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By the Arclight Dynamics team · Updated November 3, 2026 · 10 min read
Quick Answer: Which CNC Plasma Table Accessories Should You Plan For?
Plan for three kinds. Table accessories that add capability to the machine itself: a plate engraver ($1,900) for part numbers, bend lines and logos; a rotary pipe and tube cutter (from $1,750) for 1 to 8 inch pipe; a router kit (from $2,700) for wood, plastic and non-conductive materials; an auto tracer ($600) that turns a template into a DXF; and a dual torch mount or bevel cutting system. Finishing equipment for what happens after the cut: a grinder on a bench at minimum, or an ironworker, belt sander, tumbler or blast cabinet in a production shop. And consumables: nozzles, electrodes, swirl rings, shields and retaining caps on a shelf, plus Green Guard Rust Blocker for the water table. Most Arclight owners add at least one table accessory in the first year, so know what the table will accept before you buy. On FlashCut CNC tables the same program that cuts plate runs the engraver, router and tube cutter.
In This Guide
Why Think About Accessories Before You Buy the Table?
Because the table is a platform. The gantry that carries a plasma torch across a sheet can carry an engraving stylus, a router spindle or a tracing camera, and the controller that drives it can run a rotary axis for pipe. Arclight offers the widest range of accessories in the industry, and every one is built for Arclight tables only. Most owners add at least one within the first year, usually because a customer asks for something the shop could not do before.
Two things to settle up front. First, the controller: on FlashCut CNC tables (Arc Max X, Arc Max Unlimited, Arc Max Elite, Arc Pro Elite V3) one program runs the plasma, the engraver, the router and the tube cutter, so adding capability does not mean learning new software; ArcCNC tables run the same accessories with their own kits. Each accessory is sold as a kit matched to the controller on your table, which is why two prices appear below for the tube cutter and the router. Second, table size: a tube cutter’s working length equals the table’s X-axis travel, and a router needs a flat spoilboard the size of the work, so the size decision affects what the accessories can do.
What Accessories Can You Add to an Arclight CNC Plasma Table?
These mount on the table and add a process. Prices are current as of November 2026; FlashCut CNC versions are listed where they differ.
| Accessory | What it does | Who uses it | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plate engraver | Pneumatic marker that engraves serial numbers, logos, bend lines and drill points, then switches to plasma in the same program | Any shop that bends, welds or labels parts; the most popular accessory | $1,900 |
| Pipe and tube cutter | Rotary 3-axis attachment for 1 to 8 inch pipe and tube: copes for any branch angle, fish mouths, decorative cuts. 15-minute changeover | Automotive, off-road, exhaust, railing, structural | $1,750 ArcCNC $5,750 FlashCut CNC |
| Router kit | 2-1/4 HP variable-speed router, Z carriage and mount, dust hood, routing software; cuts wood, acrylic, plastic, foam, composites and low-density aluminum | Sign shops, cabinetry, furniture, prototyping | $2,700 ArcCNC (with VCarve Pro) $3,500 FlashCut CNC |
| Auto tracer | Camera that traces a physical template or hand-drawn shape and exports a DXF | Repair shops and anyone working from parts and cardboard templates instead of drawings | $600 |
| Dual torch upgrade | Mounts two torch heads at once so you switch between two cutting setups without a torch change; for Arc Max Elite and Arc Max Unlimited | Shops that change cutting setups during the day | $1,735 |
| Collision detection and bevel cutting system | Upgraded magnetic breakaway torch mount with a proximity sensor that detects impacts down to .031 inch, plus a platform for bevel cutting; fits torches from the Powermax45 to oxy-fuel (every table already includes standard collision detection) | Shops cutting weld-prep bevels or protecting a high-end torch | $750 |
Table accessories are exclusive to Arclight tables and are not compatible with other manufacturers' systems.
What Does a Plate Engraver Do on a CNC Plasma Table?
It marks the part before the torch cuts it, in the same program and the same setup. The pneumatic stylus engraves part numbers, serial numbers, company logos, bend lines and drill-point locations, then the controller switches to the plasma torch and cuts the part out. For a shop that bends parts after cutting, the bend line alone pays for the engraver: the brake operator stops measuring. For a shop making metal art, it is how you sign your work. The engraver works on both Arc Pro and Arc Max tables and is the most popular accessory Arclight sells.
When Does a Pipe and Tube Cutter Make Sense?
When you cut round pipe or tube that has to fit something else: copes for branch angles, fish mouths for clean joints, and decorative cuts in round stock. The rotary attachment turns the table into a 3-axis tube cutter in about 15 minutes, handles 1 to 8 inch diameter in mild steel, stainless, aluminum, brass and copper, and its working length equals the table’s X travel, with indexing for longer pieces. Roll cages, exhaust, railing, handrail, trailer and structural work are the typical reasons owners add it. The full guide to cutting pipe and tube on a CNC plasma table covers capacity and setup.
Can a CNC Plasma Table Also Route Wood and Plastic?
