# Zeroing on nothing (Adding elements to a design with no original xy0) **URL:** \ **Category:** 🪑 Projects\ **Created:** [July 18, 2026, 11:53am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/zeroing-on-nothing-adding-elements-to-a-design-with-no-original-xy0/26735 "2026-07-18T11:53:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Spamming\_Eddie](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/spamming_eddie/32/7296_2.png) [@Spamming\_Eddie](https://forum.sienci.com/u/Spamming_Eddie)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 11:53am UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/zeroing-on-nothing-adding-elements-to-a-design-with-no-original-xy0/26735/1 "2026-07-18T11:53:47Z")
A good 4 years ago, when I was about to enter the CNC world as a total novice, I was approached to make a remembrance plaque for a stillborn’s grave. Not directly an ideal novice project to start your journey with, but how can one refuse such a request? To make matters worse, the client wanted the carving on a teak plaque with organic form that he brought with him, leaving no margin for big mistakes nor a clear return path after a disconnect. It took me waaaaaay too long to design and measure out, but long story short, I got it done, and I learned a lot doing so. ![afbeelding](https://forum.sienci.com/uploads/default/original/2X/8/8fe5dd58e830c1b38cc092ec4aa6395993bfc204.jpeg) I can write a book on this one project and how it immediately pushed my workflow away from anything I had watched others do in YouTube videos. I will not dive into that here because… It’s back! ![afbeelding](https://forum.sienci.com/uploads/default/original/2X/f/f93edf9d607fb9e251822bbfb60458be8814e8ee.jpeg) Like anything left in the brutal weather in northern Europe, this plaque too was losing its shine and was due for a maintenance job on its finish. I didn’t have any hand in the finished job, so that is not why it’s back at my shop. The original job was signed with Mum & Dad, but Mum and Dad have two more kids, and I imagine the kids might have suggested their names be included, and what better moment than when it’s due for its refinishing, eh? At this moment I have bolted the plaque to the bed, having just enough spare room between a wooden bear that was added after I carved the plaque and delivered it to the client. A bit of good luck can get you a happy face sometimes. ![afbeelding](https://forum.sienci.com/uploads/default/original/2X/d/d62832bc9af3012a886b4e874193a11eaa274139.jpeg) I again took waaay too long looking at the now-disappeared original XY0 problem, trying to add elements to the design file from 4 years past. It only hit me when I was at the actual plaque, drawing in the names by hand to get a feel for the available space. I don’t need the old XY0 because I have the design on the bed of my machine that was created with the now lost XY0. I can zero in on the carving and design from there. ![afbeelding](https://forum.sienci.com/uploads/default/original/2X/2/20d77e7cf2cacd2f46f0f72134641af608f41576.jpeg) ![afbeelding](https://forum.sienci.com/uploads/default/original/2X/4/481e0271fe2e9c3c5657f0988c122e43b6f9ede9.png) ![afbeelding](https://forum.sienci.com/uploads/default/original/2X/4/49aad0cb4cb7d417aed6092ae58e85dcb97fcb15.jpeg) ![afbeelding](https://forum.sienci.com/uploads/default/original/2X/e/e5cbeb9f2f0009071621b175a23155e1b7f80cf1.png) Since I am still a wee insecure about the wisdom of this choice and maybe the aesthetics of the end result. I am opening this topic before actually doing the carve. Tomorrow I will engage this idea using the bottom-left of the P -20 mm as my xy₀ for Dylan and the bottom-right of the A +20 mm as my xy₀ for Patrick. Based on a 4-quadrant (center) base design. Please jump in if you have doubts, see or feel anything wrong with my solution, or want to share additional ideas. -To be continued- ---
**Author:** ![Chucky\_ott](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/chucky_ott/32/8692_2.png) [@Chucky\_ott](https://forum.sienci.com/u/Chucky_ott)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 1:19pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/zeroing-on-nothing-adding-elements-to-a-design-with-no-original-xy0/26735/2 "2026-07-18T13:19:58Z")
@Spamming_Eddie How about “Dylan & Patrick” just above “Papa & Mama”, perhaps in a slightly smaller font? ---
**Author:** ![Spamming\_Eddie](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/spamming_eddie/32/7296_2.png) [@Spamming\_Eddie](https://forum.sienci.com/u/Spamming_Eddie)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/zeroing-on-nothing-adding-elements-to-a-design-with-no-original-xy0/26735/3 "2026-07-18T13:43:34Z")
Hi Chuck, I forgot to mention that the client suggested this setup so I’m pretty much going with it. I feel the char size the lower line is in, is as small as I can get - at least proven to be - with the crudenes of a 6.35 mm 60deg bit and this material. As the first carving was done in pristine condition teak, I tend to take this carve as easy as I can. Meaning to aircarve a few times with decreasing z0 before going for the actual needed z0. This way I hope to kinda rough out the letters and prevent tear outs caused by potential brittled stock due to UV/moisture dammage. The stock is as flat as it was 4 years ago and feels good to the touch, but I still fear it might be compromised and wouldn’t like that surprise hit me in the nuts. Going smaller does not feel right with the tooling I have and the knowledge gap on this material in this condition. It’s having me on edge, as you might be able to tell, just finding this topic. I am normally the press start guy, but this one.. oh boy. Did I mention the client is a hells angel as wide as he is big? Had him crying the first time I showed him the finished product, and am hoping to prevent he’ll return the favor. Praying, not hoping. All fun asside, thanks for chiming in. I highly appreciate your input. ---
**Author:** ![Chucky\_ott](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/chucky_ott/32/8692_2.png) [@Chucky\_ott](https://forum.sienci.com/u/Chucky_ott)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/zeroing-on-nothing-adding-elements-to-a-design-with-no-original-xy0/26735/4 "2026-07-18T14:18:44Z")
@Spamming_Eddie What the customer wants, the customer gets. Your plan sounds fine to me and dropping Z until you are satisfied is probably how I would do it too. An alternative would be to put a brass plaque with all four names over the existing names. Engraving brass is easy enough. Lots of different options. ---
**Author:** ![Spamming\_Eddie](https://forum.sienci.com/user_avatar/forum.sienci.com/spamming_eddie/32/7296_2.png) [@Spamming\_Eddie](https://forum.sienci.com/u/Spamming_Eddie)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2026, 4:07pm UTC](https://forum.sienci.com/t/zeroing-on-nothing-adding-elements-to-a-design-with-no-original-xy0/26735/5 "2026-07-18T16:07:13Z")
Ooooh, If I bleep up I might go that extra fancy brasserie route. Thanks for giving me a backup plan. Takes of the edge a wee. 🫡