50:1 Metal Gearmotor 37Dx54L mm 12V (Helical Pinion)

Measuring 37 mm (1.46") in diameter, these brushed DC gearmotors are the largest and most powerful Pololu carry. They are available in a range of gear ratios from 6.3:1 to 150:1 and with 12 V or 24 V motors, and all versions are available with integrated 64 CPR quadrature encoders on the motor shafts. The 12 V and 24 V motors offer approximately the same performance at their respective nominal voltages, with the 24 V motor drawing half the current of the 12 V motor. See the 37D metal gearmotor datasheet (2MB pdf) for more information, including detailed performance graphs for each gearmotor version. You can also use Pololu's dynamically sortable 37D 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.

Rated Voltage	Stall Current	No-Load Current	Gear Ratio	No-Load Speed (RPM)	Extrapolated Stall Torque		Max Power (W)	Without Encoder	With Encoder
					(kg · cm)	(oz · in)
12 V	5.5 A	0.2 A	1:1 (no gearbox)	10,000	0.5	7	–	–	item #4750
			6.3:1	1600	3.0	42	12	item #4747	item #4757
			10:1	1000	4.9	68	12	item #4748	item #4758
			19:1	530	8.5	120	12	item #4741	item #4751
			30:1	330	14	190	12	item #4742	item #4752
			50:1	200	21	290	10	item #4743	item #4753
			70:1	150	27	380	10*	item #4744	item #4754
			100:1	100	34	470	8*	item #4745	item #4755
			131:1	76	45	630	6*	item #4746	item #4756
			150:1	67	49	680	6*	item #2829	item #2828
24 V	3 A	0.1 A	1:1 (no gearbox)	10,000	0.55	8	–	–	item #4690
			6.3:1	1600	3.5	49	14	item #4688	item #4698
			10:1	1000	5.5	76	14	item #4689	item #4699
			19:1	530	9.5	130	13	item #4681	item #4691
			30:1	330	15	210	13	item #4682	item #4692
			50:1	200	23	320	12	item #4683	item #4693
			70:1	140	31	430	10*	item #4684	item #4694
			100:1	100	39	540	8*	item #4685	item #4695
			131:1	79	47	650	6*	item #4686	item #4696
			150:1	68	56	780	6*	item #4687	item #4697
* Output power for these units is constrained by gearbox load limits; spec provided is output power at max recommended load of 10 kg·cm.

Note: The listed stall torques and currents are theoretical extrapolations; units will typically stall well before these points as the motors heat up. Stalling or overloading gearmotors can greatly decrease their lifetimes and even result in immediate damage. The recommended upper limit for continuously applied loads is 10 kg-cm (150 oz-in), and the recommended upper limit for instantaneous torque is 25 kg-cm (350 oz-in). Stalls can also result in rapid (potentially on the order of seconds) thermal damage to the motor windings and brushes; a general recommendation for brushed DC motor operation is 25% or less of the stall current.

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

The gearboxes are composed mainly of spur gears, but they feature helical gears for the first stage for reduced noise and improved efficiency:

37D Gearmotor (Helical Pinion) with the gearbox removed showing the helical pinion gear and first mating gear.

Details for item #4743

This gearmotor is a powerful brushed DC motor with 50:1 metal gearbox intended for operation at 12 V. These units have a 16 mm-long, 6 mm-diameter D-shaped output shaft. This gearmotor is also available with an integrated encoder.

Key specifications:

Exact gear ratio: 25×30×25×4010×10×15×10=50:125×30×25×4010×10×15×10=50:1$\frac{25\times 30\times 25\times 40}{10\times 10\times 15\times 10}=50:1$

Dimensions

Dimensions of the 37D metal gearmotors (without encoders). Units are mm over [inches].

This diagram is also available as a downloadable PDF (459k pdf).

Warning: Do not screw too far into the mounting holes as the screws can hit the gears. Pololu recommend screwing no more than 3mm (0.12") into the screw hole.

