Having just checked the quill DRO on my WM14 the up down arrows do exactly that ie they offset the display. If you hold one of the arrow keys down the display will increment automatically, slow at first and getting faster. It enables you to set a depth and when the scale shows 0 you have arrived at the right level. Really for drilling or counterboring. I don't usually use the quill to put on a cut preferring to use the Z-axis handwheel at the top of the column.
I must admit I have never used this function. If for example doing a counterbore I bring the cutter down with the quill feed until it just touches the surface and zero the readout. Start the mill and downfeed the quill until the readout shows the depth I want. Very straightforward.
John
Edit: Typo
Edited By Journeyman on 20/01/2019 11:34:57