Why is Victory different from other vendors in the market?
Victory uses only industrial quality AC Servo Drives in the manufacturing of our CNC Plasma and flame cutting equipment. We do not use stepper motors or other ‘hobby shop’ grade products in our systems. We supply complete systems ready to produce with all the ‘extras’ our competitors consider options: automatic torch height control with initial height sensing, automatic torch collision protection, helical planetary drive gear boxes, pneumatic pre-tensioning and emergency stop switches located where emergency stop switches should be.
Can Victory CNC Systems be used for routing?
Industrial routing is a process that can require a heavy machine and servo drives. While our tables are heavy enough to be used with routing processes, we do not support routing on our systems as we focus solely on plasma cutting. Multi-use machines generally do not do any one thing well.
Is it difficult to import my drawings into Victory cutting software?
Not at all! Victory utilizes Hypertherm ProNest© software for its CAM processing. ProNest© is one of the largest and most trusted software in the industry for CAM processing. ProNest© has a built in CAD software that allows for input of DXF and DWG files but also JWW Drawing files. The DXF file is available with almost all CAD and art creation programs. DXF is the universal drawing exchange format. Our software allows you to optimize DXF files for CNC cutting, create arrays and to scale the size of the object to be cut.
Where do I get a DXF drawing to start with?
Our package includes an exceptionally good CAD program that allows you to create drawings from the start, edit drawings or exchange drawings with your customers. Our CAD is completely interchangeable with the world’s leading CAD program, AutoCAD. While simple to learn and use, it is a robust feature-laden CAD program.
Can I use drawings sent to me by my customers?
Yes! You will be able to open, view, edit and convert all DXF, DWG and JWW drawings.
Can Victory systems use an oxy-fuel torch?
Yes, there is a program included in our standard software that operates an oxy-fuel torch. There are a number of gases that can be used with oxygen to cut really thick material. Our tables are designed to support a full sheet of 2” plate in whatever size the table is. We can strengthen your table to support additional plate thickness, on request. Some thicknesses require a small, inexpensive change like additional load bearing pads and some will require additional expense for this support.
Can the Victory system use my present plasma cutter with its hand torch?
No. Hand held torches are made to be “hand held,” although some vendors do try to use them in their smaller units. Our machines are industrial grade, professional tables and require a plasma cutter with a machine torch. The machine torches are made for cleaner and much more precision cutting. Plasma cutters made for automated systems have several other necessary features as in addition to a machine torch.
What is Homing?
Homing is the process that the machine goes through to ensure the gantry is square to the rails and allows the CNC to know where the torch is located on the table. This process is also required to restart a program correctly after the machine encounters a torch collision or a power outage.
What do I do if the torch goes out during a long complicated cut?
Don’t fret, although with some other systems you’re in big trouble! With the Victory, simply resolve the issue that stopped the machine like a torch collision or emergency stop, home the machine and “Resume Last Part” from the Files area of your CNC.
What happens if the electricity goes out during a long complicated cut?
Don’t worry! The Victory is an industrial unit and will know exactly where it ended cutting when power is restored. Pat it on the back and tell it to go again. The boss will never have to know it was your coffee pot that kicked the circuit!
Do I need to know how G-code works to use the Victory?
Not at all, the CAM Software we supply does all the G-Code work. You will pick up a lot of knowledge about G-Code after you operate the machine a while. It is a good thing to know and understand but certainly not necessary to manually create.
What is Plasma Arc Transfer and why is it so important?
This is what keeps your cutting program from pretending to cut when it’s not, e.g., if the arc fails to start or after the plasma has gone out. Many hobby system vendors claiming to sell industrial quality systems will tell you this is not necessary. It isn’t if your operator has the time to sit by the machine and watch it’s every move and to stop the motion manually when a torch fails to start, a tip burns out or when cutting small pieces and material tips up. At Victory and with all other professional industrial-grade systems we believe this should be automatic. The operator can do other things while the machine is cutting and be assured that it will stop all motion if the plasma goes out. This abrupt, complete stop is what allows an accurate and simple restart after the problem has been corrected.
Why does the Victory system use the expensive planetary gearboxes instead of the cheaper timing belts?
