Importing g code from Supercam into Mach3 and The surface settings taken from the code in Supercam are not the same as the settings in Mach3. Does Mach3 override the g code settings? In the code the Z surface in set to .285 and cut depth to .185
In Mach3 the surface is supposedly 0.00
I am still confused as to what determines the cutting depth. Or is this something that Mach3 can't do and I am unaware ?
I was raised on Supercam so Mach3 is a new learning curve.
Thanks
Robert

If the code says Z -0.185, then Mach3 will cut .185 below Z zero. You can set Z zero wherever you want, but typically it's set to the top of the stock.

Does that  help?

Thanks,
The code shows a positive number and not a negative number.
Here is the begining of the code.

(SuperCam Ver 3.5E 11/01/01 SPINDLE)
G17
T1 M06


G00 F5.7
X3.4915 Y4.4714
G00 Z0.2850 F6.0
G01 Z0.1850 F5.7
G01 F7.5
G03 X3.4915 Y4.4714 I-0.0250 J0.0000 F7.5
G00 Z0.3850 F6.0
G00 F5.7
X3.3304 Y4.4689
G00 Z0.2850 F6.0
G01 Z0.1850 F5.7
G01 F7.5
X3.1699 Y4.4689
X3.1699 Y4.4689
X3.1699 Y4.4989

If .285 is the surface, don't the rapid moves leave marks, as they're at .285??

The altitude over surface for Z is set to .100 in Supercam, so when we first turn on Supercam and open the plot the altitude is at a jog up preset. We then verify surface and then move the Z to the preset altitude which is .100"  over surface of material (this will read .385 in the code)  which doesn't show at the beginning of this code, but the Z is already there.

G00 F5.7
X3.4915 Y4.4714

Next the Z altitude descends to .285 (which is surface) at the preset rapid travel of 6" per minute from the initial .385

G00 Z0.2850 F6.0

Next the Z plunges into the material at a slower travel of 5.7" per minute to .185

G01 Z0.1850 F5.7
G01 F7.5
G03 X3.4915 Y4.4714 I-0.0250 J0.0000 F7.5

Here the Z runs up to .385", which is .100" altitude over material which is at .285 (surface)

G00 Z0.3850 F6.0
G00 F5.7
X3.3304 Y4.4689
G00 Z0.2850 F6.0
G01 Z0.1850 F5.7
G01 F7.5
X3.1699 Y4.4689
X3.1699 Y4.4689

Maybe I should rethink how I set zero "Z" in Supercam. I always imagined that it should be the table so as to not accidentally run into it but maybe this is not proper procedure.

OK, I didn't see the .385.

So back to my original question about "Z" zero.
Should surface be zero or what should proper zero be for "Z" ?
Mach3 as I see it always makes the surface of material being machined as zero. Does industry standard also say that cutting depth is always a negative number ? , this being below surface.
 So I can change the gauge block setting to .285 less than it is, but if I do this than I have to remember to never run all axis to zero or the bit will crash when Z goes to zero. But I really don't like this as it can be trouble if I am not carefull.
So I think I will go back to the Supercam plot config and save it to match Mach3 procedure.
Does this sound like the right thing to do.

Should surface be zero or what should proper zero be for "Z" ?
Mach3 as I see it always makes the surface of material being machined as zero. Does industry standard also say that cutting depth is always a negative number ? , this being below surface.
 

Mach3 let's you set Z zero wherever you want it.

However, it is the standard, which is why you see everyone doing it.

Then standard it is !
Many thanks
Robert