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Please restore: The section "List of G-codes commonly found on FANUC and similarly designed controls for milling and turning" as well as the section "Letter addresses", and "specific codes", and the "example program". They were deleted around July to August of 2023. The article is next to useless without the substance of example G, and M codes. Those sections make the article much more educational. Keep in mind machining is a technical trade, You can only dumb it down so much before you are saying nothing. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.127.21.16 ( talk) 02:11, 29 January 2024 (UTC)
Can someone fix this "a post"? I'm not sure exactly what they mean: "that can output the appropriate G-code called a post for a specific machine tool." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.23.52.216 ( talk) 23:09, 3 January 2019 (UTC)
G-code and Gerber File articles seem to describe the same file format. At least googling for cnc "gerber" g00 g01 g02 and cnc "g-code" g00 g01 g02 gaves pages with similar lists. However I have little CNC experience to confirm this. -- 195.113.20.80 16:08, 26 Apr 2005 (UTC)
The Gerber format evolves from RS-274-D, but otherwise Gerber and G-Code have many differences, are used on different kind of machines and for different purposes. So better to keep these articles distinct. Lothartklein ( talk) 10:42, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
What about the units used in the G-code? I mean, where is it defined whether one uses inches, or centimeters, or some other unit? 134.58.253.114 10:53, 19 December 2005 (UTC)
There is a pair of G codes to switch between "inch" and metric. All CNCs have some way to switch between the two systems.
In general, G-codes are a simplistic progamming language. There are G code pairs to switch between not only inch and metric, but absolute and incremental coordinate designation. G codes are put into groups. The "motion" group includes G01 to denote linear departures, G02 to denote clockwise arc paths and G03 to denote counterclockwise arc motions.
There is only one CNC manufacturer that continues to use the EIA RS-274D standard for G code programming. All other manufacturers have adopted the international ISO standard. The two systems, while not identical, have significant overlap and commonality in how the G codes are used.
While the examples are interesting, they all lack one rather important thing: They never actually execute a tool change. T-- prepares the tool changer for the next tool swap, in the event the changer has such capability (most lower-end machines do not). M06 swaps the tool out. I have a few other concerns in this same area, and I'm going to pick on one program in particular. All suffer problems.
It begins like so: N1 X0 Y0 T01. This either goes to WCS 0,0 or doesn't move at all. We can't be sure, as the program isn't setting default modes. Then, it prepares the tool changer for a tool swap, but doesn't do anything. If the tool change DID execute via M06, the X and Y don't matter in the slightest, as the spindle on vertical machines needs only travel upwards to meet the changer. Both horizontal and vertical machines will move themselves to the tool changer in the event of a tool change, as absolute 0,0 can be anywhere on the bloody table. On top of this, no movement modes have been entered. So, even in the instance above, the machine doesn't have any of the information it needs to go anywhere (unless the machine enters a movement mode on startup, or you were running a program that actually did something beforehand). This program does nothing, moves the tool changer, and then does nothing again.
One generic, thoroughly explained program aught to be enough. Moreover, it should actually run on a machine if an example is to be included at all. Reducing complexity is necessary teaching new concepts, but not to the point where the information doesn't actually help anyone.
- Toastydeath 06:26, 29 November 2006 (UTC)
He used a lathe as a sample. On a lathe, a Txxyy (T xx=tool number - yy=offset number -- usually the first two digits designate which tool, the second two digits designate which offset. USUALLY, I said) ... anyway, when you call Txxyy, the turret immediately indexes to Tool xx, picks up offset yy, and bob's yer uncle.