Years ago, we built 38 so-called “industrial tables” for a leading marketer of hobby systems trying to cross over. Although the model we built was the top of their line, they insisted on using the tiny static mounted spur gears and rubber belts supplied and used on their entire line of hobby units. This decision proved a major detriment to the accuracy and reliability of what might have been a decent unit. Static drives and rubber belts are the equivalent of installing a Ford Pinto drive train under your lifted F-250 hunting truck. It might get you to the general area a few times but it won’t get you to the woods where the big bucks are. We knew better when we developed the Victory system. Any industrial grade table will have planetary gearboxes.
Why plasma and not water jet or laser?
The cost of a water jet or laser cut per inch of thickness cut is very expensive when compared to plasma. Plasma is hands down the fastest and most economical way to cut ferrous and non-ferrous metals. Plasma is very practical and accurate enough for most of America’s shape cutting needs.
What about the cost to cut?
The general rule of thumb is water jet cutting cost three times as much as plasma. A laser costs eight times as much as plasma. When you are doing the math you may need both hands and feet to tally the full cost! That’s also times the cost to acquire, times the cost to operate, times the cost to maintain. Then you’ll need another hand so you can subtract the lost cutting speed. Water jet and laser are slower than a ‘kid waiting on Christmas’ if you are cutting any thickness.
I need to cut some stainless and aluminum. Can I do it with a plasma cutter?
Any ferrous or nonferrous metal can be cut well with plasma. While standard plasma will do the job, high definition plasma will do a better job. We offer the entire Hypertherm line of products including the High Definition HPR and the Xdefinition XPR that offers an option for water secondary and fuel gas for use with aluminum and stainless.
I’ve heard something about high-definition plasma. What is that all about?
High-definition plasma cutters, especially the XPR series, are a game-changer. Standard-def plasma leaves a 3-to-5-degree bevel from top to bottom in a cut and some slag on the bottom side of the cut. High-def leaves a 1-to-3-degree bevel and is virtually slag free up to 1” material when cutting carbon steel. High-def also virtually eliminates cleanup, which translates to more money in your pocket very quickly.
Why do I need a water table?
Water tables are excellent at capturing smoke and dust and for absorbing heat when cutting. Water tables raise and lower the level using compressed air and are infinitely adjustable.
We typically sell more water tables than downdraft, but our downdrafts are equally well-engineered. Longer downdraft systems have phased openings so that only a small area of the table is open and drafting at one time, rather than trying to pull from the entire cut bed.
Does the water move? Where does the water go in a Victory table? Why is the water table so deep? Is that green stuff I see in the pictures antifreeze?
The water does move from a completely dry cutting bed to a cutting level just under the material or just over the material as desired. It only takes a few CFM of shop air to move the water from the bottom storage chamber to completely cover the material on the table.
That takes care of the first three questions, now for the third: it isn’t antifreeze, although it does lower the freezing temperature some. It’s 3% additives designed for eliminating bacteria and rust and 97% tap water. Table additives eliminate rust inside the table, on the raw cutting slats and on the material to be cut. A new sheet of material can be left on the table all weekend with the mixture over it, under it or anywhere in between and there will be no rust. There is no odor with table additives.
Why would I want a multi-water level cutting bed?
The bottom of the cutting bed is only 6” below the material to be cut, so all the small parts cut will stop there if they fall through the slats. It is really nice to lift them out of a dry area and not have to “fish” for them as you do on some competitors’ water tables. In addition, when cutting aluminum the water level should be at least 2” below the bottom of the material to allow for the escape of hydrogen.
Why are the Victory cutting slats short and installed in a herringbone pattern?
We use short slats (never over 36” of standard 4” x 3/16” flat bar) for cutting slats and install them in the herringbone pattern to make them last longer. When they are short, they are easy to pull out and invert to use the other edge or to exchange with other less used slats on another part of the table. The slats installed from the left hand end of the operator side and along that side get the most cutting time and wear out the fastest. The angled installation helps reduce the chance of a long straight cut right down the top of a slat. We get over a year’s use of our slats by reversing and exchanging them. There are slat holders every three inches, so the additional slats can be added or slats can be moved closer together if cutting a lot of small parts. When cutting a lot of large parts the slats can be farther apart. The 6” on center slats that a Victory is supplied with seem to meet the majority of uses.