Cross-border deals put a lot of good used machines within reach of Canadian buyers, and most of them are wired for US power. The machine will run here, but usually not by plugging it straight in. This guide explains the voltage difference between the two countries, what it takes to run a US machine on a Canadian floor, and how to budget for it before you buy.
Will a US CNC machine run on Canadian power?
Yes, with a transformer in almost every case. Canadian industrial shops run 575/600 V three-phase, while US machines are typically wired for 460/480 V. A correctly sized step-down transformer converts your 600 V supply to the 480 V the machine expects, and the machine then runs normally.
The good news is that frequency is not a problem. Both countries run at 60 Hz, so a US machine needs voltage conversion only — not the frequency conversion that importing from Europe or much of Asia (50 Hz) would demand. That single fact makes US-to-Canada machine imports far simpler than overseas ones. The cost and effort come down to the transformer and a proper electrical hook-up.
What voltage do Canadian machine shops use?
Most Canadian industrial shops are supplied with 600 V three-phase power (nominally 575 V at the motor). Smaller shops and some facilities also run 208 V or 240 V services, but 600 V is the dominant standard for machine tools and heavy equipment across the country.
This is the key difference a buyer has to plan around. Because 600 V is standard here, a machine built for the Canadian market arrives ready to connect, while an imported US machine does not. Confirm your own shop's incoming service voltage before buying anything — it determines whether you need a transformer at all, and in which direction it has to convert.
What voltage are US machines wired for?
US machine tools are usually wired for 460/480 V three-phase. Some smaller machines run on 208 V or 240 V. The nameplate on the machine's main disconnect states the required input voltage, phase, and full-load amperage, and that nameplate is what you plan the installation around.
Always read the electrical nameplate before committing to an imported machine. A 480 V machine on a 600 V Canadian supply needs a step-down transformer; a 240 V machine needs a different conversion again. The nameplate's full-load amperage (FLA) is the number you use to size the transformer, so record it during inspection alongside voltage and phase.
Do you need a transformer to run a US machine in Canada?
In most cases, yes. To run a 480 V US machine from a 600 V Canadian supply, you install a step-down transformer that converts 600 V to 480 V. If your shop happens to have a 480 V service already, you can feed the machine directly and skip the transformer entirely.
Two transformer types cover the job. An autotransformer is the compact, lower-cost option for standard voltage conversion and is common for CNC machines. An isolation transformer costs more and takes more space but adds galvanic separation and noise suppression, which some sensitive controls benefit from. A dealer that stocks transformers, drives and servo motors can match the unit to the machine so the two arrive as a working package.
How do you size a transformer for a machine tool?
Size the transformer from the machine's full-load kVA, then add headroom. For three-phase, kVA = (volts × full-load amps × 1.732) ÷ 1000. Industry practice is to choose a transformer rated at least 125% of that calculated load so the unit runs cool and handles start-up surge.
Worked example: a machine drawing 40 A at 480 V needs (480 × 40 × 1.732) ÷ 1000 ≈ 33 kVA, so you would select a transformer around 40–50 kVA to build in the 125% margin and spindle-start headroom. Undersizing is a false economy — a transformer that runs at its limit overheats and can nuisance-trip or fail. When in doubt, size up.
Is electrical frequency (Hz) a problem between the US and Canada?
No. The United States and Canada both operate at 60 Hz, so a machine imported between the two countries needs no frequency conversion. Only the voltage differs, which a transformer handles. Frequency mismatch is a concern for machines imported from 50 Hz regions such as Europe and much of Asia.
Frequency matters because a machine's spindle and axis motors are designed around the supply frequency. A 50 Hz machine run on 60 Hz power will spin faster than intended and can overheat or mis-position, which is why overseas imports sometimes need a frequency converter. Between the US and Canada that problem does not arise, which is one reason US machines are a practical source for Canadian shops.
What about the CNC control and auxiliary voltages?
The machine's own internal control transformer steps the main input down to the lower voltages its control, servos, and coolant pump need, typically 110–120 V and 24 V. As long as you feed the machine the correct main input voltage, the internal transformer handles the rest.
This is why getting the main input right is the whole job. You are matching one number — the machine's rated input voltage — to your shop supply through the external transformer. The control's internal voltages are the machine's responsibility, not yours, provided the main feed is correct. Verify the internal control transformer is present and undamaged during the under-power test.
What should you budget and check before importing a machine?
Budget for the transformer, a licensed electrician to wire it, and the incoming service and breaker capacity to carry the machine. In Ontario, the connection is subject to Ontario Electrical Safety Authority requirements and the Canadian Electrical Code (CSA C22.1), so plan for a compliant, inspected installation.
Run this short list before you buy an imported machine:
- Nameplate — record input voltage, phase, and full-load amperage.
- Your supply — confirm your shop's service voltage (usually 600 V) and available capacity.
- Transformer — correct direction (step-down 600→480 in the typical case), sized at ≥125% of load kVA, CSA-certified.
- Installation — licensed electrician, adequate breaker and conductors, code-compliant grounding.
- Total cost — add the transformer and installation to the machine price when comparing deals.
That total-cost view is what keeps a cross-border machine honest against a domestic one — the same landed-cost thinking that applies when you weigh a used machine against a new one and run a full pre-purchase inspection before buying.
Where can you get a machine matched to Canadian power?
Gizmo Machine Tools sells used machinery from Mississauga, Ontario, and can supply the matching transformer and drives so an imported machine arrives ready for a Canadian floor. Sourcing the machine and its power conversion from one supplier removes the most common commissioning delay.
Browse current stock by type — vertical machining centres, horizontal machining centres, and CNC turning centres — and factor the power requirement into the total landed cost from the start.