Mills are different, they want an M to do the actual switch. Well, most of them. I'm sure there is one somewhere that doesn't ... M codes in particular vary from manufacturer to manufacturer or used to. Now we only have two or three controls and manufacturers, so not as much variety.
btw, I think that sample program is not very good. Turning G96 on when you are still two feet away from the part is stupid. In fact, G96 is stupid except for the finish pass. Kids these days :( 116.231.75.122 ( talk) 12:46, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
Hello here are mistakes in program in G-codes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.3.244.60 ( talk) 18:10, 29 May 2009 (UTC)
I think the example program is wrong. Every machine I've ever run will only allow one M code per line. Also, why would you optional stop after you've backed the tool away from the work, but before a tool change. I think the traditional way it's done is to have an optional stop between each tool change. Actually, never mind. The whole program is messed up. I think it's best just to re-write it rather than bitch about it here. I'll take care of it. SteveB67 ( talk) 19:37, 18 March 2010 (UTC)
Bullshit that it's "entirely wrong". The only single word of the whole paragraph that you consider wrong is that "most" could be changed to "many" to avoid quantifying. I fixed that single word. — ¾-10 00:49, 12 July 2017 (UTC)
Why is G96 considered constant cutting speed whereas in the example program it is specified that G96 is variable cutting speed set with Sxxxx, which is NOT surface speed, but rather spindle speed.? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.251.107.193 ( talk) 22:31, 19 August 2010 (UTC)
I believe there should be a brief description of what a WORD is before the term is used further down in the body of the text. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.70.254.196 ( talk) 17:23, 18 September 2010 (UTC)
The reference to NURBS near the end of the first section is inappropriate. G0, G1, G2, etc, in the context of NURBS have to do with continuity conditions across adjacent curve segments and _nothing_ to do with NC G-codes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.242.21.29 ( talk) 19:55, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
Is there a standardized header defined with tool information (form, diameter, spindle speed, X-Y movement speed, Z movement speed etc)? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.165.103.158 ( talk) 09:14, 7 February 2011 (UTC)
Deleted by User:Glrx from the "programming environments" section:
"Another recent evolution of the G-code programming environment is the integration of MTConnect, which makes the data of the G-code runtime environment available over internet protocol using open standards ( XML schemas, XSLT, et al). For example, MTConnect wraps a block of G-code in XML tags and sends it to the mobile phone of the machine owner, who thus gets a real-time status update on the machine's operation."
Note that this is NOT the same text that was deleted the first time. It is a much-reduced mention with link, whereas the original version was, admittedly, forked versus the MTConnect article, as dawned on me after it was deleted. However, this new draft is short and unforked, so unless someone who is knowledgeable about CNC explains here in this talk thread what their objection is to this draft, it will be going back in, as this revised paragraph has NOT been reverted by two different editors. Thanks. — ¾-10 22:25, 12 October 2011 (UTC)
G-code → RS-274 – This article is ultimately about the machine tool language specified in EIA RS-274. The language is frequently called RS-274 (or a close variant such as RS274). It would fit the naming convention used in other common EIA standards that are known by their RS-name: RS-232 and RS-485. I cannot find my copy right now, so I don't if if a hypen is used in the actual RS-274 standard, but my ancient copy of the serial "RS-232-B" standard shows hypens, so I expect the last rev of the machine tool language would be "RS-274-D". For our purposes (like RS-232), the revision letter is irrelevant. Renaming the the article to RS-274 would also side-step/minimize much of the "G-code" name issue. One of the external links even refers to "G-code and M-code" programming, so the mere G-code lacks precision. The NIST interpreter uses the name "RS274/NGC" instead of calling itself a G-code interpreter. The NIST doc says it reads "numerical control code in the 'NGC' dialect of the RS274 numerical control language" (page 1, first sentence). NIST uses the term "G-code" for a specific G and number combination (see pages 19-20). Glrx ( talk) 21:53, 27 February 2012 (UTC)
From time to time, an IPuser will insert an advertising link, for example this edit. The link is to a page that starts, "NC Corrector, my G-code editor". The descriptive paragraph on that webpage apologizes that it is merely project:
WP is not interested in advertising people's projects, and the site is not about G-code as a topic, but rather an application that the author wants one to download. It runs up against WP:ELNO 4, 5, and 11.
