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By the Arclight Dynamics team · Updated November 3, 2026 · 9 min read
Quick Answer: What Software Does a CNC Plasma Table Need?
A CNC plasma table needs three kinds of software: CAD to draw the part, CAM to turn that drawing into a toolpath and nest it on the sheet, and CNC control software to run the table and the torch. On some tables you buy and set up those three separately. On an Arclight table all three ship fully licensed and pre-installed on the computer that comes with the table, with no subscription. The Arc Max X, Arc Max Unlimited, Arc Max Elite and Arc Pro Elite V3 run FlashCut CNC, which puts CAD, CAM and CNC control in one program. The Arc Max Ultra and Arc Pro Ultra V3 run SheetCAM, Inkscape and QCAD with Arclight’s ArcCNC controller.
In This Guide
What Do CAD, CAM and CNC Software Do on a Plasma Table?
Every part that comes off a CNC plasma table goes through the same three steps, whatever brand of table it is.
CAD (computer-aided design) is where you draw the part: a bracket, a gusset, a sign, a flange. Draw it from scratch, trace it from an image, or import a file someone else drew. The output is a vector drawing, usually a DXF file.
CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) turns that drawing into instructions the table can follow. It decides where the torch pierces, where it leads in and out, which cuts happen first (inside features before the outside profile), and how parts nest on the sheet so you waste as little plate as possible. The output is a toolpath, usually G-code.
CNC control software runs the table. It reads the toolpath, drives the motors, fires the plasma cutter, and works with the torch height control to hold the torch at the right height over warped or uneven plate. It’s also the screen your operator uses every day: load the job, set the start point, run it, pause, back up and re-cut if something goes wrong.
| Software layer | What it does | Typical output | On an Arclight table |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAD | Draw or import the part | DXF drawing | Inkscape and QCAD (ArcCNC tables) · FlashCut CAD (FlashCut CNC tables) |
| CAM | Pierce points, lead-ins, cut order, nesting | G-code toolpath | SheetCAM (ArcCNC tables) · FlashCut CAM with true-shape nesting (FlashCut CNC tables) |
| CNC control | Runs the motors, torch and torch height control | The cut part | ArcCNC (Ultra tables) · FlashCut CNC (Elite, Unlimited, Arc Max X) |
So the real question for a buyer isn’t whether a table “has software.” It’s whether all three layers come in the price, whether they’re licensed to you or rented, and how many separate programs your operator has to learn.
What Software Comes With an Arclight CNC Plasma Table?
Every Arclight CNC plasma table ships with CAD, CAM and CNC software fully licensed and pre-installed on the system computer. The control station (computer, monitor and software) arrives with the table, ready to cut, and you never pay a subscription to keep it running. Which package you get depends on the table line.
| Arclight table | Control software | CAD / CAM | Nesting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arc Max X | FlashCut CNC | FlashCut CAD/CAM (integrated) | True-shape nesting included |
| Arc Max Unlimited | FlashCut CNC | FlashCut CAD/CAM (integrated) | True-shape nesting included |
| Arc Max Elite | FlashCut CNC | FlashCut CAD/CAM (integrated) | True-shape nesting included |
| Arc Max Ultra | ArcCNC | Inkscape, QCAD + SheetCAM | SheetCAM layout; ProNest LT optional |
| Arc Pro Elite V3 | FlashCut CNC | FlashCut CAD/CAM (integrated) | True-shape nesting included |
| Arc Pro Ultra V3 | ArcCNC | Inkscape, QCAD + SheetCAM | SheetCAM layout; ProNest LT optional |
All software fully licensed and pre-installed on the system computer, with no subscription.
Every table comes with complimentary training: a half-day, one-on-one session at the factory in Bend or a training session by video call, plus a video library you can start on before the table arrives. The Arc Max X price includes onsite installation and training. Most owners start cutting the first day and know the system within about two weeks. After that, Arclight Lifetime Support covers the software as well as the hardware: call, and you talk to someone who knows your table.
ArcCNC vs FlashCut CNC: Which Plasma Table Control Software Fits Your Shop?
Both are fully licensed, pre-installed and supported for the life of the table, with no subscription. The difference is how the work is split up and how much production capability is built in.
ArcCNC: Arclight's controller for the Ultra tables
ArcCNC is Arclight’s own controller, built for the Arc Max Ultra and Arc Pro Ultra V3. It runs on a 64-bit Linux computer, communicates over Ethernet, and comes preloaded with Hypertherm® cut charts. You draw in Inkscape or QCAD, build the toolpath in SheetCAM, and cut in ArcCNC. The control screen is built around what saves plate on a real shop floor: easy error recovery, fast-forward and rewind along the cut path, a quick jump to any point, a lead-in you can add to resume a cut, a plate-skew setting instead of squaring the sheet, and a dry run of the path with the laser pointer. For a deeper side-by-side, see ArcCNC vs FlashCut CNC.
