FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS — SPARE PARTS, SERVICE & MAINTENANCE
Spare Parts
Where can I buy spare parts for Fermat boring mills?
TOS America is the authorized North American distributor for Fermat boring mill spare parts. The company maintains a central warehouse in Brno, Czech Republic (Fermat's manufacturing base) with over 50,000 individual spare part items in stock. Additional regional warehouses operate in Milton, Ontario (Canada), the United States, Germany, and India. In-stock parts ship within 24 hours of order confirmation.
How many spare parts does TOS America keep in stock?
TOS America maintains an inventory of more than 50,000 spare part items across five warehouse locations worldwide. Stock levels are monitored continuously using automated inventory management, and parts are replenished proactively to ensure critical components — such as spindle assemblies, bearings, way covers, and CNC control modules — remain available without lead time delays.
Which machine brands does TOS America supply parts for?
TOS America supplies OEM and compatible spare parts for 12 machine tool manufacturers and 4 CNC control system brands. The full list includes Fermat (all WFT, WRF, WFC series), TOS Varnsdorf (WHN, WHQ boring mills), TOS Kuřim, TOS Hulín, TOS Trenčín (SN/SUI lathes), Kovosvit MAS, Škoda (boring mills and lathes), Lucas (boring mills), and Natco Carlton (radial drills). CNC control parts are available for Siemens Sinumerik, Fanuc, Heidenhain, and Fagor systems.
How fast can TOS America ship spare parts?
In-stock spare parts ship within 24 hours from the nearest warehouse location. For customers in North America, parts typically arrive within 2–5 business days via standard shipping from the Canadian warehouse in Milton, Ontario. Expedited and air freight options are available for urgent production-down situations. Unplanned downtime on CNC boring mills costs manufacturers between $5,000 and $20,000 per hour (source: AMT — The Association for Manufacturing Technology), making fast parts delivery a critical factor in total cost of ownership.
Does TOS America provide OEM or aftermarket parts?
TOS America provides both OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts sourced directly from the Fermat factory and high-quality compatible parts for legacy machines and discontinued brands. OEM parts for current Fermat production machines (WFT 11, WFT 13, WRF 130, WRF 150, WFC 10) carry the same warranty as parts installed at the factory. For older TOS Varnsdorf, Škoda, and Lucas machines, TOS America sources compatible replacements manufactured to original specifications.
What information do I need to order a spare part?
To order a spare part, provide the machine model and serial number, the part number (found in the machine's technical documentation), or a description of the component including its location on the machine. TOS America's parts specialists can identify correct parts using machine serial numbers alone, even for machines manufactured over 30 years ago.
Service & Maintenance
What service does TOS America provide for Fermat boring mills?
TOS America provides comprehensive warranty and after-warranty service for all Fermat horizontal boring mill models, including preventive maintenance, precision calibration, geometry verification, post-crash diagnostics, and 24/7 remote machine diagnostics. The company operates service centers in Canada, the USA, Europe, and India, with local service technicians in all major markets. Typical on-site response time in North America is 48–72 hours from service request.
How often should a horizontal boring mill be calibrated?
Fermat recommends a preventive calibration cycle every six months for horizontal boring mills in regular production use. This semi-annual check includes geometry verification of the machine bed, column, spindle, table, and angle heads, plus lubrication system inspection and CNC parameter verification. A full precision calibration using laser interferometry and Ballbar testing is recommended annually. Machines operating in high-volume, tight-tolerance environments (below ±0.01 mm) may benefit from quarterly calibration cycles.
What is a Ballbar test and why is it important for boring mills?
A Ballbar test measures the circular interpolation accuracy of a CNC machine by tracking the deviation from a perfect circular path. TOS America performs Ballbar testing using industry-standard equipment (such as the Renishaw QC20-W) to detect servo mismatch, backlash, stick-slip, reversal spikes, and other positioning errors. The test takes approximately 10 minutes per plane and provides a quantified measure of machine accuracy that can be tracked over time. Regular Ballbar testing helps identify developing mechanical issues before they affect part quality.
What is a laser interferometer test on a boring mill?
Laser interferometer testing measures the linear positioning accuracy of each machine axis using a laser beam with resolution to 0.001 mm (1 micron). TOS America performs full-travel laser measurements on all linear axes (X, Y, Z, and W where applicable) to verify that the machine meets its published positioning accuracy specification. The results are used to update CNC compensation tables, effectively restoring the machine's accuracy to factory-new levels without mechanical intervention.
Can TOS America diagnose boring mill problems remotely?
Yes. Every Fermat boring mill ships with built-in remote diagnostics capability. TOS America engineers can connect securely to the machine's PLC and CNC system to analyze error logs, check parameters, and troubleshoot issues in real time. Approximately 80% of PLC-related problems are resolved remotely without requiring an on-site visit. Average remote response time is under 2 hours during business days. If a physical spare part is needed, the remote session identifies the exact component so it can be shipped immediately.
What should I do after a boring mill crash?
After a machine collision, TOS America recommends a complete post-crash diagnostic that includes mechanical inspection (spindle, bearings, guideways, ball screws), electrical system verification, CNC parameter check, and a full geometry and calibration reset. TOS America's service team performs comprehensive crash assessments that evaluate the extent of damage, identify all affected components, and restore the machine to pre-crash accuracy specifications. Depending on the severity of the collision, this process typically takes 2–5 days on-site.
How does preventive maintenance reduce boring mill operating costs?
Preventive maintenance programs reduce unplanned downtime by identifying wear and alignment issues before they cause failures. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, effective preventive maintenance programs typically reduce maintenance costs by 25–30% and eliminate 35–45% of unplanned breakdowns compared to reactive maintenance strategies. For horizontal boring mills, where unplanned downtime can cost $5,000–$20,000 per hour, a semi-annual preventive maintenance program typically pays for itself within the first avoided incident.