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The Coordinate System: The Machine Coordinate System

There are two types of coordinate systems in the world of measurement.  The first is called the Machine Coordinate System.  Here, the X, Y, and Z axes (Figure 3) refer to the machine's motions.  When viewed from the front of the machine, the X axis runs from left to right, the Y axis runs from front to back, and the Z axis runs up and down, vertically perpendicular to the other two.