CNC Work Offsets: How to use offsets to save time on your CNC machine setup

Hey CNC Users! In this video I will teach you all about work offsets on a CNC machine: why to use them, how to set them up, and how to use them in software. Having multiple work offsets allows you to setup multiple work stations on your CNC machine and easily do work at one or another without having to touch off or find the origin again and again. This can save you a ton of time when you do repeatable operations, which a CNC machine is really good at. I'm using a CNC router: an Avid Pro CNC Machine running Mach 4, but I also discuss Tormach's PathPilot controller, as I have a Tormach PCNC and use offsets on it. But the overall process is generic enough to work with any CNC control software: Masso, Centroid Acorn, Linux CNC, etc. It should also work with Pendant style CNC controllers, provided they support changing the work offset somehow. I also discuss how to use CAM (toolpath) software with offsets, specifically Autodesk Fusion 360 and Vectric VCarve (and Aspire), but a lot of the information is generic enough to apply to any CAM software. I'll discuss the GCODE commands for work offsets (G54, G55, G56, G57, G59 and beyond) and how I use them in the MDI window. Finally, at the end I'll give some specific tips for Mach 4 in general.
/ corbincncwoodworking - Corbin's CNC Woodworking Group on Facebook!
Useful References
* CNC Woodworking Playlist: • CNC Woodworking
* Avid CNC Playlist: • Avid CNC Build
* Mach 4 Offsets Overview: • Mach4 Basics: Work Off...
* Mach 4 Manual: www.machsupport.com/wp-conten... (NOTE: Find your version in your Mach 4 directory)
* Tormach PathPilot Offsets: tormach.com/articles/how-to-s...
* Linux CNC Offsets: linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gcode/...
* Fusion 360 CAD software - www.autodesk.com/products/fus... -- you can get a free "hobby license"
Thanks everyone!
Corbin Dunn
www.corbinstreehouse.com // Blog & Website
www.corbinsworkshop.com // CNC Files, Products, Woodworking Portfolio
#cncwoodworking #cnc
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:37 What are they?
2:23 Work Offsets: GCode
3:12 Activating Work Offsets
3:27 Saving X/Y/Z in the offset
6:46 Software: Fusion 360
8:20 Software: Vectric VCarve / Aspire
10:13 Software - Generic Use
10:58 Copying Offsets
13:11 Additional Work Offsets
14:43 Best Practices
16:05 Things to be aware of
17:02 Vectric VCarve's Offset
17:38 Mach 4 Specific Tips
19:09 Conclusion

[@briturner11]

this single video might change my efficiency on the CNC by 10x. I hope more people see this. fantastic work Corbin

[@CorbinDunn]

Awesome! I wish I knew about offsets when I first started CNC'ing.

[@MarkLindsayCNC]

Excellent video! I've been using work offsets in Mach4 for about a year, and they really streamline the work. Having that known location that is saved in Mach4 is a life saver if you've ever had a power failure in the middle of a carve. If you're on the fence about using a work offset, just try it. You'll never go back to working without them.

[@CorbinDunn]

Thanks Mark! Yeah, I now use them for nearly every job..they are so handy!

[@marcocubeddu2085]

Very good for anyone who doesn’t know

[@CorbinDunn]

Thanks!

[@jothammcmillan8854]

Excellent video and very much appreciated! I have an Avid CNC Pro as well but not an ATC and I really wish there was an accessory that would easily allow z-height touch offs like the Shapeoko I used to own. I think it's possible to roll your own but an official accessory would be great.

[@CorbinDunn]

Yeah, I agree - it would really be nice to have an auto-touch off mechanism.

[@shughes599]

Totally loved this video. I am about to watch your entire channel. So many cool and repeatable elements to your workflows. I wish i could come be your apprentice, I love the way you work. I have a longmill mk2 without homing sensors, they state the machine wont damage itself running into stops, which I agree with. They sell inductive limits as an add on and I have just ordered them. I run gsender and vectric pro but recently bought f360. I will probably figure out putting g54 etc into gcode. I program for a living, maybe I will give a a custom post processor a shot, idc just had a video on this custom post processor i should rewatch, wont give settings in job but will start every job at g54 etc.

[@CorbinDunn]

Thank! I bet you'll appreciate having the homing sensors once you get them installed. Definitely try out editing the post processor; it is pretty easy to modify. I modified mine for ATC support. I also used to be a programmer -- I worked at Apple for many years, mainly on macOS but also some initial iOS stuff.

[@shughes599]

@@CorbinDunn I got an open frame diode laser after cnc and after a little learning I came to love the zero and offsetting in lightburn. I am sure it will be very helpful with cnc. I rebuilt my spoil board with dogs already so I am thinking of picking a few corners for offset positions.

[@ratdesignshop]

another great video, thanks again. definitely going to give it a try.

[@CorbinDunn]

Thanks! Yeah, definitely do give it a try

[@markscheiner3952]

Cracking video Corbin. Really useful. Presumably you set up all the dog holes to work with the different offsets. I need to do that. Thanks for posting 👌👌

[@CorbinDunn]

Yup! Fundamentally, it doesn't matter where the dog holes are, as you can find the origin and save it for any particular set of 3 dogs.

[@mavigogun]

That was fantastic! Thanks, Corbin. My machine will feature dedicated fixtures that will greatly benefit from this workflow.

[@CorbinDunn]

Awesome! I'm glad it could help you out a bit.

[@casey021000]

Great video Corbin.Thanks for sharing.

[@CorbinDunn]

Thanks for watching!

[@lordlazerwolf]

Another fantastic video, thank you again!

[@CorbinDunn]

No problem!

[@axelgarioud2206]

Great explanations. Cheers from France

[@CorbinDunn]

Thanks!

[@maximazur4854]

Always good information. Keep it up Corbin! Max from Argentina

[@CorbinDunn]

Thanks Max!

[@gregobj]

Nice video corbin! Did you update your mach4 config to work with the atc and touch plate?

[@CorbinDunn]

I did! The stock Avid CNC touch plate code would crash due to a bug. I added a work around in my screen set. I heard they fixed it in a recent Avid CNC Mach 4 update, but I haven't tried it out yet.

[@gregobj]

@@CorbinDunnawesome, thanks for getting back to me. I will definitely be asking to use your latest screenset when I finally pull the trigger on the ATC. I need one so bad but no time to upgrade at the moment with too many things to make!

[@yvonnechambers5047]

Promo`SM

[@CorbinDunn]

I mean, it is funny when people comment this way! I spend hours and hours making videos and developing ideas and techniques. I tend to lose more money than I make. Last year, Etsy gross sales: $2,037.02. Corbinsworkshop.com gross sales: $2408.52. Google Ads/KZbin: $993.78 . Amazon Affiliate: $377.66. A total of $5816.98 in gross income from all my woodworking/youtube in 2023. I spent about $5,000 in supplies/material, and $1200 in software (Fusion 360 and Website hosting, VCarve). It would be awesome if I actually made reasonable money at it...promoting my own designs helps, but not much; I'm not making anything on this venture, and I give tons of designs away for free.