0,0,0 ?

[cxixer]

This may have been answered here but I'm not sure what to even search for and havn't run across this in the months I've been reading. When you build a cnc router, where are the 0,0,0 coordinates? I guess I'm wondering, how do you know where to set your piece that you want to cut?


Is this programmable in the software?
Do you set the height of the piece you're cutting in the software?

Thanks in advance!

[ger21]

Depending on the control software, you can set 0,0,0 to anywhere you want. You can set up the software so that 0,0,0 is relative to your home switch locations, so the machine will "zero" itself when it homes. Or you can jog to any position on the table and manually set 0 for each axis individually.

The typical way to set the Z axis zero is to set it to the top of the material being cut.

[cxixer]

So, do you manually set the router height (z axis) to each piece you cut?

These are newb questions, but I've never used a cnc before. I'm getting ready to purchase everything I need, but having issues imagining how I'll use the thing.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by cxixer So, do you manually set the router height (z axis) to each piece you cut?

That's the way it's typically done. It's also possible to make an automatic tool height setter. There are some threads here on the subject, if you do some digging.

[spoiledbrat]

On my 24 x 60 x 5.25 gantry router, my Z-axis "0.0000" is set to the top of the worktable. My tooling is indexed, so I only have to measure them when I replace a bit.
I did not know that the standard method was to set "zero" to the top of the material being cut.

[cxixer]

Thanks for the replies guys. I guess it would also make sense to zero the z axis to the worktable because that is how you draw it up in your cad program, right?

The reason I was thinking to zero it to the piece was that a friend of mine did such with a cnc laser he was using, I just figured that's how the software worked. I am still reading and learning, havn't gotten to learning the software yet.

[Guldberg]

You draw it like you like it in most cam softwares, at least in ProE. Anyway dont worry, go ahead and build a router and you will develop an understanding along the way:-)

[Graham S]

cxixer,

I tend to draw things and then move them to the top of stock is at zero in z and the part is negative z. But its all relative as long as the height of the tool at zero matches zero in the cad all will work out.

How you zero often depends on what you are doing, you can draw your cad how you want to. For most of my work zero is on the top of the stock and for a lot of things this makes sense. For example you could have some g-code to bore a hole of a certain depth that you often use, no matter what the work piece is you can position the bed, touch the tool on the workpiece top, zero the axis and run the code.

But I agree with Guldberg, it makes no difference to anything at this stage.

Graham

[cxixer]

Sounds like I really need to get started building this router! Many of my projects get side tracked, but I'm trying to keep this one on the top of my priority list.

Thanks for the replies everyone!