Fermat WFB 13
Key Specifications
X Travel
Y Travel
Z Travel
Table Size
Spindle Power
Accuracy
Overview
The Fermat WFB 13 is a CNC floor-type horizontal boring and milling machine produced by Fermat Machinery, a Czech machine tool manufacturer headquartered in Brno. Fermat specializes in large-format boring mills and has established a strong reputation in the European and North American heavy industrial markets for robust, cost-effective alternatives to Western European and Japanese floor boring mills. The WFB 13 designation indicates a 130 mm (5.12 in) boring spindle on Fermat's floor-type boring mill platform.
The floor-type configuration positions the workpiece directly on the shop floor or on a floor plate, with the boring mill column traveling along precision-ground floor-mounted guideways in the X-axis. The vertical Y-axis moves the spindle head up and down the column, while the Z-axis advances the spindle carrier horizontally toward the work. A CNC W-axis quill provides an additional 500 mm (19.7 in) of boring bar reach. Maximum column travel is configurable from 4,000 mm to 12,000 mm in the X-axis to suit different shop layouts and workpiece sizes.
Fermat equips the WFB 13 with a 37 kW (49.6 HP) spindle motor driving the 130 mm boring bar through a gearbox providing 10 to 3,000 RPM. The machine is offered with either a Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl or Fanuc 31i/30i control. A CNC rotary table — available in sizes from 1,600 mm x 1,800 mm to 2,500 mm x 3,000 mm — supports floor-mounted workpieces up to 40,000 kg. The guideways are hardened and ground box-ways on X and Y, providing the rigidity required for sustained heavy cuts in structural steel, cast iron, and large alloy forgings.
The Fermat WFB 13 is priced competitively in the floor-type boring mill market, typically ranging from $550,000 to $1,200,000 depending on column travel length, table configuration, and accessory selection — often 20-30% below equivalent capacity German or Japanese machines.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Spindle Diameter | 130 mm (5.12 in) |
| Spindle Speed Range | 10 - 3,000 RPM |
| Spindle Motor Power | 37 kW (49.6 HP) |
| X-Axis Travel | 4,000 - 12,000 mm (157.5 - 472.4 in) configurable |
| Y-Axis Travel | 2,500 mm (98.4 in) |
| Z-Axis Travel | 1,200 mm (47.2 in) |
| Quill Stroke W | 500 mm (19.7 in) |
| Table Load Capacity | 40,000 kg (88,185 lb) floor rotary table |
| Table Size | 1,600 x 1,800 mm to 2,500 x 3,000 mm (configurable) |
| B Axis Resolution | 0.001 degrees |
| Positioning Accuracy | ±0.01 mm (±0.00039 in) |
| CNC Control | Siemens SINUMERIK 840D sl or Fanuc 30i/31i |
| Born | August 17, 1601, Beaumont-de-Lomagne,France |
| Died | January 12, 1665,Castres(aged 63) |
| Notable Works | “Introduction to Loci” |
| Subjects Of Study | Fermat prime |
Specifications sourced from static.machinetools.com — verified 2026-03-28
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Floor-type design with up to 40,000 kg table capacity handles the largest castings, fabrications, and forgings that table-type boring mills cannot accommodate
- Configurable X-axis travel from 4,000 mm to 12,000 mm allows the machine to be spec'd precisely for a shop's typical workpiece length range
- Competitive pricing relative to equivalent German and Japanese floor-type boring mills — often 20-30% lower cost for comparable capacity
- Dual control option (Siemens 840D or Fanuc 30i) and strong European service network make the WFB 13 accessible to diverse shop environments
Limitations
- Fermat's North American service network is less established than German or Japanese OEMs, which can increase machine downtime for US and Canadian customers without proactive service contracts
- Positioning accuracy of ±0.01 mm is adequate for most boring work but slightly lower than top-tier German or Japanese competitors achieving ±0.006 mm
- Brand recognition is lower than TOS, Parpas, or Juaristi in some markets, which can complicate resale value and financing
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
In a floor-type boring mill, the column moves horizontally along guideways embedded in the shop floor (X-axis), and the workpiece rests directly on the floor or a fixed floor plate rather than on a moving table. This eliminates the weight and size limitations of a moving rotary table, allowing the WFB 13 to machine workpieces up to 40,000 kg. The tradeoff is that the workpiece must be manually repositioned and re-indicated for multi-face operations, whereas a table-type machine rotates the workpiece under CNC control.
02
Fermat Machinery was established in 1993 in Brno, Czech Republic, and grew directly from the heritage of Czech boring mill manufacturing that dates back to TOS Kurim and related state-era machine tool factories. The company produces a full range of floor-type (WFB), table-type (W), and floor-table (WHN) boring mills, and has delivered machines to customers in over 40 countries.
03
Yes. Fermat offers an angular milling head attachment for the WFB 13 that mounts to the spindle and provides a second rotation axis for compound-angle milling. This allows 5-axis positioning (3+2) for milling inclined faces and angled bores without repositioning the workpiece. A facing slide attachment is also available for large-diameter facing operations on flanges and bearing bores.
04
Lead times for a new Fermat WFB 13 are typically 12 to 18 months from order, depending on configuration complexity and factory scheduling. Standard configurations with common X-axis travel lengths and known control options tend toward the shorter end of this range. Customers should also allow 1-3 months for site preparation, foundation work, and installation.
05
Yes. Fermat Machinery has established a North American sales and service presence through regional machine tool dealers and has delivered WFB-series machines to US customers in the heavy equipment, energy, and job shop sectors. Prospective US buyers should confirm service response times and spare parts availability with the local dealer as part of purchase negotiations.
Videos
kissibb
Princeton Engineering Lectures
CNBC Television
Community Discussions
Owner experience and review — Can you help me pick a used Swiss? : r/Machinists - Reddit
Community discussion — Emco Maximat V13 a real manual operators manual I ... - Reddit
Community discussion — New lathe day! 1981 Whacheon “WEBB” 15x40. 3300 ... - Reddit
Community discussion — Recommendations on a good metal lathe? : r/Machinists - Reddit
Links to community discussions. Summaries are editorial — visit the original thread for full context.


