Zero position question

Software Carbide Create
1

I finally got my machine up and running and I have a question about setting the zero in carbide create. It seems you can choose which corner to set zero at as well as the center of the project, but I was wondering if there was a way to set the zero to a specific area in your design? I feel it would make it easier to re-zero your job if for whatever reason if you had to remove your piece from your work holding area to paint or finish and then had to set it up again.

In case my point is not clear let me try to describe an example of this. Let’s say I am cutting out a Unicorn and I cut it out of a 24x48in board which I zero at the bottom left corner and everything is complete so now I only have the silhouette of the unicorn to use to re-center instead of the rectangular board. If I wanted to add detail to it it would be useful if we could use the spot where the unicorn’s eye (or any other feature/vector) is to set the center instead of having to measure out where the lower left corner would be. It would make more accurate cuts and while I am no programmer I can’t think of this being impossible to do on the software side of things.

Or maybe the option exists and I don’t know where to look? If so, can someone point me in the right direction?

2

The work-around is to use Center and oversize Stock area and then place the design relative to that origin.

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3

I’m not sure I am understanding what you’re saying. I think there would still be too much room for error going that route.

4

Is there an open spot to drill a hole as a zero point ?
And another hole for orientation ?

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5

I have put a known point in a project on the zero.

Then zeroed machine to that point.

6

You will need to orientate the stock to align to the previous X and Y axis.
You choices are a stock edge or a second known point in the stock.

7

this makes sense to me. I just didn’t intend to remove the project from the start. It’s something I will have to start implementing moving forward. Thanks!

8

You can do what you’re suggesting by writing down the location of the Unicorn’s eye.

Then pick up that point & type in those values, leaving the zero where it was.

Or you can move the whole design to center the eye on an available zero point.
The processor will still generate valid toolpaths, even if the design hangs off the stock. Just the simulation won’t show what’s off the stock.

All that being said, it would be nice to position the zero anywhere. And to have the grid lines numbered from that zero. :wink:

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I hadn’t thought of writing down the point and type those values in. That’s a great idea!

10

It’s not obvious that you can select the number & type rather than clicking “Set to zero”.
It’s also not obvious that you can click the word “Position” to change it to “Machine Position”

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11

Yes, that’s a solid workaround. By centering and oversizing the stock area, then placing the design relative to that origin, you avoid skew issues and keep alignment consistent.

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