New Rotex design

[Davejohnson01]

Are there any plans to release an updated Rotex 150 or 125, possibly with a brushless motor?

 

[dltflt]

Only after you get tired of waiting and buy the current version. Well that’s my luck anyway.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Are there any plans to release an updated Rotex 150 or 125, possibly with a brushless motor?

No.

 

[aloysius]

What's wrong (other than the obvious) with the old ones?

 

[oldie]

Gulp!  What's the 'obvious'?

 

[DeformedTree]

Once they get everything brushless they will just go back thru and introduce quad brushed product, even better than brushless , start re-buying again.

 

[CeeJay]

Then the twin-cam turbo....

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[aloysius]

Gulp!  What's the 'obvious'?

Not a lot really...... maybe they're a bit big.  Maybe a mite heavy - compared to the alternatives.  The right angle drive is a tad "compromising" when attempting delicate tasks.  In that a vertically-stacked layout with a modular EC motor mounted inline with a switchable planetary gearset to indirectly drive the platen in RO mode should provide better balance.  Hopefully without any substantial increase in height.  Sort of like the Metabo SXE 450 dual action rando (which unfortunately lacks a planetary mode).

The exhaust venturi, power module & switchgear could be incorporated into a horizontal handle.  Yes, I know the big one also incorporates an extra auxiliary handle, too.  I honestly don't think I've ever actually used mine.  Ever.  Some people may regard it as a necessity:  to me, it's useless.

The low mounted horizontal exhaust airway & drive-belt housing (RO90 only) tends to cause accessibility problems sometimes, especially so in the 2 smaller iterations of the Rotex family.  Plus the smallest RO90 seems pretty unruly & difficult to control at times, in direct contrast to either the much larger RO150 & much smoother running & more easily handled Deltex DX 93 E delta, Metabo's delightfully small SXE 400 or Mirka's DEROS 77 mm randos.

All the Rotexes are deliberately designed as "two-handed" sanders for safe operation, whereas MOST of the alternatives can also be safely operated single-handedy, with the exception of the big Makita, Robert Bosch & Kress/Mafell dual action machines, which are similarly "flawed". 

None of which are in any way "fatal" flaws;  but you did ask the Q.  Which is (in part) why I don't actually have any Rotexes any more.

 

[oldie]

Gulp! Well, that's told me  [big grin]
Seriously; a good post. 

Think that many (all) of the points you mention, have been posted here & there scattered about. 
Great to have them summed up in a concise manner. 

Fwiw: amongst many others, I have the 5mm & 2.4mm half-sheet orbital sanders, the DX93 which I love - I find the 5mm half-sheet almost as efficient as the RO150 for virtually everything I want to do. 

I have, occasionally, cast a covetous eye at the small Metabo - maybe it was yourself that sang its praises.
The small 5mm Mirka looks interesting - but don't like paddles; never used one though...  :

Anyways - thanks for the post - appreciated. 

Richard (UK)

 

[aloysius]

Bottom line is that there's really no alternative to a Rotex, or Makita, or Bosch dual-action sander.  Nothing less than a rotary or belt sander will do key tasks such as paint stripping, levelling glue-ups etc. faster.

That's what they're designed for.  That's what they excel at.

But as an "allrounder", prep, finish, intermediate painter's tool, they'll always be compromised in comparison to the alternatives.