SpeedX and SDS max-7: Reading the Market Names
Bosch SpeedX is a familiar SDS-Max reference for professional concrete drilling. Its appeal is practical: controlled starts, a cutting head with inclined side cutters, and space for debris to leave the cutting face. Bosch’s North American product page emphasises the compact head, dust removal and wear indicator.
We use SpeedX, the older Speed-X spelling and SDS max-7 as market references for this head family. North American HC models use inch dimensions; international SDS max-7 and PRO SDS max-7 listings use metric part numbers. The regional code, diameter and two lengths identify the product a buyer actually orders.
The Multi-Insert Four-Cutter Head
Look at the supplied close-up: a broad primary carbide blade crosses the head, with separate side inserts seated in the steel around it. This is a multi-insert four-cutter construction. The primary blade provides two leading cutting edges; the two side inserts add peripheral cutting edges.
Carbide material and head construction are separate descriptions. A solid carbide cutting component can sit in a steel-supported assembly. A one-piece full-carbide head instead makes the working head as a single carbide component. The photos make this distinction easier to see than a generic “carbide tip” label.
Centring, Side Cutting and Dust Evacuation
The centre point establishes the first contact with the concrete. The primary blade starts the cut, while the side cutters contribute around the bore perimeter. For this architecture, the position of the side edges relative to the primary blade matters as much as counting the edges.
The pockets around the carbide feed broken material into the flutes. Dust clearance, impact transfer and the remaining steel section work together during deeper drilling. Bosch’s SDS max-7 description associates its flute geometry with reduced vibration and efficient power transfer. Flute evacuation moves debris out of the hole; extraction at the hole mouth is a separate part of the drilling setup.
Small Diameters Need a Separate Head Check
The family name alone does not settle the cutting-edge count. Bosch’s 2023 accessories catalogue, printed page 93, explicitly notes that Ø12–15 mm SDS max-7 diameters are two-cutters. Treat this as a specification for the listed legacy range, and check the actual part number and head when selecting a current regional variant.
For a distributor’s range, keep head construction as a SKU field alongside diameter and length. A large-diameter four-cutter photograph should not be used as the technical drawing for every smaller bit in the family.
Wear Marks and Anchor-Hole Quality
The outside cutting edges establish the rotating hole diameter. Their wear affects gauge retention: a bit can still penetrate while producing a hole that no longer meets the intended anchor requirement. The wear mark is a useful replacement reference during service.
Bosch lists a wear mark and PGM-certified quality for the legacy SDS max-7. Select the drill diameter, effective embedment, hole depth and cleaning procedure from the chosen anchor’s instructions. For a sample comparison, measure the finished hole at the beginning and after a defined drilling interval, using the same concrete, hammer and hole depth. Locate reinforcement and follow the project’s approved drilling plan before crossing structural bars.
Metric Sizes and North American HC Models
Read dimensions as D × working length × overall length. The examples below come from Bosch’s regional listings; they are a selection for identifying models, not a universal stock list. Overall length should be read from the SKU rather than calculated with one fixed shank allowance.
Metric SDS max-7 / PRO SDS max-7 examples
| Part number | D (mm) | Working length (mm) | Overall length (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 608 586 738 | 12 | 200 | 340 |
| 2 608 586 751 | 16 | 200 | 340 |
| 2 608 586 766 | 20 | 400 | 520 |
| 2 608 586 785 | 28 | 400 | 520 |
| 2 608 586 797 | 35 | 600 | 720 |
| 2 608 586 800 | 38 | 400 | 520 |
| 2 608 586 803 | 40 | 600 | 720 |
| 2 608 586 807 | 52 | 400 | 520 |
Metric references: legacy SDS max-7 and current UK PRO SDS max-7 product tables. SDS max-7 · PRO SDS max-7.
