Question 1

How do I request a quote?

Accepted Answer

There are three ways to request a quote: (1) Add products to your inquiry list from the catalog and submit the form; (2) use Bulk Search to paste up to 50 part numbers at once; (3) email sales@145gse.com directly with your drawings or specifications. An engineer — not a sales rep — reviews every inbound request and responds within 48 business hours.

Question 2

What's the minimum order quantity?

Accepted Answer

There is no formal minimum. We accept single-unit orders for most catalog items. For custom tooling we discuss quantities during the engineering review — most custom items are single-unit or small-batch (1–10 unit) runs typical for MRO consumables and one-off station tooling.

Question 3

Can I order from my existing P/O system?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We accept standard aerospace P/O formats (Boeing, Airbus, IAE, GE supplier templates) and can match your internal numbering in our acknowledgements. Export compliance documentation is included with every shipment, formatted to satisfy EAR / ITAR re-export requirements where applicable.

Question 4

What information do you need to quote a custom tool?

Accepted Answer

Minimum: a part number, sketch, or sample. Ideal: a 2D drawing (PDF / DXF / DWG) with tolerances called out, material spec, surface finish, and quantity. If you only have a worn original, ship it to us — we CMM-digitise, reconstruct geometry in CAD, and quote against the reconstructed model. Originals are returned with the replacement.

Question 5

Do you have a public price list?

Accepted Answer

No. 145GSE is a quote-only B2B manufacturer because every order has a different mix of material grade, surface treatment, certification level, packaging, and freight. Listed prices would mislead more often than they'd help. Engineer-reviewed quotes typically arrive within 48 business hours of inquiry.

Question 6

Can I get a sample before committing?

Accepted Answer

All products are made-to-order — there is no sample before a P/O is issued. Each fixture is engineered and machined against your specific quote, so we don't keep stock samples to ship ahead. The engineering review during quoting is the risk-reduction step: we flag any spec ambiguity in writing before you commit.

Question 7

How do I check the status of an open order?

Accepted Answer

Email sales@145gse.com referencing your P/O number. We'll respond with the current production stage (engineering review, CNC programming, machining, heat treatment, inspection, packing, shipped) and the expected ship-out date. For high-priority orders we provide weekly written updates.

Question 8

How long does manufacturing take?

Accepted Answer

Standard catalog items ship in 4–8 weeks depending on complexity and current shop load. Custom drawing-to-part items typically take 6–12 weeks including engineering review (3–5 days), CNC programming (2–4 days), fabrication, heat treatment, inspection, and certification. Rush orders are accepted on a case-by-case basis at 25–40% premium.

Question 9

Can you reverse-engineer from a worn sample?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ship us the worn or non-functional tool and we measure it on a CMM (typically ±0.005 mm repeatability), reconstruct the geometry in CAD, generate a fully-dimensioned 2D drawing for your records, and re-manufacture to OEM-equivalent quality. Originals are returned with the replacement. Reverse-engineering adds 1–2 weeks vs. drawing-supplied projects.

Question 10

What materials can you machine?

Accepted Answer

Aerospace aluminum (2024, 6061, 7075-T6), tool steels (4140, A2, D2, H13), stainless (303, 304, 316, 17-4PH, 15-5PH), titanium (Ti-6Al-4V), Inconel (625, 718), brass, bronze, and engineering plastics (Delrin, PEEK, PTFE). Material substitutions are flagged in writing during quote review.

Question 11

What tolerances do you hold?

Accepted Answer

Standard CNC milling and turning to ±0.02 mm on critical dimensions, ±0.05 mm on non-critical. Tighter tolerances (±0.005 mm) achievable on ground or wire-EDM features. Geometric tolerances (flatness, parallelism, perpendicularity, runout) are inspected on CMM with reports per AS9102 first-article format.

Question 12

Do you offer 5-axis machining?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our shop runs both 3-axis (high-throughput) and 5-axis (complex contoured fixtures, integrally bladed rotors, undercut features) CNC mills. CAM programming is on Mastercam with in-process probing. Capacity is allocated based on geometry — most catalog tooling runs 3-axis; engine fan-section fixtures typically need 5-axis.

Question 13

Can you replicate OEM tooling drawings exactly?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when you supply the drawing or an original sample. We make manufacturer-equivalent tooling to your spec. We do not sell counterfeit OEM-branded product or use OEM trademarks. Tools are shipped with our serial number and material certs, fit-for-purpose for your maintenance workflow.

Question 14

What's the difference between OEM and OEM-equivalent tooling?

