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CNC Plasma Cutting Tables
CNC Plasma Tables for R&D, Prototyping & Product Development
Every prototype you send to a cutting service costs you a quote cycle, a minimum-order charge, and a five-day wait — and then the design changes. An Arclight CNC plasma table ends the rental arrangement: export the DXF, load a sheet, and hold the cut part the same hour. The bracket you revise in Tuesday morning’s design review gets tested Tuesday afternoon.
Arclight Dynamics builds CNC plasma tables for prototyping labs, product-development teams, and university research shops — professional machines with published pricing from $13,495, sized to fit a lab bay and simple enough that engineers, not machinists, run them.
Trusted By
Built for Teams That Iterate Daily
- DXF in, part out — no quote cycle, no minimum order, no drawings leaving the building
- Lifetime US-based support that follows the table through every staff change and grant cycle
- 3-year motion warranty and a 30-day guarantee
- Digital torch height control (DTHC) standard for consistent, repeatable edges
What R&D Teams Cut on an Arclight
Flat metal is where most prototypes start. These are the parts development teams pull off the table between design reviews:
- One-off prototype brackets, gussets, and mounting plates — revised and re-cut the same day the design changes.
- Test fixtures, jigs, and weld positioning tools for the lab bench.
- Enclosure blanks and chassis panels cut flat, then bent on a brake.
- Motor, sensor, and actuator mounting plates for test rigs.
- Weldment blanks for structural test articles and proof-of-concept frames.
- Tube and frame prototypes with the rotary tube cutter add-on — one machine covers plate and tube.
Router and engraver attachments extend the same gantry further, so a single footprint covers more of the build lab’s work.
The Right Plasma Table for an R&D Lab
Match the table to the lab, not the loading dock. Compact footprints run on shop power, and every model carries DTHC standard and the 3-year motion warranty.
From $13,495. The lab workhorse. 4×4 and 5×5 footprints fit a standard lab bay, and the ARCCNC control takes DXF exports directly — engineers run it without a machinist on staff.
From $23,395. For CAD-heavy teams. Integrated FlashCut CAD/CAM handles design, nesting, and cutting in one program, closing the loop from model to metal.
From $127,000. The Arc Max X HD CNC Plasma Table, built for funded heavy-research programs. Hypertherm XPR170 or XPR300 power delivers thick-plate capacity and production-grade edge quality.
Compare Them Side by Side
For a lab, the rows that decide it are who each machine is built for, which control software your engineers will live in day to day, and what each price actually includes.
Identical across the two Arc Pro V3 columns: the same four footprints (4×4, 5×5, 4×8, 5×10) and the same table-and-controller pricing with the plasma power source quoted separately. The Arc Max X HD price already includes its Hypertherm power source and gas console, so read that column against the others carefully. Prices shown are starting prices. Get a quote and we’ll spec the right one against your actual work.
Why R&D Teams Choose Arclight
Iteration speed is the whole argument. A service bureau quotes flat parts in days — typically five or more — and charges minimums that make one-offs absurd. A table in the lab turns that loop into minutes and keeps your drawings in the building, which matters when the part itself is the IP. Design, cut, test, revise — all before an outside vendor would have confirmed the order.
Arclight is also honest about what plasma is: expect roughly ±0.015–0.020 in. on cut parts — bracket, fixture, and enclosure territory, not a substitute for machined tolerances. For most prototype metalwork, that’s exactly the accuracy you need at a fraction of laser or waterjet cost. And procurement gets published pricing, a 3-year motion warranty, and a US support story that survives risk review.
Worth knowing: tables arrive 98% assembled, most labs are cutting the day of delivery, and a $500 deposit reserves your build slot. Teaching as well as researching? See our Education page — and watch for our plasma vs. laser vs. fiber comparison guide.
Proof Over Promises
Arclight tables run in R&D labs, prototype shops, and university engineering programs across the country — cutting test fixtures, brackets, and one-off plate parts every day of the week. We’d rather show you a cut than tell you a story: send us a DXF of a real part from your lab and we’ll walk through exactly how it would run, from material and pierce count to cut time and edge quality. And once the table is yours, lifetime US-based support, same-day parts, and a real person on the phone keep it cutting long after the grant cycle that bought it.
Support That Outlasts the Project
Lab equipment outlives the people who bought it. Arclight’s lifetime US-based support follows the table itself — through staff turnover, grant cycles, and building moves — with same-day parts shipping, a 3-year motion warranty, and a 30-day guarantee. When a new researcher calls with a question the original buyer never asked, we answer it.
R&D & Prototyping Plasma Table FAQ
How accurate is a CNC plasma table — is it good enough for prototypes?
A well-tuned CNC plasma table holds roughly ±0.015–0.020 inches on cut parts. That covers brackets, fixtures, enclosures, and weldment blanks — the bulk of prototype metalwork — but it is not a substitute for machining tolerances. Design holes for post-drilling or reaming wherever a precision fit matters.
Plasma vs laser vs waterjet for an R&D shop — which one?
Plasma delivers the lowest cost per part and the widest steel thickness range, making it the practical first machine for most labs. Fiber laser earns its premium on thin material and finer tolerances; waterjet covers exotics and zero-heat cutting. Many teams start with plasma and add processes as programs demand.
How fast can we go from a CAD file to a cut part?
Minutes. Export a DXF from any CAD package, import it into the table’s software, nest it on the sheet, and cut. A simple bracket goes from file to finished part in well under an hour — compare that with a service bureau’s quote cycle and five-day standard lead time.
What materials and thicknesses can a plasma table cut for prototyping?
Plasma cuts any electrically conductive metal, so mild steel, stainless, and aluminum are all routine. Thickness capacity depends on the power source — entry professional systems handle up to roughly one-inch mild steel, with less in stainless and aluminum. For typical prototype gauges and plate, any Arclight configuration has headroom.
Will a plasma table hold repeatability across design iterations?
Yes. The same program cuts the same part every time, and digital torch height control (DTHC) — standard on every Arclight table — maintains a consistent arc gap so edge quality doesn’t drift between runs. Revision B differs from revision A only where you changed the drawing, not where the machine wandered.
What software does it run — will it take our DXF exports?
Yes. Arc Pro Ultra V3 tables run the ARCCNC control, and Arc Pro Elite V3 tables include integrated FlashCut CAD/CAM for design, nesting, and cutting in one program. Both accept standard DXF files, so SolidWorks, Fusion 360, and Onshape exports drop straight into the cutting workflow.
What does a lab need to install a CNC plasma table?
Plan for four things: floor space (a 4×4 table fits a standard lab bay), electrical service matched to the plasma source — often single-phase 240V — clean, dry compressed air, and fume control via a water table or ducted downdraft. Arclight reviews all four with you before you order.
Do plasma-cut edges need post-processing before welding or bending?
Usually just minutes of cleanup. A properly tuned cut leaves light, easily removed dross and a slight edge bevel; a quick pass with a grinder or flap disc makes parts weld-ready. For bending, deburr the edges first. Stainless and aluminum may want a dedicated stainless brush before welding.
Stop Renting Your Prototypes
Every week your parts sit in a vendor’s queue is a week your program doesn’t move. Tell us what your team builds and we’ll spec the right table, footprint, and power for your lab — with published pricing your procurement office can act on.
Or contact sales direct
Rather talk it through? Send us a note and an Arclight rep will get back to you.
See how other shops use their tables at our Industries hub.