SCM Nova F 520 - Tersa 20" Jointer
- Price
- $ 14,375
Have questions or need help choosing a machine?
Call us at 260-637-0054 or email sales@oaktreesupply.com
Low stock as of 6.3.26*
Made in Italy. Ships from the United States.
A 20.5" dedicated jointer with 107‑1/8" of cast iron table, 8 HP, 3-phase, and a Tersa straight knife cutterhead. The Nova F 520 T is built for shops that joint continuously — furniture panels and wide solid stock — and need a machine that is always set up and dedicated to one function.
Requires 3-phase power (220V). Confirm service availability before ordering.
At a Glance
- 107‑1/8" of total table: 59‑7/8" infeed, 47‑1/4" outfeed, cast iron throughout. The longer bed provides better support and registration for furniture-length stock, reducing the tendency for long boards to tip or rock over the cutterhead. Moderately bowed material can be worked down through fewer passes than a shorter machine allows.
- Tersa straight knife cutterhead: 4 knives, 520mm × 35mm × 3mm. Centrifugal locking — no tools, no setting gauge. Knife changes in under two minutes. If a knife picks up a nick from grit or a hidden staple, slide it a few millimeters laterally in its holder to move the nick out of the cut path — under a minute, no knife change required.
- Parallelogram table system, 4 cams per table: Each table pivots on four eccentric cams, one per corner, keeping the table edge at consistent proximity to the cutterhead across the full depth range. Alignment is dialed in at each corner independently with a wrench. No shimming. Because accuracy is set by cam geometry rather than ground to the base, each table is an independent casting — removable, resurfaceable, and reinstallable on its own. Dovetail tables are ground as a matched set to the machine base and cannot be serviced that way.
- 5/16" (8mm) max depth of cut: Sufficient for aggressive stock removal on rough lumber.
- 0° to 45° fence tilt: Allows the jointer to produce beveled edges on stock.
- OSHA-compliant American spring guard: Spring-loaded, self-covering, automatically returns to the closed position after each pass. The European Smart Lifter guard is not standard on the Nova F 520 T — it is available on the L'Invincibile F 7 X.
- Forklift required for unloading: At 1,875 lbs, this machine cannot be hand-unloaded. A forklift with forks at least 56" long is required. Confirm equipment availability at your delivery location before ordering.
- Freight included; ships from U.S. warehouse
The Details
Most shops arrive at a machine like this one of two ways: they have hit the width ceiling on a 16" jointer and need real capacity for wide slabs, wide case sides, and glue-up panels that a narrower machine cannot touch, or they are setting up a first dedicated production shop and want to buy it right the first time. The Nova F 520 T is that machine — 8 HP, 3-phase, 20.5" of capacity, built to run continuously and sized for the work that smaller jointers turn away.
The 107‑1/8" total table is the other half of that equation. The longer bed provides better support and registration for furniture-length stock. Long boards have more surface in contact with the infeed table before they reach the cutterhead, which reduces the tendency to rock or tip mid-pass. Moderately bowed material can be worked down to flat in fewer passes than a shorter machine requires, and the extended reference surface makes each pass more effective.
The Tersa system uses centrifugal force to lock the knives automatically when the head spins up — no setting gauge, no torque wrench, no adjustment. To change a knife, you tap the wedge block to release it, slide the knife out, drop in a new one, and run the machine. Under two minutes for a full set. The knives are two-sided: when one edge dulls, flip the knife and use the other before replacing. Replacement knives are available in standard HSS for general hardwood and softwood work, and M42 cobalt for shops processing resinous species (pine, cedar, teak) or abrasive material where standard HSS dulls quickly.
Tersa has one practical field advantage specific to jointers. Edge jointing concentrates wear in a narrow band, and if a knife picks up a nick from hidden grit or a staple — which happens in any shop — you can slide that knife a few millimeters laterally in its holder to move the nick out of the cut path. The fix takes under a minute and lets you keep working without pulling the knife or accepting a line in the surface. This is not possible with carbide insert heads.
The parallelogram table system works differently than the dovetail-style tables found on budget machines. On a dovetail jointer, as you lower the infeed table for a deeper cut, the table slides away from the cutterhead — the gap between the table edge and the cutterhead increases with depth. On the Nova F 520 T, both tables pivot on parallel arms, moving in an arc that keeps the table edge at consistent proximity to the cutterhead across the full range of depth adjustment. The machine behaves consistently whether you are taking a light skim pass or an aggressive cut.