SpeedX HC-series examples — inches
| Model | D (in) | Working length (in) | Overall length (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| HC5020 | 5/8 | 8 | 13 |
| HC5021 | 5/8 | 16 | 21 |
| HC5030 | 3/4 | 8 | 13 |
| HC5041 | 7/8 | 16 | 21 |
| HC5054 | 1 | 24 | 29 |
| HC5099 | 2 | 16 | 21 |
Inch references: Bosch North America SpeedX product table. For example, HC5020 is 5/8 in diameter with 8 in working length and 13 in overall length. SpeedX HC.
Recognising the Packaging and Its Performance Claims
The supplied SpeedX pack shows 7/8 in × 21 in. Bosch’s HC5041 listing supplies the missing working-length field: 16 in. Check the model number as well as the large front-label dimensions when replenishing an existing range.
The older pack carries a “20% faster” message. Current PRO SDS max-7 pages advertise up to twice the life of Bosch SDS max-2. These are different performance comparisons: speed and service life, with different reference products and versions. Keep the comparison attached to its source when building sales material; use completed-hole time, wear and hole gauge to compare your own samples.
SpeedX, SpeedXtreme and SDS max-8X
SpeedXtreme is a separate Bosch name. Its 2018 launch release describes a one-piece full-head carbide design with a diffusion-bonded connection. That construction should be distinguished from the multi-insert SpeedX head shown here.
| Reference | Construction to identify | Useful buying check |
|---|---|---|
| Pictured SpeedX / SDS max-7 head | Primary carbide blade plus side inserts, supported by steel | Check insert layout, edge count and the exact diameter variant |
| SpeedXtreme / EXPERT SDS max-8X | Full-carbide-head product families | Check the specific full-head SKU and head-to-steel joint |
| Our ZHMAX-7 | Three separate brazed carbide components forming four active edges | Approve our head drawing, dimensions and application sample |
Building an OEM Range with Our ZHMAX-7
At Zhonghuan, our ZHMAX-7 multi-insert four-cutter combines a full-width primary carbide blade and two inclined, axially set-back side inserts. We coordinate the carbide seats, brazed assembly and flute transition for demanding concrete and deep-hole applications. The side-insert arrangement, gauge edges and steel support are specified on our own drawing.
Proposed configuration A: ZHMAX-7 for a distributor’s multi-insert SDS-Max range. Proposed configuration B: compare our ZHMAX-168 six-edge or ZHMAX-8 full-carbide-head programme when frequent rebar contact drives the selection. Our engineering team confirms the available diameter/length combination and sample plan against the job.
Send the hole diameter and depth, hammer model, concrete/rebar conditions and expected quantity. We can then confirm the configuration, marking, packaging and quotation. For more construction detail, see our multi-insert head comparison and SDS-Max geometry guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are SpeedX and SDS max-7 the same ordering reference?
They identify this benchmark head family in different markets, but they are not one interchangeable ordering code. Confirm the HC model or metric part number, head construction, diameter, working length and overall length.
Is every SDS max-7 a four-cutter?
No. Bosch’s legacy catalogue identifies Ø12–15 mm versions as two-cutters. The selected regional SKU and its head determine the edge count.
Does “solid carbide” mean a one-piece full-carbide head?
The wording must be read with the construction. The pictured multi-insert head has carbide cutting components in a steel-supported assembly. A one-piece full-carbide head is a different architecture.
What size are HC5020, HC5030 and HC5041?
HC5020 is 5/8 × 8 × 13 in; HC5030 is 3/4 × 8 × 13 in; HC5041 is 7/8 × 16 × 21 in. The order here is diameter × working length × overall length.
How do we specify a ZHMAX-7 alternative?
Start with the hammer model, substrate and rebar conditions, hole diameter and depth, and required quantity. We then confirm the head drawing, carbide and brazed assembly, dimensions, packaging and sample-drilling acceptance.
Official Sources
- Bosch North America — SpeedX features and HC model dimensions
- Bosch — legacy SDS max-7 features and metric references
- Bosch UK — current PRO SDS max-7 comparison and metric dimensions
- Bosch Accessories 2023 — small-diameter exception, printed page 93
- Bosch — SpeedXtreme launch and full-head construction
Product references checked on 25 October 2026. Regional offerings and packaging differ; use the selected product code for ordering.
