Have you asked the suppliers for a comparison? They should know.

I would expect one of two reasons for change to brushless – either better or cheaper.

With battery brushless their ability to produce torque is amazing

I believe that brushless is achieved with electronic switching of the current as opposed to manual carbon brushes

A bit like electronic ignition compared to points in a car distributor

I suggest the difference between 750W brushed and 750W brushless isn't worth worrying about much. Both motors are adequate to that size of mill.

Brushless have more low-end torque and no brushes to wear out, but the electronics are more complex. Brushed are a tad or two less efficient than brushless, but they don't fail my 'so what?' test.

All things being equal, I'd buy brushless, but either will do. My mill has a brushed motor because that's what came with the biggest mill I can accommodate. To me the physical size of the machine was more important than the motor.

The single-phase motors used on Myford lathes are a glaring poor motor choice. Compared with other types their performance is bumpy, and noisy, and they have low starting torque. They're also unreliable due to capacitors and a centrifugal switch, and are unsuited to stop-start operation as required by a lathe. Yet this long list of disadvantages hasn't damaged the reputation of Myford lathes, on which huge amounts of good work have been done! The reason is single-phase motors are 'good enough' – they don't need to be wonderful. However, if I owned a Myford with a clapped out single-phase motor, I'd replace it with 3-phase / VFD, or brushless, or brushed DC. The improvement is worthwhile, but not essential.

Lesson learned from my beginner days was not to waste too much time dithering about details. If as a learner you don't know exactly what's needed, you might just as well buy the biggest you can afford and explore learn from it. Too much choice, many far eastern machines in various shapes and sizes, plus affordable ex-professional kit sold cheap and in good nick because they've been made redundant by CNC. Rather than spend months analysing the market, make a start, learn the ropes, and upgrade later if necessary. I suggest vertical milling machines are so similar, they will meet learner needs. Experts know different, but that comes with experience.

Dave

Hi Red Mallee , what did you end up choosing, the X2.7 or the SX2.7?

I am leaning towards the SX2 myself but I could maybe justify the X2.7. But again I end up in the Brushed vs Brushless cycle again.

I have been procrastinating over these machines for a few years now, it appears the 2.7 and 3 machines have jumped up in price quite a bit whereas the SX2 has remained fairly steady.

Curious as to what you went with and any thoughts on it.

Cheers

Anthony