FlashCut CNC: CAD, CAM and control in one program
FlashCut CNC puts CAD, CAM and CNC control in one program. You draw, nest and cut in the same software, so your operator learns one interface and there’s one less file hand-off where a job can go wrong. FlashCut CNC has run production plasma equipment for decades, and on Arclight’s Arc Max X, Arc Max Unlimited, Arc Max Elite and Arc Pro Elite V3 it brings:
- Automated CAM with true-shape nesting and smart placement of lead-ins and lead-outs
- A cut wizard that sets torch height control parameters from material, thickness and consumables
- Integrated Stingray® torch height control with automatic kerf-crossing detection, so the torch doesn’t dive when it crosses a cut it already made
- Smart 360™ hole cutting for truer holes, even with air plasma
- Work-piece alignment to cut set-up time and wasted material
On the Arc Max X, the same software runs the Hypertherm XPR170 or XPR300 for HD cutting. For the full walk-through, see What Is FlashCut CNC?
| ArcCNC | FlashCut CNC | |
|---|---|---|
| Tables | Arc Pro Ultra V3 · Arc Max Ultra | Arc Pro Elite V3 · Arc Max Elite · Arc Max Unlimited · Arc Max X |
| Programs | Three: Inkscape/QCAD → SheetCAM → ArcCNC | One: CAD, CAM and CNC integrated |
| Nesting | SheetCAM layout; ProNest LT available | True-shape nesting built in |
| Torch height control | Arclight DTHC with dynamic voltage sampling | Stingray® THC with cut wizard and kerf-crossing detection |
| Best fit | First tables, sign and art work, small to medium shops | Production shops, multi-part nests, shops adding accessories |
| Subscription | None | None |
Pick the table for your work first (size, thickness and duty), and the control software follows. If you already know you’ll be nesting full sheets of parts every day, that’s a strong reason to look at a FlashCut CNC table.
Can You Use Fusion 360, AutoCAD or Illustrator With a CNC Plasma Table?
Yes. You keep the design software you already know. Draw in Fusion 360, AutoCAD, SolidWorks, MasterCAM, CorelDRAW, Adobe Illustrator or ProNest, export the part as a DXF, and bring it into SheetCAM or FlashCut CNC to build the toolpath. Plenty of shops work exactly that way: engineering drawings come from SolidWorks or AutoCAD, sign and art work comes from Illustrator or CorelDRAW, and the plasma software handles the cutting side.
| File type | What it is | ArcCNC tables | FlashCut CNC tables |
|---|---|---|---|
| DXF | Standard 2D drawing exchange format from almost any CAD program | Yes | Yes: import and export |
| DWG | Native AutoCAD drawing | Export as DXF from your CAD program | Yes: import |
| Images | Photos, logos and scanned artwork | Trace to vectors in Inkscape first | Yes: color, silhouette and centerline image import |
The rule of thumb: send the plasma software a clean, closed vector drawing. Most cut problems that look like a software issue turn out to be an open contour or a duplicate line in the original drawing.
What Add-On CNC Plasma Table Software Is Worth Buying?
You don’t need any of these to start cutting. They’re worth a look once you know what kind of work fills your week. Prices are Arclight’s list prices when added at purchase.
| Software | What it does | Who needs it | Price at purchase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hypertherm ProNest LT | Automatic true-shape nesting and shape library | Shops cutting many parts per sheet | $2,923 |
| Design2Fab | HVAC duct and fitting layouts, ready to cut | HVAC and sheet-metal shops | $3,230 |
| VCarve Pro | CAD/CAM for the router attachment (wood, plastic, aluminum) | Shops adding the router | $725 |
| FlashCut CNC Premium Upgrade | Upgrade package for an existing FlashCut CNC system | Shops already running FlashCut CNC | $2,995 |
List prices as of November 2026 when added with a table. Ask about PipeFit Pro for pipe and tube work on your quote.
None of these is required to cut. Add one when your work calls for it. The software that runs your table is fully licensed either way.
Does CNC Plasma Table Software Require a Subscription?
Not on an Arclight table. Ask this of every table you shortlist: if I stop paying, does the table stop cutting? Some manufacturers put their cutting or CAM software on an annual plan, so the seat you paid for on day one turns into a bill that never ends.
The CAD, CAM and CNC software on an Arclight table is licensed to you, installed on the computer that ships with the table, and yours to run for as long as you own it. There is nothing to renew. When you compare quotes, add up what each table’s software will cost over five years, not only what it costs on day one. Full table pricing is in our CNC plasma table cost guide.
How Do You Go From a Drawing to Your First Cut on a CNC Plasma Table?
Your software is already installed and licensed when the table arrives, so a first job comes down to the steps below. Tables ship 98% assembled, and most owners are cutting within about two hours of delivery.
