Frequently Asked Questions about Toolmex Products
This collection of frequently asked questions (FAQ) provides brief answers to common questions about Toolmex products. Click on a subject heading below to be directed to the FAQ section of your choice. Links throughout the answers will guide you to further information available on our website. If you are unable to find the answer you are looking for on this page, please contact Customer Support at 800-992-4766 or 508-653-8897.
TMX AND BISON FAQ
ELEKTRIM AND ELEKTRIMAX MOTORS FAQ
- FREIGHT POLICY
- CUSTOM MOTOR ORDER POLICY
- WARRANTY
- GENERAL MOTOR QUESTIONS
- ELECTRICAL QUESTIONS
- MECHANICAL QUESTIONS
GENERAL FAQ
TMX Carbide — GENERAL QUESTIONS
What percentage of my indexable tooling requirements can Toolmex supply?
Toolmex has a broad offering to cover most of your tooling needs. Our insert program covers a full range of standard turning and milling operations from finishing to extreme roughing applications.
Does Toolmex provide Technical Support for its indexable products?
We have trained professional technical engineers on staff to help in any metal removal application.
Do you have carbide inserts that fit the competitors' cutters?
Yes, the Toolmex offering of products will fit competitors' cutters for milling and turning.
How do I know if your products are good quality products?
Toolmex has an extensive QA Lab that randomly checks current stocked products as well as new products prior to introduction to ensure that they are up to our standards for long work life for your application.
Where can I purchase Bison / TMX workholding and tooling products?
Please call our inside sales representatives at 508-653-8897 or 800-992-4766 or visit the "Where to Buy" lookup to see our list of preferred Power Distributors for your state.
How do I become a distributor for Bison / TMX workholding and tooling products?
Contact the Tooling Technology Group's Regional Sales Manager for your location by calling 508-653-8897 or 800-992-4766 or by email.
How will technical workholding and tooling questions be answered?
Contact the Tooling Technology Group by calling 508-653-8897 or 800-992-4766 or by email.
What is the smallest or largest diameter chucks offered?
We stock manual lathe chucks from 2" through 49" diameter. However, larger diameter and specialty chucks can be manufactured by request. Power Chucks (hydraulic) are available from stock in 5" thru 16" diameters.
Do Bison lathe chucks interchange with other manufacturers' products?
Bison manual lathe chucks are interchangeable when comparing mounting dimensions for adapter (mounting) plates. However, not with other manufacturers' chucks and/or adapters (mounting) plates. All 2-piece jaw type chucks are manufactured to American standard tongue and groove specifications allowing for top tooling from any manufacturer to be used interchangeably.
Do Bison power chucks interchange with other manufacturers' products?
Bison power chucks can be directly mounted to Kitagawa adapter (mounting) plates. We also provide a blank draw-tube nut with every chuck.
How do I determine my machine tool spindle type?
Refer to online Bison Chucks and Workholding catalog for the correct spindle type.
What is the highest RPM balanced tooling offered?
CAT 40 tooling 20,000 RPM balanced to G2.5 and CAT 50 tooling 15,000 RPM balance to G6.3.
ELEKTRIM AND ELEKTRIMAX MOTORS — FREIGHT POLICY QUESTIONS
What is your freight policy?
All electric motors are shipped FOB shipping point freight prepaid and add unless otherwise specified by the customer. Freight is eligible for prepaid freight on orders within the continental United States in excess of $3000.00 on a carrier chosen by Toolmex to the first destination within 1500 miles of shipping warehouse.
What amount do I have to spend before I can qualify for prepaid freight?
$3000.00
How is mileage determined to be eligible for prepaid freight?
Mileage is determined by pre-established freight carrier routes, from shipping warehouse to final destination.
Am I responsible for addition services like expedited delivery?
The customer is responsible for any extra charges incurred for additional freight services including, without limitation, expedited delivery, air freight, freight collect, export orders, hazardous materials, shipments outside the contiguous United States or other special handling by the carrier.
ELEKTRIM AND ELEKTRIMAX MOTORS — CUSTOM MOTOR ORDER POLICY QUESTIONS
Do you offer custom motors, and if so, what is your policy?
Yes. We offer many different options to meet your application requirements. Our Custom Motor Policy is as follows: All orders for electric motors $50,000 or above must include a 30% non-refundable deposit required at the time the order is placed. The 70% balance will be due net 30. A 40% cancellation fee will be charged on any and all cancelled orders. Please contact Toolmex Technical Support for more information. For your convenience, we also have a Custom Motor Request Form to assist you in gathering the information necessary to quote a custom motor order.
