Aiming вЂhigh' What may be viewed as unexpected, however, was Keller's decision to purchase a precision 'high density' plasma system. The cutting torch on Keller & Son's Vicon Elite can run up to 2,000 inches per minute across the machine's 10- by 20-foot table. Keller says he saw that his initial investment was reasonable, that operating costs were moderate, and that a machine can run for years without the need for expensive overhauls or replacement parts. The choice may not seem surprising, as plasma-cutting technology has maintained a well-defined niche in the manufacturing since the 1950s. The system was delivered within nine weeks in 2002 and was up and fully running in less than three days. The machine would include an Innerlogic 200 AMP high-density plasma power supply and ViSoft cutting system software. After much research, they decided on the Vicon 2001 plasma-cutting system from Plasma Automation. They also wanted a system that was easy to program and operate and that demanded little operator training. Keller needed a system that was accurate and powerful enough to cut mild steel up to 2 inches thick. Keller also looked into water-jet or laser-cutting technology, yet these solutions had drawbacks. They considered outsourcing, but it was cost-prohibitive and time consuming. The evolution began when the company landed a large job and had only three months to find a way to handle it. 'We have changed from a sheet metal fabrication facility that outsourced into a competitive manufacturing business,' says Trent Keller, company vice president. It was an evolution made possible - and profitable - through an investment in technology. Today, more than 75 percent of their focus is on manufacturing. Over time, the company assumed more custom metal-fabrication work in addition to its millwright and plant-relocation services.

Vicon visoft cutting software