391:1 Metal Gearmotor 20Dx46L mm 6V

These cylindrical brushed DC gearmotors are available in a wide range of gear ratios, from 25:1 up to 488:1, and with three different motors: 6 V and 12 V motors with long-life carbon brushes (CB), and a 6 V motor with shorter-life precious metal brushes. All three motors offer similar performances at their respective nominal voltages, just with the 12 V motor drawing approximately half the current of the 6 V motor and with the carbon brush versions having longer lifetimes than the one with precious metal brushes.

The CB versions (shown on the right in the picture below), can be differentiated from versions with percious metal brushes (shown on the left) by their copper-colored terminals.

These gearmotors are optionally available with an additional 2 mm-diameter output shaft that protrudes 6 mm from the rear of the motor (see the middle picture below). This rear shaft rotates at the same speed as the input to the gearbox and offers a way to add an encoder, such as Pololu's magnetic encoder for 20D mm metal gearmotors as shown in the right picture below, to provide motor speed or position feedback.

20D mm metal gearmotor CB with long-life carbon brushes.

20D mm metal gearmotor CB with long-life carbon brushes and an extended motor shaft.

Magnetic Encoder Kit for 20D mm Metal Gearmotors assembled on a 20D mm metal gearmotor with extended motor shaft.

The gearmotors all have 20 mm diameter gearboxes and 4 mm diameter gearbox output shafts, so it is generally easy to swap one version for another if your design requirements change (though the length of the gearbox tends to increase with the gear ratio).

Please see the 20D metal gearmotor datasheet (1MB pdf) for more information, including detailed performance graphs for each 6V CB and 12V CB version. You can also use Pololu's dynamically sortable 20D metal gearmotor comparison table to search for the version that offers the best combination of speed, torque, and current draw for your particular application. A more basic comparison table is available below:

RatedVoltage	BrushType	StallCurrent	No-LoadCurrent	No-Load Speed(RPM)	ExtrapolatedStall Torque	Max Power(W)	Single-Shaft(Gearbox Only)	Dual-Shaft(Gearbox & Motor)
(kg · cm)	(oz · in)
12 V	long-lifecarbon(CB)	1.6 A	0.08 A	550	1.9	26	2.6	25:1 12V CB	25:1 12V CB dual shaft
450	2.4	33	2.8	31:1 12V CB	31:1 12V CB dual shaft
220	4.6	64	2.6	63:1 12V CB	63:1 12V CB dual shaft
180	5.4	75	2.5	78:1 12V CB	78:1 12V CB dual shaft
140	6.1	85	2.2	100:1 12V CB	100:1 12V CB dual shaft
110	7.8	110	2.2	125:1 12V CB	125:1 12V CB dual shaft
89	9.0	130	2.0	156:1 12V CB	156:1 12V CB dual shaft
72	10	140	1.9	195:1 12V CB	195:1 12V CB dual shaft
55	14	190	2.0	250:1 12V CB	250:1 12V CB dual shaft
44	16	220	1.8	313:1 12V CB	313:1 12V CB dual shaft
36	21	290	1.7	391:1 12V CB	391:1 12V CB dual shaft
28	25	350	1.5	488:1 12V CB	488:1 12V CB dual shaft
6 V	long-lifecarbon(CB)	2.9 A	0.15 A	570	1.6	22	2.3	25:1 6V CB	25:1 6V CB dual shaft
450	2.0	28	2.3	31:1 6V CB	31:1 6V CB dual shaft
230	4.0	56	2.4	63:1 6V CB	63:1 6V CB dual shaft
180	4.4	61	2.1	78:1 6V CB	78:1 6V CB dual shaft
140	5.4	75	2.0	100:1 6V CB	100:1 6V CB dual shaft
110	6.4	89	1.9	125:1 6V CB	125:1 6V CB dual shaft
91	7.9	110	1.8	156:1 6V CB	156:1 6V CB dual shaft
73	9.4	130	1.7	195:1 6V CB	195:1 6V CB dual shaft
57	12	170	1.8	250:1 6V CB	250:1 6V CB dual shaft
45	13	180	1.6	313:1 6V CB	313:1 6V CB dual shaft
36	16	220	1.4	391:1 6V CB	391:1 6V CB dual shaft
30	21	290	1.3	488:1 6V CB	488:1 6V CB dual shaft
6 V	preciousmetal	2.9 A	0.15 A	570	1.6	22	2.3	25:1 6V	25:1 6V dual-shaft
450	2.0	28	2.3	31:1 6V	31:1 6V dual-shaft
230	4.0	56	2.4	63:1 6V	63:1 6V dual-shaft
180	4.4	61	2.1	78:1 6V	78:1 6V dual-shaft
140	5.4	75	2.0	100:1 6V	100:1 6V dual-shaft
110	6.4	89	1.9	125:1 6V	125:1 6V dual-shaft
91	7.9	110	1.8	156:1 6V	156:1 6V dual-shaft
73	9.4	130	1.7	195:1 6V	195:1 6V dual-shaft
57	12	170	1.8	250:1 6V	250:1 6V dual-shaft
45	13	180	1.6	313:1 6V	313:1 6V dual-shaft
36	16	220	1.4	391:1 6V	391:1 6V dual-shaft
30	21	290	1.3	488:1 6V	488:1 6V dual-shaft

Note: Stalling or overloading gearmotors can greatly decrease their lifetimes and even result in immediate damage. In order to avoid damaging the gearbox, Pololu recommend keeping continuously applied loads under 5 kg-cm (75 oz-in) for the versions with carbon brushes (12V CB and 6V CB) and under 3.5 kg-cm (50 oz-in) for the versions with precious metal brushes. Stalls can also result in rapid (potentially on the order of seconds) thermal damage to the motor windings and brushes, especially for motors like this that can deliver a lot of power for their size; a general recommendation for brushed DC motors is to limit continuous current to approximately 25% of the stall current.

