# Define Origin Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Troubleshooting\ **Created:** [January 16, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935 "2018-01-16T16:25:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![auggy512](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@auggy512](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/auggy512)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 4:25pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935/1 "2018-01-16T16:25:35Z")
In step 10 of [Using-the-Temporary-Frame-to-Cut-Parts](https://github.com/MaslowCNC/Mechanics/wiki/Using-the-Temporary-Frame-to-Cut-Parts) it states to hit define origin, are we referring to define home or am I missing that define origin button ---
**Author:** ![madgrizzle](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/madgrizzle/32/1372_2.png) [@madgrizzle](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/madgrizzle)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935/2 "2018-01-16T16:30:48Z")
Yep… Define Home… we should update that (it confused me when I was new as well). Edit: I updated the wiki. ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2018, 5:14pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935/3 "2018-01-16T17:14:11Z")
+1 for editing the wiki @madgrizzle ---
**Author:** ![mcmiley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/91b2a8/32.png) [@mcmiley](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/mcmiley)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935/4 "2018-02-28T16:31:52Z")
I’ve had a chance to look at workflow while i await a new power supply. As a SketchUp user I’m going to try the Phlatboyz Sketchucam plug-in. This outputs tool paths that always originate from 0,0 of the ‘safe space’ (8’x4’ board). Can I just define this as origin in GC? Sorry, newb, with a self-build looking to make good his first ‘piece’! ;¬) ---
**Author:** ![blurfl](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/blurfl/32/9_2.png) [@blurfl](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/blurfl)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 4:53pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935/5 "2018-02-28T16:53:57Z")
GC defaults to 0,0 being the center of the workarea. You can move that ‘Home’ point in several ways - by using the arrows to move to the desired spot and clicking ‘Define Home’ when you arrive there - by click-holding on a spot and choosing ‘Move here’, the ‘Define Home’ - by executing a gcode line like “G01 X-15.0 Y-18.0” either in a file or as a macro, then ‘Define Home’ - or last, by editing the Advanced Settings for ‘Home Position’ (which changes it but doesn’t move you there) - beyond last, those ‘Home Position’ values _are_ found in groundcontrol.ini, so you could change them there when GC isn’t running… ---
**Author:** ![Keith](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/keith/32/1332_2.png) [@Keith](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Keith)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935/6 "2018-02-28T19:13:45Z")
Does changing the Home position change where the 0,0 is for the machine permanently, or just for the session? Or does it change the coordinates at all? I guess I am asking if Define Home is equivalent to defining a new origin of the coordinate system, and how long that change lasts. ---
**Author:** ![bar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/bar/32/10_2.png) [@bar](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/bar)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 7:33pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935/7 "2018-02-28T19:33:18Z")
Changing the home position will move the gcode to the target location, and it will persist across closing and re-opening GC. Loading a new file will load at the same place. The point of having the change persist is to make it easier to have multiple files align so for example if I run a cut and then realize that I forgot to generate gcode to drill some holes I can make a new file which just has the holes and run it and the alignment will be correct. The position displayed in the digital position readout is always the absolute XY position, not the distance to the home position. ---
**Author:** ![Keith](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/keith/32/1332_2.png) [@Keith](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/Keith)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 7:45pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935/8 "2018-02-28T19:45:15Z")
> [@bar](#): > > The position displayed in the digital position readout is always the absolute XY position Ok, I think that makes sense (and the underlying reason for it definitely makes sense). If I am understanding it properly, GC is applying an XY position modification to the gcode based upon where Home has been defined. However, you can drive the sled back to 0,0 and redefine home because the position readout remains unchanged. Would I be correct in thinking that if I changed the Home position to be, say, -24,-24 that when the sled is located at that position entering in a command of G0 X0 Y0 would do nothing (i.e. the sled would not move)? ---
**Author:** ![blurfl](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/forums.maslowcnc.com/blurfl/32/9_2.png) [@blurfl](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/u/blurfl)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2018, 7:46pm UTC](https://forums.maslowcnc.com/t/define-origin-question/1935/9 "2018-02-28T19:46:41Z")
> [@Keith](#): > > how long that change lasts I’m not in a position to check, but I think it persists. The fact that groundcontrol.ini can record it suggests this. I’ll check later and report back 😄 Edit - I see that @bar has answered already. Doing forum replies on the tiny screen is suboptimal…