CNC Setup Sheet Template for Machinists and Programmers
A setup sheet is the handoff between the programmer and the person standing at the machine. This template captures the items that cause most scrapped first pieces: work offset, part zero, workholding and the tool list. Fill it in, export it, and attach it to the traveler.
Fill in
CNC Setup Sheet Template
CNC Setup Sheet
Company: Acme Precision Machining Job: WO-104455 Part: BRK-2210 Rev C Program: O1042 OP10 Date: 2026-10-20 Programmer: A. Singh
Machine and Material
Machine: Haas VF-4SS, 3-axis vertical mill Material and stock: 6061-T6 aluminum, 3.00 x 2.50 x 1.25 in block Estimated cycle time: 14.5 min Coolant: Flood
Workholding and Work Offset
Workholding: 6 in Kurt vise, soft jaws, 0.75 in grip depth Work offset: G54 Part zero: X: left edge of stock, Y: front edge, Z: top of finished surface
Tool List
| Tool | Description | Holder | Stick-out | H / D offset | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | |||||
| T2 | |||||
| T3 | |||||
| T4 |
Operator Notes
Deburr all edges after OP10. Check pocket depth with depth mic after roughing. Stop and call programmer if chatter occurs on tool T3.
Sign-off
Adapt the tool table to your shop's holder and offset conventions. Keep the sheet with the traveler so the next setup starts from the same zero and the same tool stick-out.
Generate setup sheets from your ERP routing
Optional: a short review of how routing, tool master and program data could populate this sheet from your ERP.
Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.
How to use the template
Enter the job, part revision, machine and program name first so the sheet is traceable. Then describe stock, workholding and where part zero sits, in words a setup person can verify with an edge finder or probe. Add your tools in the table, either typed in the fields before export or filled in by hand on the printed copy. Export to PDF for the shop floor, Word if the sheet needs editing, or Excel if you keep setup data in a spreadsheet. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
What a good setup sheet contains
The sheet should answer the questions a machinist would otherwise walk to the programming desk to ask. Anything left implicit tends to become a crash or a scrapped part.
- Part number with revision, so old programs are not run against new drawings
- Work offset (G54 to G59 or extended offsets) and the exact location of part zero
- Workholding with grip depth, jaw type and any stops or clamps that limit tool access
- Tool list with holder, stick-out and the length and diameter offset numbers
- Coolant mode and any special cautions such as thin walls or interrupted cuts
Common mistakes
The most frequent failure is a sheet that describes the setup the programmer imagined rather than the one the machine has. Tool stick-out is often left blank, then the machinist sets a longer tool and the cut chatters. Part zero is described as the center of the part when the stock is not symmetrical. Another miss is not updating the sheet after a proveout changes a feed or a tool. Treat the sheet as a controlled document: revise it with the program, and keep one current copy with the traveler.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this CNC setup sheet free to use?
Yes. The template runs entirely in your browser and exports to PDF, Word or Excel without an account. You do not need to contact anyone to use it, and nothing you type is uploaded.
Can I change the tool table columns?
Export to Word or Excel and edit the table there. The default columns cover tool number, description, holder, stick-out, offset and notes, which suits most milling and turning jobs.
Should the setup sheet include feeds and speeds?
Usually they live in the program and the tool database. Include them on the sheet only if operators are expected to adjust them, or if the tool list drives purchasing and presetting.
How is a setup sheet different from a traveler?
The traveler routes the job through operations and records quantities and approvals. The setup sheet is machine-specific instruction for one operation: zero, workholding, tools and cautions.
If your setup data lives in the ERP routing and tool master, Netray can build a read-only agent that pulls it into a sheet like this automatically. This template works fine without it.
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