Thermwood Model 42
Image: thermwood.com, Thermwood
Key Specifications
Tool Capacity
Table Size
Spindle Power
axes
table type
spindle speed range
How much does the Thermwood Model 42 cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Thermwood Model 42 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 Model 42 is a 3-axis CNC router built the opposite way round from most sheet routers: the gantry is fixed and the solid aluminum tables move under it. It comes with dual tables in 5'x5' (1.5m x 1.5m), 5'x8' (1.5m x 2.4m), 5'x10' (1.5m x 3.0m) and 5'x12' (1.5m x 3.6m), or as a single 10'x5' (3.0m x 1.5m) table, and a 12 HP (9 kW) spindle running 3,000-24,000 RPM.
The dual tables are the reason to choose it. Thermwood says they can move independently, so an operator loads one while the spindle cuts on the other, or they can be locked to form one large table. On short-cycle parts that takes the unload time out of the machine's cycle. The trade-off of the layout is floor space: the tables need room to travel, and overall length grows from 138 in (3.5 m) with dual 5'x5' tables to 308 in (7.8 m) with dual 5'x12' tables, at 158 in (4.0 m) wide.
A fixed gantry also means the spindle carrier is not being accelerated back and forth along the machine, which Thermwood presents as a stable, rigid platform for surface finish. Tools are held in a 4 position bar style automatic tool changer behind the table, with 7 positions as an option. Four tools is few for cabinet work with drilling and grooving, so check the tool list for your parts against that number.
Options change the machine's character a good deal. A 2nd head spindle lets two parts be cut at once, an 18 HP (13 kW) spindle with HSK F63 toolholders is offered for heavier cuts, and a rotary playback axis takes stock 8 in (200 mm) in diameter and up to 56 in (1.4 m) long for furniture components. The control is Thermwood's own SuperControl, with Siemens intelligent servo drives on every axis.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Axes | 3-Axis |
| Table Type | Fixed gantry with moving solid aluminum table(s) |
| Table Size | Dual tables: 5'x5' (1.5m x 1.5m), 5'x8' (1.5m x 2.4m), 5'x10' (1.5m x 3.0m), 5'x12' (1.5m x 3.6m); single table: 10'x5' (3.0m x 1.5m) |
| Spindle Motor Power | 12 HP (9 kW) |
| Spindle Speed Range | 3,000-24,000 RPM |
| Optional Spindle | 18 HP (13 kW), 3,000 to 20,000 programmable RPM, HSK F63 toolholders |
| Tool Capacity | 4 position bar style automatic tool changer (7 position opt.) |
| Vacuum Pump | 15 HP (11 kW) universal vacuum pump (opt.) |
| Rotary Playback Capacity | Stock 8 in (200 mm) in diameter and up to 56 in (1.4 m) in length (opt.) |
| Drill Bank | Nine vertical spindles on 32 mm centers (opt.) |
| Machine Dimensions | Height 85 in (2.1 m), width 158 in (4.0 m), length 138 in (3.5 m) with dual 5'x5' tables; length 308 in (7.8 m) with dual 5'x12' tables (approximate) |
| Drives | Siemens intelligent servo drives throughout |
| CNC Control | Thermwood SuperControl |
Specifications sourced from thermwood.com — verified 2026-10-05
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Dual moving tables work independently, so one is loaded while the other is cut, or lock together as one large table
- Fixed gantry carries the 12 HP (9 kW), 3,000-24,000 RPM spindle on a stationary structure
- Optional 2nd head spindle for machining two parts at the same time
- Rotary playback option accepts stock 8 in (200 mm) in diameter and up to 56 in (1.4 m) in length
- Thermwood builds the SuperControl itself and pairs it with Siemens intelligent servo drives throughout
Limitations
- Standard bar style tool changer holds 4 positions; 7 positions is an option
- Moving tables need floor space: length reaches 308 in (7.8 m) with dual 5'x12' tables
- The 2nd head spindle cannot be combined with the bar style tool changer
- The 15 HP (11 kW) universal vacuum pump is an option, not part of the base machine
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Because the gantry is fixed. The tables carry the work under the spindle, and with dual tables each can move independently. Thermwood describes loading one table while cutting on the other, or locking the two to form one large table. The fixed gantry gives the spindle a stationary mount.
02
Dual tables in 5'x5' (1.5m x 1.5m), 5'x8' (1.5m x 2.4m), 5'x10' (1.5m x 3.0m) and 5'x12' (1.5m x 3.6m), and a single 10'x5' (3.0m x 1.5m) table. Thermwood's brochure says the machine comes standard with dual moving tables.
03
Thermwood gives approximate overall dimensions of 85 in (2.1 m) high and 158 in (4.0 m) wide. Length depends on the tables: 138 in (3.5 m) with dual 5'x5' tables, rising to 308 in (7.8 m) with dual 5'x12' tables. Add room for the operator, dust collection and the vacuum pump if one is ordered.
04
The standard spindle is a 12 HP (9 kW) HSD unit with a 3,000-24,000 RPM range, served by a 4 position bar style automatic tool changer mounted behind the table. Options are a 7 position bar, an at-the-head tool changer, and an 18 HP (13 kW) spindle that runs 3,000 to 20,000 programmable RPM and accepts HSK F63 toolholders.
05
Yes. The 2nd head spindle option adds a complete tool slide and a second servo-controlled Z-axis assembly so two parts are machined simultaneously. Thermwood notes that the bar style tool changer cannot be used with this option; the at-the-head tool changer is available for both heads instead.
