Kapex motor amartour burnt out

[Cheese]

Am really surprised with this interview answer... [eek]

Building brushless motors since 2004 and 20 years later they're only on Gen 2? Milwaukee must be on Gen 7 or 8 by this time.

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[Packard]

Am really surprised with this interview answer... [eek]

Building brushless motors since 2004 and 20 years later they're only on Gen 2? Milwaukee must be on Gen 7 or 8 by this time.

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Maybe they do it like the software updates:  1.1; 1.4, 2.0, 2.2 etc.

Or maybe they are arrogant and “We done it right the first time; we ain’t  need no revisions.” (It probably sounds better in German.)

 

[CumminsDiesel]

Because of bad design, Festool should recall all EB Kapex and replace them with REB.

Mine was 10+ years old when it failed. Bad design or not, no company is obligated to do anything for a product with over 10 years of use. The original warranty was 3 years. Mine failed so I ordered the part and replaced it. No problems since.

It doesn't matter how old the saw is, if it has that many breaks because of the bad design, it should be recalled.

 

[Cheese]

The Kapex replacement armatour "retrofit kit" came today. Interestingly they included an electronic module with the speed controller. When I look at the parts diagram it doesnt seem to indicate this part is included in the retrofit kit. Could this electronic module be the problem causing the armatour failure, hence needing to be replaced as well.
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I consider that to be a good thing.  [big grin]  I consider it to be a potentially more holistic cure than a simple armature replacement. There was always something that ringed hollow with Festool's own explanation of their evaluation. If a problem really is that simple, it  probably has a solution that's simple, yet the facts didn't support the Festool supposition and Festool was certainly ambiguous as to the exact factory cure they recommended. Thinking back on that whole drama...that was a less than genuine moment of Festool introspection.

 

[Packard]

The thing that surprised me is that apparently companies like Festool and Milwaukee design and build their own motors.

I have always assumed that companies like those (and DeWalt, Delta, Makita, etc.) purchased the motors from companies that only make motors.

Is this a universal practice?

 

[Tom the Remodeler]

The thing that surprised me is that apparently companies like Festool and Milwaukee design and build their own motors.

I have always assumed that companies like those (and DeWalt, Delta, Makita, etc.) purchased the motors from companies that only make motors.

Is this a universal practice?

Hi Packard,

My understanding is that it's a mixed bag in terms of who build their own motors and who sub-contracts it out.

I had an opportunity to visit the Mafell factory back in 2018, and they were very proud of the fact that they manufacture everything in-house other than screws and blades. This includes injection moulding, die casting, powder coating, machining, and they produced their own motors, all in the same building.

Makita famously advertised that they made their own motors.

Of course, this is going to change over time as technology and management changes, so that which was true in, say, 2012, may no longer be true in 2024.

Quick funny story about Mafell, they are neighbors with Heckler and Koch. The Mafell S-35M vacuum is a rebranded Starmix vacuum (arguably the best machine on the market), which uses electromagnets to rapidly (and loudly) vibrate the filters to release accumulated dust when using an open poly bag. During one of the training sessions, the Mafell instructor mentioned with a smirk that they are careful not to use their vacuums outdoors, for fear that the neighbors might fire back  [big grin]

 

[ChuckM]

snip. the Mafell instructor mentioned with a smirk that they are careful not to use their vacuums outdoors, for fear that the neighbors might fire back  [big grin]

Whoa. From now on, I should be careful of choosing where (indoors only) to clean my HEPA filter when using the vibration method covered in this thread:
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/...r-hepa-canister-cleaning/msg709145/#msg709145

There're a couple of hunters among my neighbors.  [tongue]

 

[Cheese]

The thing that surprised me is that apparently companies like Festool and Milwaukee design and build their own motors.

Milwaukee started building their own motors back in 1928, before that time they relied on Westinghouse motors. Milwaukee continued to manufacture their own motors until around 2000 when it became a crap shoot. After Atlas Copco acquired Milwaukee in 1995, they started to contract out some of the equipment, AEG for cordless drills & sanders and Wissota for bench grinders.

I've heard that Milwaukee is now designing & manufacturing all of their brushless motors in-house.

 

[DonHenigan]

Just want to throw this out there....I just sent back two (2) Kapex saws with motor issues. One is covered by warranty and the other one needs $940.00 worth of repairs. I question the quality and reliability of these saws. Is there a guesstimate on how many members have had Kapex saws fail?

 

[morts10n]

I vowed to never again buy a Kapex after 2 burned out motors, unless Festool reimbursed me first.

 

[Cheese]

Just want to throw this out there....I just sent back two (2) Kapex saws with motor issues. One is covered by warranty and the other one needs $940.00 worth of repairs. I question the quality and reliability of these saws. Is there a guesstimate on how many members have had Kapex saws fail?

Why would a person ever entertain spending $940 to repair a $1600 saw? It's like spending $32,000 to repair a $55,000 truck?

 

[ChuckM]

I'd like to see the itemized bill from Festool to find out what it has done to a saw that's out of warranty for that amount of money. Maybe shipping cost took up the bulk of the repair cost?

 

[luvmytoolz]

Just want to throw this out there....I just sent back two (2) Kapex saws with motor issues. One is covered by warranty and the other one needs $940.00 worth of repairs. I question the quality and reliability of these saws. Is there a guesstimate on how many members have had Kapex saws fail?

There is absolutely zero reasons to buy Festool Miter Saw.

Completely agree, unless of course you're after accuracy and dust control, and in the case of the vast majority, incredible reliability.

 

[ChuckM]

Completely agree, unless of course you're after accuracy and dust control, and in the case of the vast majority, incredible reliability.

[big grin]