Thermwood MAX 5
Image: thermwood.com, Thermwood
Key Specifications
Max Spindle
Tool Capacity
Rapid Traverse
Spindle Power
axes
machine size
How much does the Thermwood MAX 5 cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Thermwood MAX 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
The Thermwood MAX 5 is the largest 5-axis CNC router Thermwood builds: a high-clearance gantry on steel columns, 10' or 15' wide, up to 60' long, with a 9' (2.7m) or 10' (3.0m) vertical Z axis. It is a machine for large moulds, marine components and aerospace tooling. Sheet goods are not its business.
The structure is not that of a table router. Thermwood lists engineered steel vertical support columns, stress-relieved gantry weldments, precision-machined steel plates and internal steel bracing, designed with 3D modeling and finite element analysis. There is no fixed table in the standard list. A floating work table with a drilled and tapped aluminum surface is an option, which tells you most users set the workpiece on the floor between the columns.
Sizes start at 10'x20' (3.0m x 6.0m) and 15'x20' (4.5m x 6.0m), and length is added in extensions of 15' (4.5m) or 20' (6m). Across that distance the gantry indexes at up to 2,100 IPM (53.3 m/min), so repositioning between features does not dominate the cycle.
Cutting is by a 17 HP (12.7 kW) liquid-cooled spindle at 24,000 RPM. Liquid cooling suits the long, continuous surfacing passes that large patterns need, where a fan-cooled motor would be working hard for hours. The spindle power is modest against the size of the frame, so think of the MAX 5 as a machine for composites, engineering plastics and non-ferrous metals, taking moderate cuts over very large areas.
Tools are held in a 6-position automatic tool changer that can be expanded up to 18 tooling positions, and tool length and diameter are measured automatically. The control is the Thermwood SuperControl with Smart Router Technology.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Axes | 5-Axis |
| Machine Size | Width 10' or 15', lengths up to 60'; base sizes 10'x20' (3.0m x 6.0m) and 15'x20' (4.5m x 6.0m), length extensions in 15' (4.5m) or 20' (6m) increments |
| Z Axis | 9' (2.7m) or 10' (3.0m) vertical Z axis |
| Spindle Motor Power | 17 HP (12.7 kW) liquid-cooled spindle |
| Max Spindle Speed | 24,000 RPM |
| Tool Capacity | 6-position automatic tool changer (standard), expandable up to 18 tooling positions |
| Rapid Traverse Rate | Machine indexing speeds up to 2,100 IPM (53.3 m/min) |
| Tool Measurement | Automatic high-tolerance tool length and diameter measurement |
| Structure | Engineered steel vertical support columns and stress-relieved gantry weldments |
| Work Table | Floating work table with drilled and tapped aluminum surface (opt.) |
| Lubrication | Automatic lubrication system |
| CNC Control | Thermwood SuperControl with Smart Router Technology |
Specifications sourced from thermwood.com — verified 2026-10-05
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Vertical Z axis of 9' (2.7m) or 10' (3.0m), far beyond a table router's reach
- 10' or 15' wide and up to 60' long, extended in 15' (4.5m) or 20' (6m) steps
- 17 HP (12.7 kW) liquid-cooled spindle for long continuous surfacing runs
- 6-position automatic tool changer is standard and expands up to 18 tooling positions
- Automatic high-tolerance tool length and diameter measurement is a core feature
Limitations
- No work table as standard; the floating work table is an option
- One spindle rating, 17 HP (12.7 kW), on a very large frame
- Indexing speed of up to 2,100 IPM (53.3 m/min) is lower than the over 3,000 IPM (76.2 m/min) of the three-axis Thermwood LFM
- Needs a building with the height and foundation for a 9' (2.7m) Z axis machine on steel columns
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Thermwood lists widths of 10' or 15' and lengths up to 60'. The quick brochure gives base sizes of 10'x20' (3.0m x 6.0m) and 15'x20' (4.5m x 6.0m), with length extensions in 15' (4.5m) or 20' (6m) increments. The vertical Z axis is 9' (2.7m) or 10' (3.0m).
02
A 17 HP (12.7 kW) liquid-cooled spindle rated at 24,000 RPM. It is the only spindle Thermwood lists for the machine. Liquid cooling keeps the motor temperature steady over the long programs that large moulds and patterns involve.
03
The standard arrangement is a 6-position automatic tool changer, expandable up to 18 tooling positions. Automatic high-tolerance tool length and diameter measurement is listed among the core features, which matters on five-axis work because a wrong tool length shifts the cut in every tilted position.
04
Not in the core feature list. Thermwood offers an optional floating work table with a drilled and tapped aluminum surface. Without it, the work area is the floor space between the steel vertical support columns, and the workpiece or its fixture is set up there.
05
Clearance and construction. The MAX 5 is described as a heavy-duty, high-clearance machine with a 9' (2.7m) or 10' (3.0m) vertical Z axis on steel columns, 10' or 15' wide. Thermwood presents the Model 77 as a heavy-duty, fully enclosed system for large aerospace and composite parts. Parts taller than an enclosed machine can take are the case for the MAX 5.
