[pareicher]

Gentlemen,

I need your help. In the 25 years I have been programming lathes, I have always used the finish face of the part as Z zero. Single turret two axis, multi turret two axis, Multi spindle-multi turret, MillTurn,etc. If I am going to leave .03" for finish later, then the set up sheet and program reflect that so when the machinist is setting his tools, he moves the offset in the proper direction (although, they don't use g54, 55, etc. here). When the part is flipped, the new finish face becomes Z zero. If it is a fixture, it might be a reference on the fixture, but based at the finish face of the part.
We have a debate in house. The machinists want the programs to reflect excess stock at finish and use that as Z zero. Bad idea and not a standard method.
I am looking for your input to clarify what you use?

Thanks,