# Purposely changing Z Height while carving

**URL:** <https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/purposely-changing-z-height-while-carving/39142>\
**Category:** Gen 2 Elite Series\
**Created:** [June 16, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/purposely-changing-z-height-while-carving/39142 "2026-06-16T19:50:31Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mezalick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Mezalick](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/Mezalick)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 7:50pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/purposely-changing-z-height-while-carving/39142/1 "2026-06-16T19:50:32Z")

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Greetings, I just took possession of a **Gen 2 Elite Series** Foreman 4’ x 4’ machine with a Realtime controller and I was wondering if it’s possible to change the Z height, on purpose, while the machine is cutting.

Thanks in advance,

Michael

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**Author:** ![TommyObar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TommyObar](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/TommyObar)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 8:17pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/purposely-changing-z-height-while-carving/39142/2 "2026-06-16T20:17:48Z")

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Hey Michael. I’m curious on why you would want to do that? Are you talking about changing the Z position while the spindle is cutting?

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**Author:** ![Mezalick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Mezalick](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/Mezalick)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 8:46pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/purposely-changing-z-height-while-carving/39142/3 "2026-06-16T20:46:53Z")

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Just in case I want to have, for example, a second line of text to be deeper..

Or if I’m flatting my spoilboard in two passes and I want to cut deeper on the second pass..

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**Author:** ![TommyObar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TommyObar](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/TommyObar)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/purposely-changing-z-height-while-carving/39142/4 "2026-06-16T21:29:15Z")

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You can adjust your Z-zero, but not in the middle of a cut. I do this when flattening a workpiece or the spoiler board.

Example: I have a surfacing toolpath that cuts to a depth of 0.03"

- I’ll zero out X/Y/Z, either with the touch probe or manually.

- I run the toolpath so it takes off 0.03" of material.

- I want to take off an additional 0.01" of material.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mezalick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Mezalick](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/u/Mezalick)\
**Post date:** [June 17, 2026, 7:49am UTC](https://forum.onefinitycnc.com/t/purposely-changing-z-height-while-carving/39142/5 "2026-06-17T07:49:08Z")

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Thanks Tommy,

I ran a CaMaster Cobra X3 for 14 years using WINCNC as the controller. We had a special macro that allowed us to make the changes without stopping the program and re-z-zeroing the bit. It came on very handy when needed.