Operator quickstart

From power-on to first chips, on any Fabricate NC machine.

1 · Reference the machine

Setup → REFERENCE ALL. The amber banner clears once every axis has homed; auto mode is locked until then.

2 · Load a tool & measure it

Tools → pick the tool → LOAD TO SPINDLE (the changer sequences; unpocketed tools prompt a hand-load). Then Tools → SET TOOL → AUTO CYCLE: enter the rough length, the machine rapids to the setter, makes a guarded search touch and a slow measuring touch, and the measured length feeds every program. End mills touch on their edge with the spindle in reverse; drills and ball mills dead-centre — the controller picks by family.

3 · Set the work zero

Setup → jog to the part. Tap a work-offset axis to TEACH: pick which way you jogged to touch (the tool radius and any feeler shim compensate automatically) — or run a probe cycle from the Probing screen and let APPLY & CYCLE START write the datum and start the program in one confirmation.

4 · Load & preflight

Program → browse to the file (ncl, ISO G-code, and Sinumerik dialects load transparently). The preflight checks envelope, soft limits, rapids into stock, holder reach, and fixture strikes before anything moves — findings name the line.

5 · Run

Operate → CYCLE START. Overrides on the right; FEED HOLD, then RETRACE crawls backwards out of a scare, and TOOL BROKEN? opens the guided recovery flow (safe retract → sister swap or measure → resume at the interrupted line).

If something surprises you

Diagnostics → ALARMS explains every alarm with what clears it. SERVICE shows the machine's maintenance due-bars. And every action above is journalled — the machine can always tell you what happened.