I've deleted the link on the basis of WP:BRD, but the IPs don't take it here. I'd appreciate it if somebody would revert the edit so I don't look like I'm engaging in a slow edit war.
Glrx ( talk) 03:39, 29 April 2012 (UTC)
An explanation of the basis of the name "G-Code" would be helpful. Does it have anything to do with Gerber? Or does it derive from Gnn being a subset of codes that are very commonly used to tell a machine what to do? Or?
The article says "G-codes are [...] any word in a CNC program that begins with the letter G." That makes sense, but if so, why does an article that also describes all the other letters go by the title "G-Code"? Gwideman ( talk) 21:38, 6 March 2014 (UTC)
where is that? the 3d file? RealCyGuy ( talk) 14:33, 12 July 2018 (UTC)
.gcode is a plaintext format that contains the g-codes listed one after another, it is not a 3D file of an object but rather the toolpath. Some programs can use the toolpath and operation commands to generate a reconstruction of the object based on some assumptions about what the g-code file is written for. -- 2003:D6:170C:5A82:BCC3:6C66:317:53BE ( talk) 10:31, 6 June 2020 (UTC)
The history section states, "The first implementation of a numerical control programming language was developed at the MIT Servomechanisms Laboratory in the late 1950s."
No sources cited.
My casual investigation online finds no reference to the substance of a G-code language originating at MIT. The statement in the article doesn't assert that MIT had anything to do specifically with G-code, just a "first implementation" of something else. Nowhere does the article give the origins of G-code specifically, or why it had the favor of being adopted by anyone other than whoever invented this horror of software engineering. Any other NC or robotics work of that era has plenty of claimants who take credit. Similarly imperfect language projects like FORTRAN or BASIC have their authors credited.
I've spent some hours researching the technical lore online, and all I can find are old hands talking about G-code being first encountered as a quick hack to run the early Gerber drilling machines. Nobody seems to remember where it actually started as a concrete thing.
Sure hope this unsourced assertion is not some MIT pranksters up to WP mischief.
Can we know today who is responsible in history for starting G-code? Richard J Kinch ( talk) 06:17, 28 March 2019 (UTC)
Sources: Smid 2008;<ref name="Smid2008">{{Harvnb|Smid|2008}}.</ref> Smid 2010;<ref name="Smid2010">{{Harvnb|Smid|2010}}.</ref> Green et al. 1996.<ref name="Greenetal1996">{{Harvnb|Green|1996|pp=1162–1226}}.</ref> This line appears in the article, but there is no link to the actual publication, there is no title to the publication... and worst, it's not something that can be googled for easily! This needs to be fixed.
I miss an article or other description of GRBL in the Wikipedia, so I propose a sub-chapter 'GRBL' under 'implementations'. Okay? -- Edoe ( talk) 11:02, 14 February 2021 (UTC)
This article is rated C-class on Wikipedia's
content assessment scale. It is of interest to the following WikiProjects: | |||||||||||
|
Please restore: The section "List of G-codes commonly found on FANUC and similarly designed controls for milling and turning" as well as the section "Letter addresses", and "specific codes", and the "example program". They were deleted around July to August of 2023. The article is next to useless without the substance of example G, and M codes. Those sections make the article much more educational. Keep in mind machining is a technical trade, You can only dumb it down so much before you are saying nothing. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.127.21.16 ( talk) 02:11, 29 January 2024 (UTC)
Can someone fix this "a post"? I'm not sure exactly what they mean: "that can output the appropriate G-code called a post for a specific machine tool." — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.23.52.216 ( talk) 23:09, 3 January 2019 (UTC)
G-code and Gerber File articles seem to describe the same file format. At least googling for cnc "gerber" g00 g01 g02 and cnc "g-code" g00 g01 g02 gaves pages with similar lists. However I have little CNC experience to confirm this. -- 195.113.20.80 16:08, 26 Apr 2005 (UTC)
The Gerber format evolves from RS-274-D, but otherwise Gerber and G-Code have many differences, are used on different kind of machines and for different purposes. So better to keep these articles distinct. Lothartklein ( talk) 10:42, 20 February 2009 (UTC)
What about the units used in the G-code? I mean, where is it defined whether one uses inches, or centimeters, or some other unit? 134.58.253.114 10:53, 19 December 2005 (UTC)
There is a pair of G codes to switch between "inch" and metric. All CNCs have some way to switch between the two systems.
