Newbie- Z-axis 0 point (home) ?

[tvdbon]

Hi There,

I've got a rockcliff machine up and running and done some basic stuff. I'm currently in the process of putting on some limit/home switches, but one thing that I've always wondered is whether the 0 point of the z-axis should be on the table or on the workpiece ? So far I always had the 0 point on the workpiece and then I modifed my g-code to travel the z axis into the minus. Example if I wanted to make a 1mm cut deep then I would tell it to go to Z-1.0000

Is this the right way? How does it usually work on cnc machines ?

[Regnar]

I have my zero/home at the way up so that when I want to do a tool change I just goto home. Then I do a touchoff and set up my work piece. Its just me but in a homing event I dont like things moving towards the table.

[ger21]

Originally Posted by tvdbon So far I always had the 0 point on the workpiece and then I modifed my g-code to travel the z axis into the minus. Example if I wanted to make a 1mm cut deep then I would tell it to go to Z-1.0000 Is this the right way? How does it usually work on cnc machines ?

Yes. that's the right way. 0 is the top of the workpiece. What are you creating your code with that you need to modify it? Pretty much all CAM programs write code with Z- moving down into the work, although most will give you the option to do it differently.

[tvdbon]

So far I have only used lazycam. But I'm still learning it so I haven't done more than load a picture, post the gcode, modify z and then cut it. Nothing great yet, but I'm still learning. So I guess the best would be to have my z-axis home in at the highest possible z value.

Thanks guys, thats what I suspected but I wanted to check with experts first