Futaba CT700 High-End (Low Profile) Servo
The Futaba CT700 Servo (Application: Drift)
For the past couple months I have been “testing” the CT700. It was supposed to be a just a few weeks, but since I ended up liking it as much as I do, I had a hard time replacing it with the next test servo.
The CT700 is a programmable, full aluminum cased, Low Profile servo with some pretty impressive specs.
Speed:
0.09 sec/60 deg @ 6.0V
0.075 sec/60 deg @ 7.4V
Torque:
42.0 kgf/cm , 583 ozf/in @ 6.0V
49.0 kgf/cm , 680.5 ozf/in @ 7.4V
source - futabausa.com
The CT700 is programmable via S.Bus and S.Bus2 systems which means if you have a transmitter with S.Bus you do not need anything else to be able to change the settings on this servo. I know the 7PXR, 7PX, 4PX, 4PM and others are S.Bus compatible. This feature is huge for myself. Gone are the days of lugging around a computer and dongle to tweak a couple settings. I wish I could directly access the settings through the Futaba GYD450 Gyro, but unfortunately at this time is it not possible. Still, it’s more convenient than using a computer. If you don’t have a S.Bus compatible transmitter, no need to worry. You can still do it using the conventional method of a PC in combination with the CIU-2/-3 USB adapter.
Settings
There are many settings you adjust on the CT700. I found there were a couple that were necessary to adjust, but the others were fine as it came from the factory.
Neutral
This is HUGE for me. My OCD really kicks in when I need to use sub-trim to center my servo. Thankfully Futaba allows us to set the center point perfectly, regardless of your application.
Damper
This controls how much or how little the servo is allowed to over-shoot the end point. Depending on the load applied to the servo, you may need to increase it. I liken it to how strong the brake is when it reaches the endpoint. I found the factory setting of 56 was too low. The steering would end up shaking. Anything above 105 on the Damper value seemed to keep things smooth and solid.
Stretcher
This is basically a torque setting that affects how much torque is applied to return / hold the target position. It is used to stop hunting and also how well it holds position. A lower value = Weaker holding force, a higher value = Stronger holding force. Factory setting was 1.500, but I found a value of 4.000 gave me the feel I was looking for.
Boost
This is minimum current applied to the servo motor. Too low the servo won’t immediately start moving if small input is given to the steering. With a higher value the servo will start to move immediately. The torque level is also increased. Too high of a value and the servo operation becomes rough.
Speed
My preference has always been toward the faster servos. Recently there has been a trend toward the slower servo speeds. It seems to be a preference thing. Rest assured, you can go from extremely fast, to a crawl, and everything in between.
Final Thoughts
The CT700 has been the servo I have been searching for. Keep in mind, I prefer the faster servos, and my opinion reflects this. The fact it is one of the fastest and strongest on the market, and is fully programmable, means it will most likely agree with just about everyone’s preference.
The flexibility in torque and speed has allowed me to dial it in to just what I like. No shaking issues, and plenty of torque to keep my steering right where I put it. I can even experiment with the lower speeds and lower torque settings when and if I ever feel the need.
The only drawback I see is the price tag, but then again it is coming from one of, if not thee industry leader in R/C Electronics. The CT700 is easily the choice for my personal chassis.
Side Note
I found adjusting the Stretcher setting to it’s lowest value, and adjusting the Speed to match, the feeling is extremely close to the Reve D RS-ST Servo (Not a good or bad thing, just an observation) Review coming soon.
I will also be revisiting the KO ProPO RSx3-one 10 Ver. D since it is also programmable. Review coming soon.
Disclaimer
The Super-G Drift Team, The RawFew are part of Team Futaba USA. I can assure you this has no impact on any of my reviews. We pride ourselves on providing unbiased reviews and that will never change. Our reviews and opinions can not be bought as a few companies have already learned. Our policy still stands, if we cannot give a product a good review, we will not publish it. We are not in the business of bashing products, but rather bringing you products we feel are worth looking at. It is also worth noting, I will always write my reviews from my perspective, so your mileage may vary.
Grab your very own CT-700 Premium Futaba Servo today: