CNC Offsets Explained: G54 Work Zero & G43 Tool Length | Beginner Lesson 8

What’s the difference between a work offset and a tool length offset? Learn how both connect your CNC program to the actual machine setup. In Lesson 8 of CNC Milling for Beginners, we explain: • Machine coordinates versus work coordinates • How G54 and G55 select different work origins • Why selecting an offset does not measure the workpiece • How tool length compensation accounts for different tools • What G43 and H01 mean • Why H01 does NOT mean the tool is one inch long • How incorrect offsets can cause positioning errors and collisions • What to verify after replacing a tool or moving a fixture Clear diagrams and narration make these essential CNC concepts easier to understand. Examples use common Haas-style commands. Follow your machine’s manual and approved setup and prove-out procedures. Subscribe to Know-How Compass for practical skills and clear lessons. ▶ Next: Lesson 9 — CNC Drilling Cycles: Approach, Hole Depth, and Retract Levels. #CNCOffsets #G54 #ToolLengthCompensation #KnowHowCompass #CNCForBeginners #CNCProgramming #CNCMilling #CNCMachining