When alignment is needed, you adjust the four eccentric cams per table with a wrench, one per corner, independent of each other. No shimming the ways. Each table is also an independent casting. Because its accuracy is established by the cam geometry rather than being ground to the base, it can be removed and resurfaced on its own if ever needed. On a dovetail machine, the tables are ground as a matched set while mounted to the base and cannot be pulled off and serviced independently.
One installation detail worth planning for before delivery: the fence rides on a bar that extends behind the machine. When the fence is moved to the far end of its travel, that bar projects beyond the rear of the machine's footprint. Plan for adequate clearance behind the machine. Shops running a jointer and planer together typically pair them in a dedicated work cell where the floor layout accounts for the clearance requirements of both machines.
Also Consider
Prefer a carbide insert head? The SCM Nova F 520 X is the same machine fitted with SCM's Xylent cutterhead — 84 carbide inserts in three spiral rows, four cutting edges per insert. Carbide inserts outlast HSS knives significantly on abrasive and resinous species, and finer chip production keeps dust collection running more efficiently over long sessions. For high-volume shops processing rough or difficult stock continuously, Xylent is the stronger choice.
Need the Smart Lifter guard and powered table control? The SCM L'Invincibile F 7 X shares the same 20.5" jointing width but adds 3 HP, additional table length, a cast iron fence, an overhead control panel with powered infeed table adjustment and digital depth readout, an additional overturning fence for thin workpieces, and the Smart Lifter guard in place of the American spring guard. The F 7 X is stocked in the U.S. in the Xylent configuration only. A Tersa version can be special-ordered from Italy with a 4–6 month lead time.
Don't have a dedicated planer? A jointer flattens one face and one edge. It cannot thickness stock to a consistent dimension. If you don't have a standalone planer, the SCM Nova S 520 and the SCM Class S 630 are the natural pairings for this machine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this machine require 3-phase power?
Yes. The Nova F 520 T is a 3-phase only machine, 220V, 8 HP. There are no single-phase variants in the Nova standalone jointer lineup. Confirm 3-phase service availability, your panel's available amperage, and circuit capacity before ordering.
Tersa or Xylent — which is the better choice?
Tersa for cut quality. Xylent for production volume. Tersa's advantage is surface finish and field serviceability — if a knife picks up a nick from hidden grit or a staple, you can slide it a few millimeters laterally in its holder to move the nick out of the cut path without pulling the knife or stopping production. Knife changes take under two minutes with no setting required. For a shop doing fine furniture work where surface quality is the priority, Tersa is the stronger choice. For a high-volume shop processing abrasive or resinous species where carbide longevity matters more, look at the Nova F 520 X.
What knife alloy should I choose?
Four alloy options are available. CR chrome steel is the most economical — a practical choice for shops processing dirty or rough stock, as the softer alloy is less prone to chipping on grit or embedded debris. CR knives are also useful as a dedicated cleaning set: run them through dirty material first, then swap to a higher-grade alloy for finish jointing. HSS is the most popular option and handles the majority of softwood and open-grained hardwood work — pine, cedar, oak, walnut, cherry. For dense closed-cell hardwoods (maple, alder, birch, hickory, ash), M42 cobalt is the better choice: same alloy family as HSS but with additional cobalt content and a modified cutting angle that holds up better on tougher stock and is less prone to chipping. Tungsten carbide is the highest-performing option — nearly twice as dense and stiff as steel, with edge life that significantly outlasts any HSS alloy. It handles all hardwoods, exotic species, and stock with glue lines, but comes at a significant price premium over HSS and M42. For most shops, HSS or M42 covers the majority of work; carbide makes sense where exotic species or glue-line jointing are routine.
What dust collection do I need?
980 CFM minimum through a 120mm (4.7") port. A jointer produces significant shaving volume. A collection system that is marginal for this requirement will fill quickly and create accumulation inside the machine cabinet. Confirm your existing system meets this requirement, or plan for a dedicated collector before the machine arrives.
What clearance does the machine need?
The fence rides on a bar that extends behind the machine. When the fence is moved to the far end of its travel, that bar projects beyond the rear of the machine's footprint. Plan for adequate clearance behind the machine before finalizing the floor layout. Shops pairing this machine with a standalone planer typically position both in a dedicated work cell where the clearance requirements of each machine are accounted for together.
What if I need both a jointer and a planer?
A jointer flattens one face and one edge — it cannot thickness stock to a consistent dimension. If you are setting up a complete milling workflow, the SCM Nova S 520 and the SCM Class S 630 are the appropriate standalone planers to pair with this machine.
What is the warranty?
SCM warrants the machine against defects in workmanship and materials for one year from the date of customer acceptance. Belts, bearings, and common electrical components carry a six-month warranty. Wearable items and routine maintenance are not covered.
