Northwood Iron Horse Multi Tool
Image: northwoodmachine.com, Northwood
Key Specifications
Spindle Taper
Tool Capacity
Table Size
Spindle Power
control
table orientations
How much does the Northwood Iron Horse Multi Tool cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Northwood Iron Horse Multi Tool that we can stand behind, so we show no number. Configuration, options and installation move the final price a long way: a quote is the reliable figure.
Overview
The Northwood Iron Horse Multi Tool is a three-axis moving table router whose single tooling plate carries several tools side by side. It finishes one operation at a time, but the next tool is already on the plate, so a spindle, a drill block, a saw and a molder can all work on a sheet without a tool change between them.
How far that idea stretches is clearest from the machines Northwood says it has already built: one with 12 spindles, one with four spindles and four tool changers, and one that combines a spindle, a tool changer, a drill and a 5-axis saw. The specification table reads like a menu for such builds. It lists spindles of 13 kW (17.4 hp) air cooled and 16 kW (21.5 hp) or 25 kW (33.5 hp) liquid cooled, line boring units from 5-line to 40-line, four kinds of saw and a molder on a 6-inch shaft or 13-inch arbor with an HSK-80 integral quick change.
Spindle spacing on the plate is manual or servo, or the heads can have independent X/Y movement. Every tool on the plate shares the same bridge, so the stroke lost to the width of the plate is worth checking against the sheet size. Tables are 49 x 97 in (1,245 x 2,464 mm), 61 x 121 in (1,549 x 3,073 mm), 61 x 145 in (1,549 x 3,683 mm) or custom, single or twin, wide or narrow.
Z travel is 14 in (356 mm), with a 24 in (610 mm) upgrade. The control is a FANUC 0i-Model F Plus, and the table lists automatic or manual material management for loading, unloading and labeling.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| CNC Control | FANUC 0i-Model F Plus with Alpha iD Servo System |
| Table Size | 49 x 97 in (1,245 x 2,464 mm), 61 x 121 in (1,549 x 3,073 mm), 61 x 145 in (1,549 x 3,683 mm), custom |
| Table Orientations | Single or twin (wide or narrow) |
| Table Options | Single or multiple vacuum zones, 3-standard automatic part location stops (additional available) |
| Spindle Motor Power | 13 kW (17.4 hp) air cooled, 16 kW (21.5 hp) liquid cooled, 25 kW (33.5 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Mounted Fourth Axis | C-axis |
| Spindle Taper | HSK63F and HSK63A |
| Tool Capacity | 12 standard (optional 8, 10 and 20) |
| Adjustable Spindle Spacing | Spindle center spacing (manual or servo) or independent X/Y on multi-tool machines |
| Z Axis Travel | 14 in (356 mm) standard, 24 in (610 mm) upgraded |
| Tool Part Probe | Standard Northwood Probe (optional Renishaw TS27R, NC4 non-contact or RMP400) |
| Line Boring Drill Unit | 5-line, 9-line, 21-line (13 vertical, 8 horizontal), 29-line, 35-line (all vertical), 40-line |
| Saw | Single direction, programmable 360-degree saw/V-groover, direct drive servo, 5-axis direct drive |
| Molder | 6-inch shaft, 13-inch arbor, HSK-80 integral quick change molder |
| Automatic Material Management System | Loading, unloading, labeling |
| Manual Material Management System | Loading, unloading, labeling |
| Vacuum Pumps | 40 hp Liquid Ring, 10 hp Dry Claw, 25 Dry Claw, 10 hp Rotary Vane, stacked system |
Specifications sourced from northwoodmachine.com — verified 2026-10-05
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- One tooling plate holds several tools, so drilling, sawing and routing follow each other without tool changes
- Molder option on a 6-inch shaft or 13-inch arbor with HSK-80 integral quick change
- Saw options from a single direction saw to a programmable 360-degree saw/V-groover and a 5-axis direct drive saw
- Spindle center spacing by hand or servo, or independent X/Y on multi-tool machines
- Northwood has built versions with 12 spindles, and with four spindles and four tool changers
Limitations
- Only one operation runs at a time; cutting two parts at once is the job of the Iron Horse Dual Processing
- Z travel is limited to 14 in (356 mm), or 24 in (610 mm) upgraded
- Each machine is configured to order, and the table gives no speeds, footprint or weight to compare builds
- A wide tooling plate reduces the usable stroke at the ends of the bridge, which Northwood's table does not quantify
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
It is the carrier on the bridge that holds the working units. Northwood states that the machine has one tooling plate that can accommodate multiple tools at a time, and that it completes one operation at a time. Spindles, drill units, saws and a molder can be mounted together on it.
02
Northwood names three examples: a machine with 12 spindles; one with four spindles and four tool changers; and one with a spindle, tool changer, drill and 5-axis saw. The specification table backs these with spindle ratings of 13 kW (17.4 hp), 16 kW (21.5 hp) and 25 kW (33.5 hp) and a 12-tool changer with 8, 10 and 20 as options.
03
The molder row lists a 6-inch shaft, a 13-inch arbor and an HSK-80 integral quick change molder. Northwood points to molder heads, along with 360-degree programmable saws for v-grooving, for solid surface and architectural millwork applications.
04
Single or twin tables, each in a wide or a narrow orientation, plus custom builds. Catalogued sizes are 49 x 97 in (1,245 x 2,464 mm), 61 x 121 in (1,549 x 3,073 mm) and 61 x 145 in (1,549 x 3,683 mm). Northwood describes the wide layout as the more compact and the narrow layout as easier to reach.