- Draw or import the part. Draw a simple bracket in QCAD or FlashCut CAD, or import a DXF from the CAD program you already use. Check that every outline is a closed shape.
- Build the toolpath. In SheetCAM or FlashCut CAM, choose the material and thickness, let the software place pierce points and lead-ins, cut inside features before the outside profile, and nest the parts on the sheet.
- Load the cut settings. Both control packages start from preloaded cut settings for mild steel, stainless and aluminum. Match the consumables in the torch to the amperage you selected.
- Set up the plate. Load the sheet, set the start point, and use plate-skew or work-piece alignment if the sheet isn’t square to the table.
- Dry run, then cut. Run the path with the torch off to confirm it stays on the plate, then cut. Torch height control holds height over warped plate automatically.
- Adjust and save. If the edge needs work, adjust speed or cut height, re-cut a test part, and save the settings so the next job starts dialed in. Our CNC plasma cutting tips cover what to change first.
If any step stalls, call. Arclight’s support team covers software as well as hardware, for the life of the table. When you’re ready to pick a package, start a quick quote.
Which CNC Plasma Table Software Is Best for Beginners?
The best beginner software has the fewest moving parts between drawing and cut, and someone on the phone who knows it when you get stuck.
For a first table cutting signs, art, brackets and light fabrication, the Arc Pro Ultra V3 with ArcCNC and SheetCAM is an easy place to start. Each program does one job, SheetCAM is widely used in the plasma world so tutorials are easy to find, and ArcCNC’s rewind and re-cut controls forgive first-week mistakes without scrapping the sheet.
If you’d rather learn one program than three, or you expect to grow into production nesting and accessories, start on a FlashCut CNC table such as the Arc Pro Elite V3. You learn one interface once, and it scales from your first part to full-sheet production. If you’re still deciding, our small-shop buying guide matches tables to the work.
Either way, you’re not learning alone. Every Arclight table comes with complimentary training, a video library you can start on before delivery, and lifetime tech support that follows the table.
Already own a table with an older controller? Arclight sells controller retrofits too: ArcCNC for $4,999, or FlashCut CNC for $7,500 (Compact) or $12,995 (Pro-Series).
CNC Plasma Table Software: Frequently Asked Questions
Is FlashCut CNC software free with an Arclight table?
Yes. FlashCut CNC comes standard, fully licensed and pre-installed on the Arc Max X, Arc Max Unlimited, Arc Max Elite and Arc Pro Elite V3, with no subscription. Shops already running FlashCut CNC can add the FlashCut CNC Premium Upgrade for $2,995.
Can I use Fusion 360 with a CNC plasma table?
Yes. Design the part in Fusion 360, export it as a DXF, and import it into SheetCAM or FlashCut CNC to build the toolpath and nest it. The same works for AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Illustrator and CorelDRAW.
Do I need to learn G-code to run a CNC plasma table?
No. The CAM software writes the G-code for you, and the control software runs it. G-code is worth understanding once you’re comfortable, but you can cut your first parts without writing a line.
What file types can a CNC plasma table cut from?
DXF is the standard and works on every Arclight table. FlashCut CNC also imports AutoCAD DWG files, exports DXF, and converts color, silhouette or centerline images into cut paths.
Do Arclight CNC plasma tables require a software subscription?
No. The CAD, CAM and CNC software that runs an Arclight table is licensed to you and pre-installed on the system computer, with nothing to renew. Optional add-ons such as ProNest LT and Design2Fab are priced separately.
Do I need ProNest for a CNC plasma table?
Not to start. SheetCAM and FlashCut CNC both lay out parts on the sheet, and FlashCut CNC includes true-shape nesting. ProNest LT earns its place in shops that cut many different parts per sheet every day and want maximum material yield.
Keep Researching
- Choosing a CNC Plasma Table: The Complete Buyer’s Guide: the deep spec reference on sizes, thickness, controllers, air and power
- How Much Does a CNC Plasma Table Cost?: 2026 prices for every series and what else to budget for
- What Is the Best CNC Plasma Table for a Small Shop?: which table fits your shop, sheet and power
- What Plasma Cutter Do You Need for a CNC Table?: match Hypertherm amperage to the plate you cut
- ArcCNC vs FlashCut CNC: Which Control System Should You Choose?: the two control systems side by side
- What Is FlashCut CNC?: the integrated CAD/CAM/CNC package on Arc Max X, Unlimited and Elite tables
- CNC plasma table software and upgrades: ProNest LT, Design2Fab, VCarve Pro and controller retrofits
Get a Quote With the Right Software for Your Work
Tell us what you cut and how many parts a day. We’ll quote the table, control software and add-ons that fit, all fully licensed with no subscription and supported for the life of the table.
Lifetime tech support that follows the table · 30-day satisfaction guarantee · $500 locks in your price and your build slot