I'm a shopbot convert to Mach, with an Ascension controller. I'm learning to use the Z zero function in Mach 3, and I need a bit of help.
So far, I enter the value of the thickness of the plate, which is .125. Then I place the plate under the axis on top of the material, and press the Touch button on the screen. The axis slowly descends until it touches the plate, and sets the Z axis to Zero in the DRO.
When I then cut the Gcode file with cycle start, its cutting .125 OVER the surface of the material. I thought the purpose of the Z zero is to touch the plate, and then have the macro subtract the plate thickness to provide an exact zero at the surface of the material.
Should I be entering the NEGATIVE value of the plate thickness- i.e - .125?
Sorry to be so thick here. But its all sort new to me.
Wayne C