Yes, with the router kit. A 2-1/4 HP variable-speed router mounts on its own Z carriage in place of the torch, with heavy support bars and a dust hood with a 3-inch port. It cuts wood, acrylic, plastic, foam, composites, phenolic and low-density aluminum, which is how a sign shop makes the backer and the letters on one machine, and how a fabricator prototypes in MDF before cutting steel. You supply the sacrificial cutting surface. The ArcCNC kit ships with VCarve Pro, the design software for routing, carving and sign work ($725 on its own).
The auto tracer solves a different problem: the customer who shows up with a worn part or a cardboard template and no drawing. The camera traces the outline with the accuracy of a microscope and exports a DXF you clean up in CAD. It will not replace drawing a simple bracket from measurements, but for complex curves it saves hours of plotting.
What Finishing Equipment Do Plasma-Cut Parts Need?
Almost every plasma-cut part gets some secondary work: dross knocked off, edges deburred, surfaces cleaned, holes finished, bends made. Plan the space and the budget for it alongside the table. In a small shop that is a wire cup and a flap disc on an angle grinder. As volume grows, it becomes machines:
- Ironworker for punching, shearing and notching the parts the table cuts, and for the angle and flat bar the table does not. Arclight sells the Piranha ironworker line, and a plasma table and ironworker bundle qualifies for custom bundle pricing.
- Belt sander such as the EZ Sander widebelt ($20,507) for deburring and surface finishing flat parts.
- Parts tumbler ($3,750) for deburring small parts in batches with no labor.
- Tumble blast cabinet ($3,995 list, on sale at $3,495 as of November 2026) for cleaning and surface prep before paint or powder.
None of this is required on day one. Add it as the volume of parts coming off the table justifies it.
Which Consumables Should You Keep on the Shelf?
Nozzles, electrodes, swirl rings, shields and retaining caps are wear parts for the Hypertherm® torch, and the day one runs out is the day the table stops. Keep a set of each on the shelf. Arclight ships in-stock parts the same day, so a worn consumable never costs you a day of cutting, but the shelf is still faster than the truck.
The other consumable is for the water table. Green Guard Rust Blocker ($198) goes in the pan to keep the slats, the pan and your cut parts from rusting, and it is the most-reordered item in the Arclight store. Add air filter and desiccant elements for the dryer, and you have the full list.
Budget guide: a complete first-year setup
Table and plasma cutter · air compressor, dryer and filtration · a dedicated earth ground and the electrical work · a grinder, wire cup and flap discs · a starter set of consumables and Green Guard · then the first accessory, often the $1,900 plate engraver or the pipe and tube cutter. Ask for the accessories on your quote so the whole system is priced and financed together.
CNC Plasma Table Accessories: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most popular CNC plasma table accessory?
The plate engraver. It marks part numbers, logos, bend lines and drill points, then the same program switches to the plasma torch and cuts the part. It is $1,900 and works on both Arc Pro and Arc Max tables.
Can a CNC plasma table cut pipe?
Yes, with the rotary pipe and tube cutter attachment. It handles 1 to 8 inch pipe and tube in mild steel, stainless, aluminum, brass and copper, with a 15-minute changeover. It is $1,750 for ArcCNC tables and $5,750 for FlashCut CNC tables.
Can I put a router on a plasma table?
Yes. The router kit mounts a 2-1/4 HP variable-speed router on its own Z carriage and cuts wood, acrylic, plastic, foam, composites and low-density aluminum. It is $2,700 with VCarve Pro for ArcCNC tables and $3,500 for FlashCut CNC tables.
Do Arclight accessories work on other brands of plasma table?
No. Arclight accessories are built for Arclight CNC systems only and are not compatible with other manufacturers’ tables.
Do I need new software to run accessories?
No. On FlashCut CNC tables the same program drives the engraver, router and tube cutter. On ArcCNC tables the accessory kits include the software they need, such as VCarve Pro with the router kit.
What consumables does a CNC plasma table use?
Nozzles, electrodes, swirl rings, shields and retaining caps for the Hypertherm torch, plus Green Guard Rust Blocker for the water table and filter elements for the air dryer. Arclight ships in-stock parts the same day.
Keep Researching
- Choosing a CNC Plasma Table: The Complete Buyer’s Guide. Accessories are part of decision eight.
- Can a CNC Plasma Table Cut Pipe and Tube?. The tube cutter in depth.
- What Is FlashCut CNC, and Why Do Fabricators Choose It?. The program that runs the accessories.
- How Much Shop Space Does a CNC Plasma Table Need?. Where the finishing tools go.
- CNC Plasma Cutting Tips: How to Get the Best Cut Quality. Consumables and cut quality.
- The Benefits of Owning a CNC Plasma Cutting Table. What a table does for the shop’s margins.
Quote the Table and the Accessories Together.
Tell us what you cut and what you want to add. We’ll quote the table, plasma cutter, engraver, tube cutter or router kit as one system, with financing available on the whole package and lifetime support behind all of it.
Lifetime tech support that follows the table · 30-day satisfaction guarantee · $500 locks in your price and your build slot