How to make sweeping smoother?</h3><p>Use smaller increments (0.5 deg) with writeMicroseconds(). Use an acceleration profile (start slow, speed up, slow down).</p>
<h3 id="can-sweeping-too-fast-damage-the-servo">Can sweeping too fast damage the servo?</h3><p>Yes. It causes gear stress, overheating, and potential motor driver failure. Always use a conservative delay.</p>
</div></details>