Accepted Answer

OEM tooling carries the original manufacturer's logo and is sold through their authorized channel — typically at a 2–5x price premium with longer lead times. OEM-equivalent tooling is dimensionally and functionally identical, manufactured to the same drawing or reverse-engineered from a sample, and certified to the same standards (ISO 9001 / AS9100D), but without the OEM logo.

Question 15

Do you stock CFM56 tooling?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We carry tooling for CFM56-5A, CFM56-5B, and CFM56-7B variants — fan section assembly fixtures, LPT module stands, HPC borescope ports, fan blade transport racks, and engine transportation dollies. The CFM56 catalog is our largest engine-tooling subset; most items ship from stock or in 4–6 weeks.

Question 16

Do you make IAE V2500 tooling?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We supply V2500-A1 and V2500-A5 tooling including the IAE 1F Series tooling family (engine assembly/disassembly fixtures), nacelle handling rigs (Hurel-Hispano interface), and module transportation stands. V2500 and CFM56-5B tooling sometimes shares fixtures because both engines power the A320 family.

Question 17

What about Rolls-Royce Trent tooling?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Trent 700 (A330) and Trent 800 (B777) tooling is stocked or built-to-order — fan blade balance fixtures, LPT/HPT module handling, intermediate pressure compressor support stands, and combustor inspection ports. Lead time on Trent custom fixtures is 8–12 weeks given the larger physical envelope vs. CFM56-class engines.

Question 18

Do you support GE CF6 and GEnx engines?

Accepted Answer

Yes. CF6-80C2 (B747, B767, A300, A310) and GEnx-1B (B787) tooling is in our catalog — module handling stands, fan blade racks, HPC borescope kits, and combustor liner inspection fixtures. We also cross-reference older GE / Snecma kit IDs from legacy maintenance manuals for customers running mixed fleets.

Question 19

Can you supply engine transportation stands and dollies?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Engine transport stands and dollies are a core product line — built to OEM-equivalent specs with shock-isolation mounts, AGM-spec lifting points, and full export crating. CFM56-class stands typically ship in 6–8 weeks; CF6 / Trent stands take 10–14 weeks given their larger structural members.

Question 20

Are your engine tools borescope-ready?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Borescope inspection port tools, port plug wrenches, and igniter removal kits are stocked across CFM56, V2500, CF6, Trent, and GEnx engine families. Each kit is calibrated and includes the calibration certificate; recalibration service is offered annually for active customers.

Question 21

Do you handle PW1100G / LEAP / Trent XWB next-generation engines?

Accepted Answer

Limited. Our active manufacturing focus is mature-fleet engines (CFM56, V2500, CF6, Trent 700/800) where in-service tooling demand is largest. New-generation engine tooling (PW1100G, LEAP-1A/1B, Trent XWB) is available on a custom-build basis from your supplied drawings — typical lead time 10–16 weeks.

Question 22

How is engine tooling identified in your catalog?

Accepted Answer

Each product page lists applicable engines (e.g., CFM56-7B), applicable airframes (e.g., B737 NG/MAX), and the tooling series (e.g., CFM56-7B Maintenance Tooling). Our part numbers preserve the original OEM kit-ID structure when supplied; URL slugs are stable per product so links don't rot.

Question 23

What Airbus airframe tooling do you carry?

Accepted Answer

A319, A320, A321 (full A320 family) — nose landing gear tow bars, jacking pads, control surface rigging fixtures, fuel tank entry kits, wheel-well access stands. A330 — landing gear handling rigs, engine transport stands. A300 / A310 — legacy fleet support tooling. A350 / A220 tooling on custom-build basis.

Question 24

What Boeing airframe tooling do you carry?

Accepted Answer

B737 NG and B737 MAX — engine transportation dollies, nose-gear tow bars, slat / flap rigging fixtures, fuel-tank entry tooling. B747 — large-frame jacks and engine handling. B767 — landing gear and engine maintenance. B777 — engine transport, fan-blade handling, IPC support. B787 — composite-airframe-friendly tooling for inspection ports.

Question 25

Do you have universal tooling that fits multiple airframes?

Accepted Answer

Yes. About 12–15% of our catalog is platform-agnostic — torque wrench sets, calibrated jacks, hangar dollies, ESD-safe work mats, hand-tool kits, and consumable inspection ports. Universal tooling typically ships in 2–4 weeks vs. 4–8 weeks for platform-specific fixtures.

Question 26

Are landing-gear tools airframe-specific?

Accepted Answer

Yes — landing-gear handling, towing, and disassembly rigs are airframe-specific because gear geometry and load paths differ between A320 / B737 / A330 / B777. Sharing tooling across families is unsafe. Each LG tool ships with the applicable airframe / serial range printed on the tool body and on the calibration certificate.

