For a hole depth with a +.0005 tolerance, which direction should you move the tool offset in Z to remain within tolerance?

To maintain a hole depth within a tolerance of +0.0005, it is essential to consider how tool offsets work. A positive offset will increase the depth of the hole, meaning if the tool position is set deeper, the hole will end up larger. Conversely, if the tool position is made shallower by lowering the tool's position in Z (subtracting from the Z offset), the hole will be smaller.

Since the tolerance specifies a maximum allowable depth that is 0.0005 inches over the nominal size, reducing the tool offset helps ensure that the depth does not exceed the upper limit. Therefore, to stay within the tolerance, moving the tool up in the Z direction by subtracting 0.002 will help make the hole shallower, effectively reducing the depth towards the nominal value or below, keeping it within tolerance. This action directly addresses the requirement to avoid exceeding the upper tolerance limit.