Northwood Iron Horse XL 5
Image: northwoodmachine.com, Northwood
Key Specifications
Spindle Taper
Tool Capacity
Table Size
control
table orientations
table options
How much does the Northwood Iron Horse XL 5 cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Northwood Iron Horse XL 5 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
Large composite and aerospace parts are the target of the Northwood Iron Horse XL 5, a five-axis machining center with a moving gantry over a fixed 144 x 96 in (3,658 x 2,438 mm) table. Northwood fits linear encoders to every build.
Those encoders, and the FANUC 31iB5 Plus control that reads them, are the technical case for the machine. On a long gantry, a rotary encoder on the motor cannot see stretch or backlash in the drive. A linear scale measures the axis position directly, which is what Northwood means by direct feedback. The moving table Iron Horse 5, by comparison, lists a FANUC 0i-Model F Plus control.
The head options are the shared Northwood list of nine liquid-cooled two-axis heads from 7 kW (9.4 hp) to 50 kW (67.1 hp), with an A- and C-axis on outboard encoders and HSK63F or HSK63A tooling. Z travel is 36 in (914 mm), 50 in (1,270 mm) or 72 in (1,829 mm). A 20-station tool changer is standard.
What changes from order to order is the containment. Northwood normally encloses the machine on all four sides and offers flood coolant or a roof bellow system for dust, optional through-tool coolant, dual high- and low-pressure flood halos and an air curtain. A shuttle table or pallet changer is listed for material handling. The table itself can be single or twin, and the envelope is big enough to leave several fixtures set up side by side.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| CNC Control | FANUC 31iB5 Plus with Alpha iD servo system |
| Table Size | 144 x 96 in (3,658 x 2,438 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 Head Option A | Head with 18 kW (24.1 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Head Option B1 | Head with 15 kW (20.1 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Head Option B2 | Head with 25 kW (33.5 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Head Option B3 | Head with 42 kW (56.3 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Head Option C1 | Head with 7 kW (9.4 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Head Option C2 | Head with 11 kW (14.8 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Head Option D | Head with 50 kW (67.1 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Head Option E | Head with 25 kW (33.5 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Head Option F | Head with 20 kW (26.8 hp) liquid cooled |
| Spindle Mounted Fourth Axis | A- and C-axis with outboard encoders |
| Spindle Taper | HSK63F and HSK63A |
| Tool Capacity | 20 station (standard) |
| Z Axis Travel | 36 in (914 mm) standard, 50 in (1,270 mm) upgraded, 72 in (1,829 mm) XL upgraded |
| Tool Part Probe | Standard Northwood Probe (optional Renishaw, TS27R, NC4 non-contact or RMP400) |
| 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
- Fixed 144 x 96 in (3,658 x 2,438 mm) table under a moving gantry, with custom sizes available
- FANUC 31iB5 Plus control with linear encoders for direct feedback on all machines
- Nine liquid-cooled head options from 7 kW (9.4 hp) to 50 kW (67.1 hp) with A- and C-axis on outboard encoders
- Normally enclosed on all four sides, with flood coolant or a roof bellow system as variations
- Shuttle table/pallet changer available for material handling
Limitations
- Tooling is HSK63F or HSK63A only; the ISO40 and ISO50 tapers of the Iron Horse XL 3 are not listed for this model
- A 20-station tool changer is the only capacity in the table
- Northwood's page text and its table give different table lengths and top spindle ratings, so confirm both when specifying
- No positioning accuracy, axis speed or head rotation figures are published, despite the emphasis on tight tolerances
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
A FANUC 31iB5 Plus with the Alpha iD servo system. Northwood states that all Iron Horse XL 5 machines have upgraded 31i-B5 FANUC controls for improved accuracy and linear encoders for direct feedback. Tool and part measurement uses a standard Northwood probe, with Renishaw units as options.
02
The table row gives 144 x 96 in (3,658 x 2,438 mm) with custom sizes, in single or twin configuration. Z travel is 36 in (914 mm) as standard, with 50 in (1,270 mm) and 72 in (1,829 mm) upgrades. Northwood's descriptive text quotes a larger base size than the table row, so ask which applies to a current build.
03
Normally, yes. Northwood says Iron Horse XL 5 machining centers are normally enclosed on all four sides to control contamination and act as a safety barrier. Variations include flood coolant or a roof bellow system to contain dust, and an air curtain barrier is listed with the flood halos.
04
The Iron Horse 5 is a moving table machine with tables up to 61 x 145 in (1,549 x 3,683 mm) and a FANUC 0i-Model F Plus control. The Iron Horse XL 5 has a fixed 144 x 96 in (3,658 x 2,438 mm) table, a moving gantry and a FANUC 31iB5 Plus control with linear encoders. Head options and Z travels are the same in both tables.
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