Question 27

Can you supply maintenance docks for hangar work?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Maintenance docks (large-scale access platforms surrounding parked aircraft) are a separate catalog category with 34 stock products. Custom docks are engineered to your hangar footprint, fleet mix, and ceiling height — typical lead time 16–24 weeks given the structural-engineering review and on-site assembly involved.

Question 28

Do you supply ground support equipment (GSE) other than tooling?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our GSE catalog covers tow bars, lavatory carts, water-service rigs, GPU connectors, transport stands, and jacking equipment. We do not currently supply belt loaders, push-back tractors, or other powered ramp vehicles — those are outside our manufacturing scope.

Question 29

Do you support COMAC C919 and C909 tooling?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We supply maintenance tooling and ground support equipment for COMAC C919 (narrow-body) and C909 / ARJ21 (regional jet). These product lines are under continuous development as the platforms mature in service — designs are updated alongside COMAC and operator engineering bulletins. We do not publish C919 / C909 part numbers or release drawings publicly. For an active project, contact sales@145gse.com with your requirements and we'll respond within 48 business hours under NDA where appropriate.

Question 30

What certifications do you hold?

Accepted Answer

ISO 9001:2015 certified and aligned with AS9100D standards for aerospace manufacturing. NADCAP-aligned welding procedures with certified welders. Material certifications (mill certs), weld certifications, calibration traceability, and dimensional inspection records accompany every fixture. Customer audits welcomed with 30 days notice.

Question 31

What inspection documentation is included?

Accepted Answer

Standard package includes: mill cert for raw stock, heat-treat cert (where applicable), CMM dimensional inspection report (per AS9102 first-article format), surface-treatment cert, and a master serial-number tag. For calibrated tooling, a calibration certificate traceable to NIST / national standards is included.

Question 32

Can you provide a Certificate of Conformance (C-of-C) per shipment?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every shipment includes a C-of-C signed by our Quality Manager listing the P/O reference, shipped quantities, applicable specs, and a non-conformance statement. For customers with internal QA gating, we accommodate custom C-of-C templates if supplied during onboarding.

Question 33

Do you support EASA Form 1 / FAA 8130-3 release tags?

Accepted Answer

Not directly — 145GSE manufactures tooling and ground support equipment, not airworthy components. Our items don't enter the airframe and don't require Form 1 / 8130-3 tags. For airworthy parts manufacturing partners, we maintain referrals to Part 21 production approval holders.

Question 34

How do you handle out-of-tolerance items?

Accepted Answer

If an inspection finds an out-of-tolerance dimension, the part is held under a Material Review Board (MRB) ticket. Options: scrap and re-cut, rework (where feasible without compromising fitness), or use-as-is with customer concession in writing. We never ship out-of-spec product without explicit written acceptance.

Question 35

Can you design tooling from scratch?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our engineering team handles concept-to-production: requirements interview → CAD design (SolidWorks / NX / CATIA V5) → CAM programming → prototype → first-article inspection → production. Typical scratch-design lead time 10–16 weeks depending on complexity. We share native CAD files with customers under NDA on request.

Question 36

Do you sign NDAs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Mutual NDAs are signed before reviewing any proprietary drawings, OEM-supplied geometry, or operations procedures. Standard NDA templates available on request; we also sign customer-supplied NDAs subject to legal review (typically 3–5 business days).

Question 37

Can you support a long-term tooling supply agreement?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Multi-year supply agreements are common for MRO customers running large fleets — fixed unit pricing, capacity reservation, and on-call engineering support across the term. Pricing structure depends on annual volume and tooling complexity. Initial discussion: sales@145gse.com.

Question 38

Do you offer tooling repair or refurbishment?

Accepted Answer

Yes for items we manufactured. We re-machine worn surfaces, replace inserts, recalibrate measurement features, and refresh anodising / coatings. Refurbishment is typically 30–50% of new-build cost. Tooling not manufactured by us can be evaluated case-by-case; we don't refurb counterfeit OEM tooling.

Question 39

Can you handle low-volume one-off custom tooling?

Accepted Answer

Yes — the majority of our custom work is single-unit or 2–5 unit batches typical of MRO station tooling. We have no enforced minimum on custom items; pricing reflects the engineering setup cost so per-unit pricing is best for batches of 5+ identical fixtures.

Question 40

Who handles international shipping?

