I have the MBT250 with TT65, PS90 and SX100. I also have an old SX70 from when I bought the station but the SX100 is no compare, it works so much better. I dived into it this weekend and the Pace MBT350 including everything I need (including a ton of tips (5 for each size except for the micro tweezers and TM100) sits just under 3000 euros while the same setup for JBC goes way over that. But I do not need a microsolder iron and tweezers and then there is a JBC with hotair, desolder and solder handpiece. But if I stay with Pace I can use the thermojet, SX100 and all tips on both stations (in theory, I have not yet sort out the connector difference) and in case I have one that fails, just when I have a pile of work, I can use the one from the other station. I can buy the MBT250 but that costs more with 3 handpieces as the MBT350 with 5 handpieces
For others thinking about rework tools some thoughts about Pace but also in general:
The Pace MBT250 is sensatemp, a pretty good way to keep a very accurate tip temp. No cartridges but my PS90 outperforms my Metcal (that was a waist of cash) and I do not need the fast auto on/off. The handpieces have a black connector, tips are cheap and very long lasting.
The MBT350 is intellitemp, the connectors are blue and the station can use both modern cartridge and sensatemp handpieces. I do not know if the pinout is the same, if so there was no reason to use an other color. (i will ask Pace for advise, they always advised me great in the past)
They still produce both units but if you want price advantage you buy a base-kit and then add the rest. The same for handpieces, a spare handpiece cost almost the same as one complete with toolholder but if you buy both separate the toolholder alone is around 85 euro.
They are not the same pinout.
To date, Pace has really only had 4 different control systems:
-"dimmed" mains AC
-SensaTemp
-IntelliHeat/HeatWise (cartridge heater)
-AccuDrive (cartridge heater)
All of the low-voltage systems use Amphenol C091 B series DIN connectors:
6-pin black is the SensaTemp connector, containing only the SensaTemp signals.
8-pin blue is the "IntelliHeat" connector, containing both IntelliHeat and SensaTemp signals.
4-pin red is the "HeatWise" connector, containing only the IntelliHeat signals.
4-pin black is the AccuDrive connector, containing only the AccuDrive signals.
SensaTemp handpieces can be adapted to work on stations with IntelliHeat sockets using this adapter:
https://paceworldwide.com/6-8-pin-gender-bender-adapterThe SX90 and SX100 use different tips. The 100 tips make contact with the heater over a much longer distance. I think 90 tips will fit the 100 but I do not think the 100 tips fit in the 90. The 100 tips have a trumpet shaped end. For me the only downside. As a test I removed the trumpet from my most used tips and used both versions for several months next to each other. I did not notice difference in performance but without the trumpet you never have to remove a huge ball of solder tacked to the trumpet. I now have removed all trumpets with a file.
The SX-100 and SX-90 handpieces are practically identical. They use all the same spare parts, and other than the change in the color of the printing, I am unaware of any actual difference. (I spoke with Pace on the phone and asked, and the guy said there are only tiny differences.) For all intents and purposes, they're just different revisions of the same model, and indeed, the SX-100 uses the same SKUs as the SX-90.
It's the SX-80 (which is
almost identical to the SX-90 and SX-100) that cannot accept the flared-tube tips. An SX-80 can be upgraded to an SX-90 by replacing its heater assembly with an SX-90 heater. (Note that SX-90 heaters come in two types, with different headers, black or blue, connecting the handle to heater.) SX-80 tips are similar to SX-90/SX-100 tips, but less heater contact and without the flare. The SX-70 (still available!) uses tips that have no tube and are not compatible with any later model. See the attached image from the SX-100 manual (which, other than its title, is identical to the SX-90 manual.)
Anyhow, according to Pace, the idea behind the flare is for the airflow to cause the solder to spray outward instead of just shooting forward as a single drop.