Work Coordinate System (WCS) - Where to place endmill tip?

[markwisniowski]

Once your stock is placed on the bed and all clamped up, you jog your spindle over to your designated WCS 0,0,0 that you created in your design... 

My question is: where do you place the end mill tip? A, B or C ?

[andrew]

The way I do it is A. center the tip as close as I can to that top left corner of the stock.
Then in the "command" line of UGS, I type in: G92 X0 Y0 Z0 This lets the machine know it's your project zero. Then I either jog the machine up a little, or type in: G90 G0 Z15 That will raise the bit up 15 increments but keep it at the same X and Y. Then I send the code (I always hit the visualize button first to make sure it looks right). The machine will remember your project zero and lower itself down to the safety height and then zip to the first cut.. Oh and don't forget to turn on the router first before sending the code.. have done that a couple times :/

That's how I do it anyway.

[mrbigj]

I've only done a couple of test cuts so far, but I use the exact same method Andrew mentioned above. I don't have a machining background, so I can't tell you if that's correct or not. It just made sense to me.

[Derek the Admin]

Yes, A is correct. Good question and good responses fellas.

Derek

[emac319]

Put an 1/8 or 1/4 gage pin in your spindle and use a feeler gage or a piece of paper. Slowly move the gage pin towards the part in the y axis until the paper is no longer able to move between the pin and the part. Depending on where you are approaching from(positive or negative) add or subtract half the diameter of your tool plus the paper thickness. Use that same method for your x axis. I would suggest having a corner stop on your table so that you can always use the same coordinate system. Once you find it, it should never move if your fixturing set up is rigid enough. You can also do this with an endmill or a drill but the gage pin is one constant diameter and easier to use. I don't have my machine yet, but I plan to set a few WCS around the table and just use which one fits the project the best. Hope that helps. You can also buy 1/4 edge finders that will do the same thing. Very helpful in find WCS.

[mp4doggie]

awesome , i really needed this info .Its very close to some of us that have a 3d printer . But I am bookmarking this info

[markwisniowski]

Thanks everyone.