Setup is the preparation work carried out before machining begins.
It covers the whole sequence of understanding the drawing, writing and checking the machining program, setting the tools, loading the material, and making trial cuts.
A Closer Look
Work on a CNC automatic lathe centers on this setup rather than on running the machine itself.
If the setup is accurate, the machine will quietly keep producing parts on its own.
If there is a mistake in the setup, you may produce a pile of defective parts or bring the machine to a halt.
As the Japanese shop-floor saying goes, "setup is 80% of the job" — it is no exaggeration to say the outcome of machining is decided by the setup.
In unattended operation especially, setup accuracy directly determines success or failure.