Northwood Iron Horse Roller Hold Down
Image: northwoodmachine.com, Northwood
Key Specifications
Spindle Taper
Tool Capacity
Table Size
Spindle Power
control
table orientations
How much does the Northwood Iron Horse Roller Hold Down cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Northwood Iron Horse Roller Hold Down 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
Plywood for upholstery frames and reels is a rough, lower grade sheet that is cut fast and in volume. The Northwood Iron Horse Roller Hold Down is the three-axis router Northwood builds for that job, and its defining feature is a quad set of heavy duty steel rollers that press the sheet down beside the cutter while vacuum holds it from below.
Vacuum alone struggles with this material because air leaks through voids and under bowed sheets. Rollers add downward force exactly where the tool is working, which is why Northwood pairs the two. Rollers are available in 4-foot and 5-foot lengths to match the two table sizes, 49 x 97 in (1,245 x 2,464 mm) and 61 x 121 in (1,549 x 3,073 mm). There is no larger or custom table in the list, and the orientation is narrow only.
The spindle list is the Iron Horse standard: 13 kW (17.4 hp) air cooled, 16 kW (21.5 hp) liquid cooled or 25 kW (33.5 hp) liquid cooled, on HSK63F or HSK63A tooling. Drilling is restricted to what fits between the rollers. Northwood offers 5-line, 9-line and 21-line units and notes that the 5-line and 9-line banks fit its standard roller spacing and carry different drill sizes, so holes do not cost a tool change. Z travel is 14 in (356 mm) with no upgrade listed.
A single or twin table is available. On the twin table version one table is loaded and unloaded while the other is cut. Add-ons include a 20-position tool changer, sweepers with automated sweep cycles and a rollerball transfer system.
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) |
| Table Orientations | Single or twin (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 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 |
| 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) |
| Roller Hold Down | Quad (4) heavy duty steel roller hold down system |
| 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 |
| Optional Features | Fencing, Keyence scanners, MQL, zipper ducts, barcode reader |
Specifications sourced from northwoodmachine.com — verified 2026-10-05
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Quad heavy duty steel roller hold down works together with table vacuum on warped or porous plywood
- 4-foot and 5-foot rollers to match the 49 x 97 in (1,245 x 2,464 mm) and 61 x 121 in (1,549 x 3,073 mm) tables
- 5-line and 9-line drill banks fit the standard roller spacing and carry mixed drill sizes
- Twin table version lets one table be loaded while the other is cut
- Spindles of 13 kW (17.4 hp), 16 kW (21.5 hp) or 25 kW (33.5 hp)
Limitations
- Only two table sizes and the narrow orientation; the Iron Horse 3 adds 61 x 145 in (1,549 x 3,683 mm), custom sizes and a wide layout
- Z travel is 14 in (356 mm) with no upgrade in the table
- Line boring stops at the 21-line unit, and no spindle-mounted C-axis is listed
- The 20-position tool changer, sweepers and rollerball transfer system are add-ons
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Northwood states that the machine uses both a vacuum and a roller assist to generate more downward force. The table lists the system as a quad (4) heavy duty steel roller hold down. Rollers keep working where vacuum leaks, which is common with lower grade plywood, and both 4-foot and 5-foot rollers are available.
02
The table lists two sizes: 49 x 97 in (1,245 x 2,464 mm) and 61 x 121 in (1,549 x 3,073 mm). The machine can be built with a single table or twin tables, in the narrow orientation. Unlike most of the Iron Horse line, no custom table size appears in the table.
03
Yes. Line boring/drill units are listed in 5-line, 9-line and 21-line versions, the last with 13 vertical and 8 horizontal spindles. Northwood notes that the 5-line and 9-line drill banks are small enough to fit its standard roller spacing and can carry different drill sizes without needing an automatic tool changer.
04
The table gives 12 tools as standard with 8, 10 and 20 as options, and Northwood lists a 20-position automatic tool changer among the add-ons. Tool interfaces are HSK63F and HSK63A, and a Northwood tool and part probe is standard.
