Is it possible to set up an offset datum that is not on a level plane?

  I mean for instance, at X0, mach's z would read 1, and the cutter would indeed be 1 unit from the work surface.  then at say x12, mach's z would also read 1, but the cutter would actually be 2 units above the work surface.

Wait a second, suddenly g68 comes to mind as I write this out.

Then I go to the manual and see in 10.7.20, "this only allows rotation when the current plane is X-Y".

And now me thinks this cant be done.  right, wrong?

-Nick

You can feed between 2 points on 2 different fixture offsets.

e.g.

G54 G00 X0 Y0 Z1.
G55 G01 Z2. F100.

If its any good to you ?

Graham.

I see what you are doing Graham, thanks for the input.

I was trying to skip the gcode and set the datum on a slanted plane so that even in jogging, mach would compensate for the plane being non-parallel to the machine coordinate Z.

-Nick

With you now, you want 3D jogging.

You could ask    but I think not   

Graham.