Understanding Machine Points

Understanding Machine Points

Understanding Machine Points

Machine points are used to reference the origin (X and Y axes) of machining instructions. These are not used to reference the location of the part itself – base points are used for part origin within the product.

When working with machine points, it is important to understand the different virtual machine fields. There is a normal machine field that uses machine points 1 through 8. Then, there is the mirrored machine field, which uses machine points 1M through 8M – the “M” designates the mirrored field. The image below better describes the machine fields.


The images that follow will show how each of the machine points affects how the part will be machined (normal and mirrored fields). Notice as you look through the images that changing the machine point also changes the location of the faces.









Looking at the cabinet parts again, the sides, top, and bottom would have the following machine points.


Machine points are often based on which face will receive the majority of machining.  Also, most vertical parts will have machine points that reference the bottom, the front face of the interior of the cabinet. Most horizontal parts will have machine points that reference the left, front face of the interior of the cabinet.

The image below shows how the left and right sides are drawn with machining. The left side has a machine point of 1, and the right side has a machine point of 2M.


    • Related Articles

    • Virtual Routes Tab

      The virtual routes tab is a unique tab that allows you to add a polyline line machining token that will create a machining route for every part that it touches within the product. In addition to modifying the parts in the drawing, machine code will ...
    • Understanding Machine Tokens

      Understanding Machine Tokens To view the machining tokens for a part, select the part from the parts list and click on the Machining Tab under the Parts tools. All machining operations are contained in machine tokens. There are machine tokens that ...
    • How to Use the Virtual Boring Machine Token

      In a product’s spreadsheet, under the prompts tab, there is a section of columns available called Virtual Routing Instructions. This section of columns is used to add virtual machining tokens to a product, and most commonly used for virtual routing. ...
    • Understanding Base Points

      Understanding Base Points Base points are used as a reference point when locating a part within a product. All parts in Microvellum are referenced using rectangular boxes. Parts consist of 8 points and 6 faces. Faces 1 through 4 are the part’s edges ...
    • EDGEARRAY Machine Token

      EDGEARRAY Machine Token Microvellum uses machine tokens to identify the type and frequency of machining operations necessary to construct your products. This article explains the Associative Edge Machining Array (EDGEARRAY) token.  Description There ...
    • Recent Articles

    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.1105.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.1105.641 Nesting Fix Fig. 1: The fatal error that would occur during processing. There was reportedly an issue that occurred when clients attempted to process a work order using the nesting ...
    • Microvellum Foundation Library Release Notes | Build 24.1025

      The following release notes apply to Microvellum Foundation Library build 24.1025. Additions Added new global variable “Remove Stop Dado On Bottom Edge” for wood drawer boxes. Check this option to run the dado through at the bottom of the sub front ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.1030.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.1030.641 Routing and Profile Fixes Several issues were found with routing and polyline paths: Fig. 1: Horizontal routes off of a part disappearing (left) and appearing correctly (right). When ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.1010.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.1010.641 Biesse Winstore Fix Several issues with the Biesse Winstore plugin have been resolved: There was an issue that would sometimes occur wherein materials that were intended to stack wound ...
    • Toolbox Release Notes | Build 24.1.1001.641

      The following release notes apply to Toolbox build 24.1.1001.641 HBore Toolfile Fix Fig. 1: The location in the Toolfile UI where the error would occur. There was an issue reported with the functionality of the Horizontal Boring Machine setting in ...