ELEKTRIM AND ELEKTRIMAX — WARRANTY QUESTIONS
I have a Warranty issue. How do I begin the warranty process?
To begin the warranty process, we request that you fill out an EASA Warranty report form and email or fax the document to 847-524-9996.
What if I don't have the EASA report form?
If you do not have the EASA Warranty report form, please contact Toolmex Customer Support at 800-992-4766 or 847-524-1074 and we will fax or email a copy to your location.
ELEKTRIM AND ELEKTRIMAX MOTORS — GENERAL QUESTIONS
Do you have motors with the CE mark on the nameplates?
All motors have the CE mark on the nameplates.
Are your motors safety certified?
Elektrimax Explosion Proof motors are UL listed and CSA certified. Other motor products are CSA certified and UL recognized.
ELEKTRIM AND ELEKTRIMAX MOTORS — ELECTRICAL QUESTIONS
Are your motors Inverter Rated?
Elektrimax General Purpose (EPACT) motors and Elektrim High Performance (EPACT) motors are 5:1CT and 10:1VT VFD capable. Elektrim Metric, Crusher Series, Brake, JM/JP Pump and Elektrimax JM/JP Pump motors are also 5:1CT and 10:1VT VFD capable. Elektrimax 56C Frame and Stainless Steel motors are 3:1CT and 10:1VT VFD capable. Elektrimax Explosion Proof motors are not inverter-duty rated.
Are your NEMA motors suitable for Y/Delta and Part Winding starting?
Yes. Elektrimax standard motors starting from 7.5HP and Elektrim motors starting from 213T frame are suitable for Y/Delta starting at 460V. Motors up to 100HP are suitable for Part Winding at 230V and motors 125HP and up are suitable for Part Winding starting at 460V.
Can your NEMA motors run at 208V?
NEMA Motors up to 400 frame are suitable at 208V. The connection diagram is the same at 230V. Amps at 208V are placed on the nameplate.
Do you offer dual-rated motors for 60Hz / 50Hz?
Elektrimax General Purpose and Explosion Proof motors are dual rated for 60/50Hz on the standard nameplate as follows: 230/460V at 60Hz with nominal HP and 380V at 50Hz with lower output HP. Elektrim motors are rated with nominal HP at 380V 50Hz up to 50HP and with lower output HP above (6,8 Pole motors above 286T frame).
Do you offer 575V motors from stock?
Yes. Standard Elektrim 230/460V NEMA motors up to 100HP, Elektrim Metric motors from IEC132 frame and Elektrimax General Purpose motors from 7.5HP up to 400 frame can be re-rated to 575V with nominal HP.
Do you offer motors with non-standard voltages and HP?
Many NEMA and metric motors can be re-rated for different voltage, HP and/or frequency based on application, duty cycle, ambient temperature and service factor required. Please contact Toolmex Customer Support to discuss your special application requirements.
What brake type do you use on your Elektrim Brake motors — DC or AC?
Our Elektrim Brake motors are equipped with DC disc brakes with a 460V AC rectifier placed inside the junction box. On request, the 460V AC rectifier can be replaced with a 230V AC rectifier.
Can I order a NEMA motor with a terminal board?
Yes. We offer NEMA motors with optional terminal boards.
Do you offer terminal boards on your Elektrim Metric motors?
Yes. Elektrim Metric motors up to 112M frame are equipped with terminal boards as standard. Metric motors starting from IEC132 have 12 leads in loose (Double Delta / Delta connection diagram at 230/460V) and can be equipped with optional terminal board.
Do you offer motors with thermal sensors?
Elektrimax Explosion Proof motors and Elektrim motors starting from 320 frame are equipped with thermistors in windings as standard. Other motors can be equipped with different thermal sensors as an option.
Must an inductor be used between motor and drive?
Any motor connected to an inverter drive with power leads that exceed 100 ft. should have an inductor between the motor and drive.
What kind of starter do you prefer for your motors?
We prefer starters that include a circuit breaker, contactor and overload. All starters should be sized according to National Electric Code.
ELEKTRIM AND ELEKTRIMAX — MECHANICAL QUESTIONS
On vertical mounting, is it okay to mount your motors both shaft up and down?
Yes. NEMA Elektrimax motors up to 445T frame and NEMA Elektrim motors up to 449T frame can be mounted vertically shaft up and down. Larger motors are horizontal operation only.
On motors, are the fans UNI or bidirectional?
All NEMA motors are equipped with bidirectional fans.
Is it better to install a DE roller bearing on the motors?