In general, these kinds of motors can run at voltages above and below their nominal voltages; lower voltages might not be practical, and higher voltages could start negatively affecting the life of the motor.

Details for item #3460

Exact gear ratio: 28×28×25×25×25×25×2514×14×10×10×10×10×10=390.625:1" role="presentation" style="position: relative;">28×28×25×25×25×25×2514×14×10×10×10×10×10=390.625:1$\frac{28\times 28\times 25\times 25\times 25\times 25\times 25}{14\times 14\times 10\times 10\times 10\times 10\times 10}=390.625:1$

Dimensions

The diagram below shows the dimensions of the 20D mm line of metal gearmotors (units are mm over [inches]). This diagram is also available as a downloadable PDF (99k pdf).

Dimensions of the Pololu 20D mm metal gearmotors. Units are mm over [inches]. This diagram only applies to the listed gear ratios.

Warning: Do not screw too far into the mounting holes as the screws can hit the gears. Pololu recommend screwing no more than 3.5 mm (0.14") into the M2.5 mounting holes.

Gearmotor accessories

The gearmotor face plate has two mounting holes threaded for M2.5 screws, and you can use Pololu's custom-designed 20D mm metal gearmotor bracket (shown in the left picture below) to mount the gearmotor to your project via these mounting holes and the screws that come with the bracket.

Pololu 20D mm metal gearmotor bracket pair with included hardware.

20D mm metal gearmotor with a univeral aluminum mounting hub and mounted on a 20D mm metal gearmotor bracket.

The 4 mm diameter gearbox output shaft works with Pololu universal aluminum mounting hub for 4mm shafts, which can be used to mount Pololu's larger Pololu wheels (60mm-, 70mm-, 80mm-, and 90mm-diameter) or custom wheels and mechanisms to the gearmotor’s output shaft as shown in the left picture below. Alternatively, you could use Pololu's 4mm scooter wheel adapter to mount many common scooter, skateboard, and inline skate wheels to the gearmotor’s output shaft as shown in the right picture below.

Pololu 70×8mm wheel mounted to a 20D mm metal gearmotor using a universal aluminum mounting hub for 4mm shafts.

A 20D mm gearmotor connected to a scooter wheel by the 4 mm scooter wheel adapter.

These motors also work with the hex adapters included with the 120mm-diameter Wild Thumper wheels (the left picture below shows a 20D mm gearmotor while the right picture shows a larger 25D mm gearmotor):

Dagu Wild Thumper wheel 120×60mm (metallic red) with Pololu 20D mm metal gearmotor.

Dagu Wild Thumper wheel 120×60mm (chrome) with Pololu 25D mm metal gearmotor.

For a general-purpose hex adapter, consider Pololu's 12mm hex wheel adapter, which lets you use this motor with many common hobby RC wheels.

12mm Hex Wheel Adapter for 4mm Shaft on a 20D mm Metal Gearmotor.

You can use Pololu's magnetic encoder kit for 20D mm metal gearmotors to provide motor speed or position feedback. Please note that this kit only works on gearmotor versions that have an extended motor shaft.

Magnetic Encoder Kit for 20D mm Metal Gearmotors assembled on a 20D mm metal gearmotor with extended motor shaft.

Magnetic Encoder Kit for 20D mm Metal Gearmotors assembled on a 20D mm metal gearmotor with extended motor shaft.

Pololu have a number of motor controllers and motor drivers that work with these 20D mm metal gearmotors. In particular, Pololu recommend Pololu's MC33296-based motor drivers, for which Pololu have basic single and dual carriers and a dual-channel shield for Arduino. Pololu's VNH5019-based motor drivers (available as single and dual carriers) also work well with these motors, and because they can handle higher currents, they will run much cooler than the MC33926 carriers. If you are looking for higher-level control interfaces, such as USB, RC, analog voltages, or serial, consider Pololu's SMC 18v7, Jrk 21v3, or TReX Jr.

Pololu dual MC33926 motor driver shield for Arduino.

VNH5019 motor driver carrier.

Simple Motor Controller 18v7, fully assembled.

Pololu have an assortment of Hall effect-based current sensors to choose from for those who need to monitor motor current:

ACS711EX current sensor carrier -15.5A to +15.5A.

ACS714 current sensor carrier -5A to +5A.

Selecting the Right Gearmotor

Pololu offer a wide selection of metal gearmotors that offer different combinations of speed and torque. Pololu's metal gearmotor comparison table can help you find the motor that best meets your project’s requirements.

Dimensions

Size:	20D × 46L mm
Weight:	46 g
Shaft diameter:	4 mm

General specifications

Gear ratio:	390.625:1
No-load speed @ 6V:	36 rpm
No-load current @ 6V:	170 mA
Stall current @ 6V:	2.9 A1
Stall torque @ 6V:	260 oz·in1
Extended motor shaft?:	N
Motor type:	2.9A stall @ 6V

Notes:

1

Stalling is likely to damage the gearmotor. Stall parameters come from a theoretical extrapolation of performance at loads far from stall. As the motor heats up, as happens as it approaches an actual stall, the stall torque and current decrease.

File downloads

• Datasheet for Pololu 20D Metal Gearmotors (1MB pdf)

• Dimension diagram for the Pololu 20D mm metal gearmotors (99k pdf)

• 3D models of 20D mm gearmotors (3MB zip)

  This file contains 3D models (in the step file format) of the 20D mm gearmotors. Note: these models only accurately represent Pololu's newer versions with 18mm-long output shafts; they are not accurate representations of the older versions with shorter output shafts (i.e. gear ratios 29:1, 56:1, 73:1, and 154:1).