Gearmotor accessories

The face plate has six mounting holes evenly spaced around the outer edge threaded for M3 screws. These mounting holes form a regular hexagon and the centers of neighboring holes are 15.5 mm apart. Pololu carry two brackets for these gearmotors: a stamped aluminum L-bracket (sold in pairs) and a sturdier, tombstone-style machined aluminum bracket (sold individually):

37D mm gearmotor (without encoder) with L-bracket and 6mm universal mounting hub.

Pololu machined aluminum bracket for 37D mm metal gearmotors mounting a motor to a clear piece of acrylic.

The 6 mm diameter gearbox output shaft works with the Pololu universal aluminum mounting hub for 6mm shafts, which can be used to mount Pololu's larger Pololu wheels (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 6mm 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:

Black Pololu Wheel 90×10mm on a Pololu 37D mm Metal Gearmotor.

A 37D mm gearmotor connected to a scooter wheel by the 6 mm scooter wheel adapter.

For a general-purpose hex adapter, consider Pololu's 12mm hex wheel adapter (also available in an extended version), which lets you use these motors with many common hobby RC wheels, including Dagu Wild Thumper Wheels:

12mm Hex Wheel Adapter for 6mm Shaft connecting a Wild Thumper Wheel to a 37D mm Metal Gearmotor.

Pololu have a number of motor drivers and motor controllers that work with these 37D mm metal gearmotors. Pololu generally recommend Pololu's High-Power Motor Drivers, which are available in various power levels and versions, including some dual-channel shields for Arduino and dual-channel expansion boards for Raspberry Pi. Additionally, Pololu's VNH5019-based motor drivers, which are also available as single and dual carriers, are a good match for these gearmotors.

Pololu Dual G2 High-Power Motor Driver 24v14 Shield for Arduino.

Pololu Dual G2 High-Power Motor Driver 24v14 for Raspberry Pi (assembled version) with included hardware.

Pololu dual VNH5019 motor driver shield for Arduino.

If you are looking for higher-level control interfaces, such as USB, RC, analog voltages, I²C, or TTL serial, consider Pololu's Simple Motor Controllers, Jrk motor controllers, or RoboClaw motor controllers; these controllers are available in various power levels several of which can handle these 37D mm metal gearmotors (we generally recommend a motor controller that can handle continuous currents above the stall current of your motor).

High-Power Simple Motor Controller G2 18v15.

Jrk G2 21v3 USB Motor Controller with Feedback.

RoboClaw 2×7A Motor Controller (V5B) in its included case.

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.

People often buy this product together with:

Pololu Stamped Aluminum L-Bracket Pair for 37D mm Metal Gearmotors

Mini Maestro 12-Channel USB Servo Controller (Assembled)

Pololu Universal Aluminum Mounting Hub for 6mm Shaft, M3 Holes (2-Pack)

Dimensions

General specifications

Performance at maximum efficiency

General specifications

Notes:

1

Length measurement is from gearbox face plate to back of motor (it does not include the output shaft or motor terminals). See dimension diagram for details.

2

D shaft.

3

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.

4

This motor will run at 6 V but is intended for operation at 12 V.

File downloads

• Datasheet for Pololu 37D Metal Gearmotors (2MB pdf)

• Dimension diagrams of the Pololu 37D mm Metal Gearmotors (459k pdf)

• 3D models of 37D mm gearmotors (7MB zip)

  This file contains 3D models (in the step file format) of the 37D mm gearmotors with and without encoders.

Recommended links

• MATLAB script to plot motor performance curves for Pololu brushed DC gearmotors

  This MATLAB script, written by Ali Asgher Mansoor Habiby, plots speed, power, current draw, and efficiency as they vary with torque when you input the gearmotor specifications. It also prints the resistance of the motor, and the current draw and torque at which maximum efficiency and maximum power occur.