Is this eligible for a Section 179 tax deduction?
Yes. The Nova F 520 T qualifies as a capital equipment purchase under Section 179 of the U.S. tax code, which allows businesses to deduct the full purchase price of qualifying equipment in the year it is placed in service — rather than depreciating it over several years. For a machine at this price point, that deduction can meaningfully offset the net cost of purchase. The deduction limit and phase-out thresholds adjust annually, so the exact benefit depends on your total equipment purchases for the year and your tax situation. Consult your tax advisor on how Section 179 applies to your business. See how much you could save with our Section 179 calculator at oaktreesupply.com/pages/section-179.
Features
Tersa Straight Knife Cutterhead: 4 knives, 520mm × 35mm × 3mm. Centrifugal locking — no tools, no setting gauge required. Knife change under two minutes. Two-sided knives; flip to use both edges. Available in CR chrome steel, HSS, M42 cobalt, or tungsten carbide.
Cast Iron Tables, Ribbed: Aged cast iron, ribbed for rigidity. 59‑7/8" infeed and 47‑1/4" outfeed for 107‑1/8" of total working surface.
Parallelogram Table Movement, 4 Cams Per Table: Each table pivots on four eccentric cam points, one per corner, maintaining consistent table-edge-to-cutterhead proximity across the full depth range. Alignment is dialed in at each corner independently with a wrench. No shimming. Tables are independent castings, removable and serviceable individually.
Anodized Aluminum Fence, 47‑1/4" x 7‑1/2": Tilts from 0° (square) to 45° for beveled edge work on stock. Fence bar extends behind the machine at the far end of its travel — plan for adequate rear clearance before installation.
American Spring Guard, OSHA Compliant: Spring-loaded guard pivots away from the cutterhead as the workpiece passes and automatically returns to the closed position when released. The European Smart Lifter guard is not standard on the Nova F 520 T — it is available on the L'Invincibile F 7 X.
120mm Dust Port: 4.7" port. Minimum 980 CFM required. The machine produces significant shaving volume — confirm your collection system meets this requirement before delivery.
Specs
Motor: 8 HP, 3-phase, 220V
Total Table Length: 107‑1/8" (2,720mm)
Infeed Table Length: 59‑7/8" (1,520mm)
Outfeed Table Length: 47‑1/4" (1,200mm)
Table Width: 20‑1/2" (520mm)
Max Depth of Cut: 5/16" (8mm)
Cutterhead Type: Tersa — 4 straight knives
Knife Dimensions: 520mm × 35mm × 3mm
Knife Alloy Options: CR chrome steel, HSS, M42 cobalt, tungsten carbide
Cutterhead Diameter: 4.7" (120mm)
Cutterhead Speed: 5,000 RPM
Fence Dimensions: 47‑1/4" × 7‑1/2" (1,200 × 190mm)
Fence Tilt: 0° to 45°
Table Movement: Parallelogram — 4 eccentric cams per table
Dust Port Diameter: 120mm (4.7")
Dust Extraction Minimum: 980 CFM
Overall Dimensions: 107‑1/8" × 59‑1/16" (2,720mm × 1,500mm)
Net Weight: 1,875 lbs (850 kg)
Shipping Weight: 2,315 lbs
Warranty
SCM warrants every machine free of defects in workmanship and materials for one (1) year from the date of customer acceptance. Belts, bearings, and common electrical parts carry a six-month warranty. Wearable items and components requiring maintenance in ordinary operation are excluded.
Shipping
Please note: Items being shipped to extremely remote areas or areas with limited delivery access (such as islands only accessible by ferry) may incur additional shipping or freight fees. If your order requires any additional fees other than what is already included in the price, you will be contacted before those fees are applied and before your item ships. This is rare and will not apply to most orders.
*Machinery Availability Key
Availability statuses found above the product description reflect where a machine is in the supply chain at the time of listing. Use the key below to help determine the lead time for this machine.
In stock for immediate shipment: The machine is in OakTree Supply's warehouse and is ready to ship.
In stock as of [date] / Low stock as of [date]: The machine is in the manufacturer's U.S. warehouse and was available as of the last update we received. Estimated to ship in 3-5 business days. If low stock, please call us before ordering to confirm current availability.
Estimated to ship [date]: The machine is not yet in our warehouse or the manufacturer's warehouse. The date shown is an estimate based on current production and shipping timelines and may change due to manufacturing schedules, import processing, or freight transit.
Dates listed as "estimated" are not guaranteed and may change. OakTree Supply is not responsible for delays in transit to or from our facility.