Iam a new user of mach 3, Iam trying to set up my home built wood router machine when setting the z axis, you touch the cutter to the work piece what happens then does the cutter stay in that position ,do you move it off the work piece,or does the machine compensate for this can someone explain the procedure?

Hi BarryM,

You touch the cutter on the surface of the work then zero the Z axis DRO. Then raise the z axis (cutter) clear of the work before clicking on Start.

Tweakie.

Basically the procedure would depend on the gcode program you have. If the gcode define the top surface of the workpiece as Z=0 then you'd touch off the workpiece surface and, zero your Z DRO, jog up to clear the workpiece (you don't want the spindle to start while the cutter touches the workpiece) and run the program.

If, on the other hand, the gcode defines your Z=0 at say the bottom of your vise, then you'd touch off the bottom of the vise, set the Z DRO to zero, jog up, clamp your workpiece and run the program.

Hope it answers your question.

Daniel