Accepted Answer

The customer is responsible for shipping. 145GSE is a manufacturer — our standard quote is EXW (ex-works our facility), meaning your freight forwarder picks up the consignment at our facility and handles all onward transit, customs clearance, and insurance. If you don't have a forwarder, we can introduce one on your behalf, but the freight contract, pricing, and timing are between you and the carrier directly.

Question 41

Will you ship to a specific country?

Accepted Answer

We don't make destination-specific shipping decisions — that is the freight forwarder's call, not ours. Once the goods are picked up at our facility under EXW terms, the forwarder evaluates routing, customs eligibility, sanctions screening, and country compliance. If your forwarder accepts the consignment, we hand it over with the agreed export documentation.

Question 42

What incoterms do you support?

Accepted Answer

Default: EXW (ex-works our facility). On request: FCA at a nominated pickup point, or FOB at the origin port arranged with your forwarder. We do not quote CIF, DAP, or DDP at the manufacturer level — those services are best arranged through your freight forwarder, who has the carrier rates, customs expertise, and insurance products to price them accurately.

Question 43

What lead times can you commit to?

Accepted Answer

We commit to ready-to-ship dates from our facility — typically 4–8 weeks for catalog items, 6–12 weeks for custom drawing-to-part work. Transit time after pickup is between you and your forwarder; air, sea, road, and customs-clearance schedules vary by destination and carrier and we do not quote them.

Question 44

How is shipping packaging handled?

Accepted Answer

Packaging is our responsibility before pickup. Catalog items: padded cartons or wood crates depending on weight and fragility. Custom or oversized items: ISPM-15 fumigated wood crates with shock indicators and tip indicators on orientation-critical fixtures. All export crates include a packing list pasted to the exterior plus a duplicate inside.

Question 45

What payment methods do you accept?

Accepted Answer

Bank wire transfer and cash only. We do not accept credit cards, letters of credit, escrow services, factoring, or any other payment instruments. All settlements go directly between the buyer and 145GSE.

Question 46

What currency do you quote and settle in?

Accepted Answer

USD only. All quotes are issued in US dollars and all settlements are made in US dollars. We do not quote or invoice in any other currency.

Question 47

What payment terms do you offer?

Accepted Answer

New customers: 100% deposit on P/O acknowledgement, 50% on ready-to-ship notification. Established customers (3+ orders, no payment defaults): Net 30 against P/O. Strategic accounts: Net 60 negotiated case-by-case. All payments are made by bank wire transfer or cash, in USD.

Question 48

Do prices include shipping and customs?

Accepted Answer

No. Our quote is EXW (ex-works our facility) — it covers manufacturing, packaging, and origin documentation only. Freight, transit insurance, destination customs duties, and any onward fees are the customer's responsibility, arranged through your freight forwarder. We don't quote CIF, DAP, or DDP at the manufacturer level.

Question 49

Can I cancel an order in progress?

Accepted Answer

All products are made-to-order. Once production has started, the order cannot be cancelled. Cancellation is only possible before production begins — typically while the engineering review or P/O acknowledgement is still pending. After P/O acknowledgement and material commitment, the deposit is non-refundable and the balance becomes due on completion.

Question 50

What's your warranty?

Accepted Answer

12 months from delivery against manufacturing defects (material, workmanship, certification accuracy). Workmanship issues resolved by repair, replacement, or credit at our discretion — typically the fastest option for your operation. Wear parts (consumable inserts, seals, springs) are excluded from warranty.

Question 51

Can you provide on-site training?

Accepted Answer

Yes for custom tooling. Our engineering team can travel for training on complex fixtures (typically 2–3 day on-site engagements), or provide remote video support and written procedures. Travel costs invoiced separately at cost; training time included in the original quote for fixtures above $25K USD.

Question 52

What if I need a replacement part out of warranty?

Accepted Answer

Replacement parts (inserts, fasteners, gauges, calibration components) are supplied indefinitely from stock or quick-build. Lead time on replacement parts averages 2–3 weeks. We retain CAD and drawing records for 10+ years on all manufactured tooling so out-of-production items remain re-buildable.

Question 53

Do you provide calibration / recalibration service?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Annual recalibration service is offered for active customers — ship the tool back, we recalibrate against NIST-traceable masters, refresh the calibration sticker, and return with a fresh certificate. Typical turnaround 5–7 business days plus shipping. We also support customer in-house calibration with master sets.

Question 54

How do I report a quality issue?

Accepted Answer

Email sales@145gse.com with photos, the affected serial number, and a description of the symptom. Quality team responds within 1 business day. If the issue is confirmed as a manufacturing defect, we ship a replacement on next-available basis and arrange for return of the defective unit at our cost.

Frequently asked questions

Airframe-Specific Tooling

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