Hi, newb here.
I have a lab automation project that would be perfect for some of the newer robot servos (dynamixels, uptech cds5500), but I don't know if they will last long enough.
The motion itself won't stress the servos much - pretty much like turning a knob on an oven: (~1 kg cm breakaway torque (friction), 300 degree range). I won't need much speed or acceleration, and it will be a very light duty cycle. But over the course of months to years some of the servos will be looking at 100,000 operations ...
From what I've read, even if the gears last, the film potentiometers on the dynamixels, uptech, and most hobby servos start to wear out after a while, probably in the 10's of thousands of turns range. Stepping up to a dynamixel with a magnetic encoder is $500, about 5x my budget per servo.
There are plenty of digital servos for the RC hobby market, some with magnetic encoders and plenty of reliable sounding components, but no lifetime information on them that I can find.
Steppers would work, but that means more boards, more programming ....
Anyone know of a source for cheap industrial-grade servos(<$100, 60+oz in torque, 270+ degree range), or should I plan on using steppers instead?
Thanks!