It depends on the application. A DE roller bearing is always preferred for belt drive applications. In direct coupling applications, always use ball bearing motors.
What kind of bearings do you use on your motors?
Elektrimax NEMA motors up to 215T frame and Elektrim NEMA motors up to 286T frame are equipped with oversized double-shielded bearings. Larger motors have oversized regreasable bearings.
What kind of grease should I use to re-grease your bearings?
We use lithium grease in our regreasable bearings, e.g. MOBILITH AW3 or other equivalent lithium motor grease.
Do I have to re-grease the bearings of a new motor?
It depends on how long the motor was stocked. Every motor with regreasable bearings which has been stocked for over 6 months has to be re-greased before usage.
How often should I re-grease the bearings?
It depends on the motor's RPM and usage. Regreasable bearings should be re-greased according to the recommendation in the manual of that particular motor.
Where is the junction box located on your Metric motors?
Elektrim Metric motors up to IEC180 frame have the junction box on the top of the motor. Metric motors IEC200 - IEC315 have the junction box in the F2 position which is convertible to F1.
What does IM B35 mean for Metric motors?
It means that the motors are equipped with D-Flange and Feet. Other descriptions are as follows: IM B3 = Footed, IM B34 = C-Face and Footed.
At what frame does the factory begin locking the shaft before shipment?
NEMA motors starting from 320T frame and Metric motors starting from IEC200 frame have shafts locked prior to shipment.
Do your motors have removable feet?
We offer removable feet exclusively on Elektrim Metric motors up to IEC132 frame. Metric motors IEC90 - IEC112 frame have rotatable feet.
Do you offer brake motors with flanges?
Yes. NEMA and Metric Brake motors are offered with all the same flanges as standard motors.
Can I convert your standard NEMA motor to F2 position?
Elektrimax General Purpose, Explosion Proof and Elektrim motors up to 449T frame can be converted to F2 position. Elektrimax 56C Frame, Stainless Steel and 586/7 frame motors are F1 only.
Do you offer D-Flange NEMA motors?
Elektrimax General Purpose and Elektrim 324T(TS) - 445T(TS) motors are offered with D-Flanges.
Do your motors have a threaded hole inside the end shaft?
All Elektrim Metric motors have a threaded hole inside the end shaft according to IEC standard. Elektrim NEMA motors 320T up to 449T frame have a M20 threaded hole. 586/7 frame motors have a M24 threaded hole.
When are blowers required on your motors?
Blowers will be required for all variable speed applications where the turn down ration exceeds VFD capability.
Should the drain holes always be opened?
The drain holes have to be open when the motor is operating in a high humidity atmosphere.
How do I download Adobe Acrobat?
Adobe Acrobat® can be downloaded for free from Adobe's website. Once you've downloaded and installed Acrobat, catalog pages will open in your browser when you click on the link.
What version of Adobe Acrobat is required for viewing the catalog page(s)?
The site uses Adobe Acrobat version 5 and above, which is used solely for the purpose of displaying the catalog page(s). Please note that you can still save the catalog page to your hard drive by using the disk icon on the toolbar in the Acrobat window.
Can I browse through your sales catalogs online?
Yes, the catalogs are all available on our website. We also feature special promotions from time to time throughout the year.
How can I browse the Toolmex catalogs?
There are several different ways to browse through our catalogs. The two most widely used are: from the "Quick Search" box on the top navigation bar of from the body of the "Home Page," click on "Browse."
Do I have to register in order to browse the catalogs?
No. Anyone can browse the catalogs without having to register.
How can I "flip through" various pages of the catalog?
Click on "Browse," scroll to the desired tab/section and click on "View Index Page," click on the page number, on the last row of the top navigation bar enter a page number and click "GO," or click on the "Next" or "Back" icon, OR use the Back/Forward arrows on your toolbar.
CUSTOMER SUPPORT — GENERAL QUESTIONS
What are the hours Customer Support is available to place orders and answer questions? What number do I call?
Dedicated customer support representatives are available Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST and can be reached by calling 508-653-8897 or 800-992-4766 or by email.
How do I send an email to someone at Toolmex, and how long before I'll get a response?
There are many pre-defined email links setup throughout the website. When you click on an email link, it opens an email window with the address already loaded. Specific office contact information can be found under the Toolmex Sales Locations page located under the Contact Us tab of the main navigation bar. Emails are generally responded to within one business day.
How often are the FAQs updated?
All emails and questions are tracked and reviewed on a regular basis. The FAQ section will contain the most current information available.
Can Toolmex ship products internationally?
Yes, Toolmex is setup to ship products to other countries.