# Bit not touching wood but carving anyways? **URL:** \ **Category:** X-Carve\ **Created:** [May 17, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601 "2018-05-17T16:03:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![EdwinWilliams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e9a140/32.png) [@EdwinWilliams](https://community.inventables.com/u/EdwinWilliams)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/1 "2018-05-17T16:03:40Z")
What do I need to do to correct this? ---
**Author:** ![JeremyHanks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/67e7ee/32.png) [@JeremyHanks](https://community.inventables.com/u/JeremyHanks)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 5:20pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/2 "2018-05-17T17:20:11Z")
Gonna need to share a bit more information to get any helpful advice. It sounds like your saying the bit isnt touching the wood but it is touching when it carves? ---
**Author:** ![AlAmantea](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/alamantea/32/76710_2.png) [@AlAmantea](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlAmantea)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2019, 4:27am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/3 "2019-04-13T04:27:04Z")
If I understand the problem correctly, the carve is running, but is only cutting air. If so, your z zero setting is off. If you home the machine, and then start a carve, you have to tell the x carve where the top of the material is. You do this using the probe if you have one, or by manually setting z zero to the material top surface by jogging the x carve until the bit just touches the surface and setting the z height. ---
**Author:** ![GeorgeRussenholt1](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/georgerussenholt1/32/85358_2.png) [@GeorgeRussenholt1](https://community.inventables.com/u/GeorgeRussenholt1)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 6:49pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/4 "2020-03-23T18:49:15Z")
did you ever find out why the bit doesn’t go to the cut height, I have the same problem ---
**Author:** ![MichaelMurdock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@MichaelMurdock](https://community.inventables.com/u/MichaelMurdock)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 6:34pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/5 "2020-07-12T18:34:25Z")
I’m having the same issue. I have properly z probed the work surface and have done it manually, all to get the same issue. the bit is cutting air about a 1/16" above the work surface. any help would be fantastic. also, brand new x controller and motors. thanks. I am making simple signs using Easel and a v-bit. ---
**Author:** ![AlAmantea](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/alamantea/32/76710_2.png) [@AlAmantea](https://community.inventables.com/u/AlAmantea)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/6 "2020-07-12T19:43:12Z")
It can also depend on what software you use to create your tool paths. Software such as v carve and aspire from vectric, and have a “z offset” that will affect the z height of the cut as well. This could be your issue here, especially if it affects all your carves. If it is only a single carve doing this, make certain that the material thickness setting is equal to the exact material thickness. Never assume the thickness of material, because it will vary, sometimes greatly, even within a single board. Man made products (plastic, metals, glass, etc) tend to be closer, but can and do still vary. ---
**Author:** ![RalphGabriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f08c70/32.png) [@RalphGabriel](https://community.inventables.com/u/RalphGabriel)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 12:14am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/7 "2021-09-03T00:14:07Z")
Did you ever figure out the problem im have the same issue ---
**Author:** ![SethCNC](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/sethcnc/32/87515_2.png) [@SethCNC](https://community.inventables.com/u/SethCNC)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2021, 2:59am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/8 "2021-09-03T02:59:19Z")
Are you zeroing with paper method or z probe? If z probe did you carefully measure its true thickness and update the thickness in easel. Also are we sure the bit can reach the material (sometimes people place the router.yoo high in is clamp) ---
**Author:** ![LisaParker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@LisaParker](https://community.inventables.com/u/LisaParker)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 12:36am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/9 "2024-02-15T00:36:43Z")
Hey there! I realize that the last response on this post was in '21, but I am just getting started and am having this dagggunn problem as well (carving air)…I use the probe, and we measured the puck and made sure that it is correct on the machine settings. I have been working with tech and they are FABULOUS, but, it’s after hours and we thought that we had it hammered out earlier today, but…nope! Any answers on how to fix this would be so absolutely fantastic and save my weery mind! thank you!! ---
**Author:** ![SethCNC](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/sethcnc/32/87515_2.png) [@SethCNC](https://community.inventables.com/u/SethCNC)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2024, 8:55am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/bit-not-touching-wood-but-carving-anyways/55601/10 "2024-02-15T08:55:11Z")
Hi Lisa, Check this very common issue first… [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n4h_Nk4Umyg/maxresdefault.jpg "New X-Carve CNC Doesn't Cut Right? 5 Minute Fix") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4h_Nk4Umyg)