If one of your MiraBot servo arms behaves abnormally, or if the motion becomes distorted during use, the servo may be damaged or worn. You can use the checks below to help determine whether the issue is likely related to a servo.
Before You Start
For safety, please stop using the device if you notice abnormal movement, strong vibration, unusual noise, or excessive heat.
Before manually checking any servo arm, make sure the device is powered off unless the step specifically says to check after power-on. Do not force any arm by hand.
1. Check the Servo When the Device Is Powered Off
When the device is turned off, gently move the affected servo arm by hand.
A normal servo should usually rotate relatively smoothly when it is not powered.
The servo may be damaged if you notice any of the following:
- Obvious resistance or blockage
- Stiff or uneven movement
- Clicking, grinding, or unusual noise
- A feeling that the gears are stuck or skipping
If the servo arm cannot move smoothly when the device is powered off, the internal gears may be damaged or worn.
2. Check the Servo After Power-On
After the device is powered on, the servo arm should return to its normal initial position and hold that position.
A powered servo should generate holding torque. This means the arm should not be easy to move by hand.
The servo is likely faulty if you notice any of the following:
- The affected servo arm can be moved easily by hand after power-on
- The arm cannot hold its initial position
- The servo shakes strongly or jitters continuously
- The servo becomes unusually hot
Please do not force the servo arm while the device is powered on. If a servo can be moved easily with only very light pressure after power-on, this may indicate that the servo is no longer working correctly.
3. What to Do If the Servo Appears Damaged
If the servo shows the symptoms above, we recommend that you stop using the device to avoid further damage.
You can then choose one of the following options:
- Replace the damaged servo with a new MiraBot-compatible servo
- Follow the servo replacement instructions in the User Guide
- Contact our support team for further assistance
If you use a non-MiraBot servo, please confirm that the size, specifications, angle range, torque, connector type, and wiring order are compatible with your MiraBot before installation.
Using an incompatible servo may cause abnormal movement, connection issues, or further hardware damage.
4. Tips to Help Extend Servo Life
Servo lifespan can vary depending on usage habits, load, motion settings, and overall frequency of use.
To help reduce wear on the internal gears and extend service life, we recommend the following:
- Avoid excessive load on the servo arms
- Avoid long periods of aggressive or high-speed motion
- Stop using the device if you notice abnormal resistance, shaking, or noise
- Make sure attachments and accessories are installed correctly
- Do not force the arms by hand while the device is powered on
5. What If All Servos Stop Moving?
If all servos stop moving at the same time, the issue is usually not caused by one damaged servo.
In that case, please check other possible causes first, such as:
- Power adapter issue
- Controller Kit startup issue
- Firmware issue
- Internal wiring issue
- Incorrect or loose power connection
Please refer to the related troubleshooting article for “device not moving after power-on” before replacing multiple servos.
Need More Help?
If you are not sure whether the servo is damaged, please submit a Support Request.
When contacting us, please include the following information if possible:
- Your order number
- Device model
- Which servo or arm appears abnormal
- A short video showing the issue
- Whether the issue happens before or after power-on
- Whether the servo was recently replaced or the device was opened
This information will help us check the issue more quickly and provide the correct next steps.