Thermwood Model 63
Image: thermwood.com, Thermwood
Key Specifications
Tool Capacity
Table Size
Spindle Power
axes
table type
spindle speed range
How much does the Thermwood Model 63 cost?
Price estimate
We do not have a price for the Thermwood Model 63 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 63 is a long-bed 3-axis CNC router: a bridge travels over a stationary solid aluminum table that is 5 feet wide and as long as the job requires. Listed tables are 5'x10', 5'x20' and 5'x40', and Thermwood offers table extensions up to 100'. It carries a 12 HP (8.9 kW) spindle at 3,000-24,000 RPM and a 24 in (610 mm) vertical extended Z axis as standard.
Length is the whole point. A part that would need repositioning on a 10 foot machine is cut in one setup here, which is why Thermwood names large composite parts and three dimensional patterns as the work. Because the table stays still and only the bridge moves, the weight of a long layup tool or pattern block has no effect on the axis drives.
The Z axis is tall for a 3-axis router. With 24 in (610 mm) of vertical travel the head can work down the side of a pattern or reach into a deep part, though tool length will set the real limit long before the axis does. Buyers planning deep three-dimensional work should also ask about the 18 HP (13.4 kW) HSD spindle option.
Look closely at tool changing. The standard features list does not include a tool changer at all. An at-the-head automatic tool changer and a 10 position rotary tool changer are both options, as are a 2nd head spindle and an electric drill. On a bed this long a rear-mounted rack would mean long trips for every change, so the at-the-head type is the natural choice.
The same frame with a five-axis head is sold as the Model 65. If parts need trimming on angled faces, that is the machine to look at; if the work is flat sheet, pockets and 3D surfacing from above, the 63 does it with fewer axes to maintain.
Full Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Axes | 3-Axis |
| Table Type | Fixed solid aluminum table with moving gantry |
| Table Size | 5'x10', 5'x20', 5'x40'; table extensions available up to 100' |
| Spindle Motor Power | 12 HP (8.9 kW) |
| Spindle Speed Range | 3,000-24,000 RPM |
| Optional Spindle | 18 HP (13.4 kW) HSD spindle |
| Z Axis | 24 in (610 mm) vertical extended Z axis |
| Tool Capacity | At-the-head automatic tool changer or 10 position rotary tool changer (opt.) |
| Second Spindle | 2nd head spindle (opt.) |
| Electric Drill | Electric drill (opt.) |
| Drives | Intelligent servo drives throughout |
| CNC Control | Thermwood SuperControl |
Specifications sourced from thermwood.com — verified 2026-10-05
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- Table lengths of 5'x10', 5'x20' and 5'x40', with table extensions available up to 100'
- 24 in (610 mm) vertical extended Z axis is standard
- Stationary table, so long and heavy workpieces are not moved by the axes
- Optional 10 position rotary tool changer or at-the-head automatic tool changer
- Optional 2nd head spindle and electric drill for higher output on long beds
Limitations
- No tool changer in the standard features; both types are options
- Table width is 5 feet on every listed size
- Three axes only: angled trimming needs the five-axis Model 65
- Automatic lubrication and automatic tool length measurement are options
Best For
Frequently Asked Questions
01
Thermwood lists tables of 5'x10', 5'x20' and 5'x40', with table extensions available up to 100'. The table is stationary and the bridge moves along it, so extra length adds travel without adding moving mass.
02
A 24 in (610 mm) vertical extended Z axis is a standard feature. That is unusually tall for a three-axis router and is there for patterns and deep composite parts. The practical depth still depends on the length of the cutter and holder you can run.
03
Not as standard. The standard list covers the 12 HP (8.9 kW) spindle, the fixed solid aluminum table with moving gantry, the Z axis, laser compensated axis alignment, control nesting, the servo drives and the SuperControl. An at-the-head automatic tool changer and a 10 position rotary tool changer are available options.
04
The number of axes. Thermwood says the Model 65 is a five-axis CNC router while the Model 63 is a three-axis router, and that both share a similar large bed, moving bridge and stationary table design. Table sizes, the standard spindle and the 24 in (610 mm) Z axis are listed the same on both.
05
The standard spindle is a 12 HP (8.9 kW) HSD unit running 3,000-24,000 RPM. An 18 HP (13.4 kW) HSD spindle is an available option, and a 2nd head spindle can be added. An electric drill is also on the options list.
