Front View	Rear View	Left Side View

Front View: Open for Rigging	Rear View: Open for Rigging	Right Side View

Technical Details

I acquired my SMC Advance Tech HX from On Rope 1 at the 2012 NSS Convention.

My SMC Advance Tech HX is 70 mm. long, 129 mm. wide, 50 mm. high, and weighs 270 g.

The core of the HX is an central rib milled from 11.6 mm. aluminum alloy and then anodized. Most of the rib was reduced to 5.6 mm., but the full thickness was left to support the pins for the front notches, 8.1 mm. for the main attachment hole, 7.2 mm. for the cam & plate axle, and some other areas for minor support. The face plates are stamped from 2.2 mm. aluminum alloy and then anodized. Along with the cam, they pivot on 1 6.5 mm. riveted axle. The front and rear plates each have a larger notch to clear the pulley axle and engage respective grooves therein, and a smaller notch to clear a 6.3 mm, guide pin and clear respective grooves therein.

There are two pulleys mounted on a common 11 mm. axle, one on each side of the central rib. Each pulley is 12.5 mm. wide and 35 mm. in diameter. They each have a 12 mm. wide U-shaped groove with a 25.4 mm. minor diameter. The axis of the pulley is bored to accept a bearing assembly.

The front side of the HX has a a cam for capturing rope progress. The cam has ten U-shaped grooves, forming 11 ridged teeth. The front plate has a plastic control lever connected to the cam by a socket head cap screw that passes through a curved slot in the front late. This lever opens the cam. A spring-loaded ball mechanism pressed into the central rib can engage an indentation in the cam, holding it open.

The front plate is printed with "For Use on Rope," "Ø 7mm-12.5 mm," a strength diagram, the SMC logo, "Quality Gear For Life," "MADE IN USA," "Cam Ratings" over a Reading-Is-Dangerous icon, a counterclockwise arrow labeled "Engage," and "Park." The rear plate is printed with "Advance Tech HX," "MLN 9851," the SMC logo, "Quality Gear For Life," "MADE IN USA," and "See Configuration Ratings" over a Reading-Is-Dangerous icon. The bearings are marked "608RS" and "CHINA."

Comments

The HX is nicely made and works well, and is reasonably compact for a double rope hauling pulley. I don't see much use for it among typical cavers and climbers, but the target market may want to look at it closer.