In general, G-codes are a simplistic progamming language. There are G code pairs to switch between not only inch and metric, but absolute and incremental coordinate designation. G codes are put into groups. The "motion" group includes G01 to denote linear departures, G02 to denote clockwise arc paths and G03 to denote counterclockwise arc motions.
There is only one CNC manufacturer that continues to use the EIA RS-274D standard for G code programming. All other manufacturers have adopted the international ISO standard. The two systems, while not identical, have significant overlap and commonality in how the G codes are used.
While the examples are interesting, they all lack one rather important thing: They never actually execute a tool change. T-- prepares the tool changer for the next tool swap, in the event the changer has such capability (most lower-end machines do not). M06 swaps the tool out. I have a few other concerns in this same area, and I'm going to pick on one program in particular. All suffer problems.
It begins like so: N1 X0 Y0 T01. This either goes to WCS 0,0 or doesn't move at all. We can't be sure, as the program isn't setting default modes. Then, it prepares the tool changer for a tool swap, but doesn't do anything. If the tool change DID execute via M06, the X and Y don't matter in the slightest, as the spindle on vertical machines needs only travel upwards to meet the changer. Both horizontal and vertical machines will move themselves to the tool changer in the event of a tool change, as absolute 0,0 can be anywhere on the bloody table. On top of this, no movement modes have been entered. So, even in the instance above, the machine doesn't have any of the information it needs to go anywhere (unless the machine enters a movement mode on startup, or you were running a program that actually did something beforehand). This program does nothing, moves the tool changer, and then does nothing again.
One generic, thoroughly explained program aught to be enough. Moreover, it should actually run on a machine if an example is to be included at all. Reducing complexity is necessary teaching new concepts, but not to the point where the information doesn't actually help anyone.
- Toastydeath 06:26, 29 November 2006 (UTC)
He used a lathe as a sample. On a lathe, a Txxyy (T xx=tool number - yy=offset number -- usually the first two digits designate which tool, the second two digits designate which offset. USUALLY, I said) ... anyway, when you call Txxyy, the turret immediately indexes to Tool xx, picks up offset yy, and bob's yer uncle.
Mills are different, they want an M to do the actual switch. Well, most of them. I'm sure there is one somewhere that doesn't ... M codes in particular vary from manufacturer to manufacturer or used to. Now we only have two or three controls and manufacturers, so not as much variety.
btw, I think that sample program is not very good. Turning G96 on when you are still two feet away from the part is stupid. In fact, G96 is stupid except for the finish pass. Kids these days :( 116.231.75.122 ( talk) 12:46, 23 March 2017 (UTC)
Hello here are mistakes in program in G-codes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.3.244.60 ( talk) 18:10, 29 May 2009 (UTC)
I think the example program is wrong. Every machine I've ever run will only allow one M code per line. Also, why would you optional stop after you've backed the tool away from the work, but before a tool change. I think the traditional way it's done is to have an optional stop between each tool change. Actually, never mind. The whole program is messed up. I think it's best just to re-write it rather than bitch about it here. I'll take care of it. SteveB67 ( talk) 19:37, 18 March 2010 (UTC)
Bullshit that it's "entirely wrong". The only single word of the whole paragraph that you consider wrong is that "most" could be changed to "many" to avoid quantifying. I fixed that single word. — ¾-10 00:49, 12 July 2017 (UTC)
Why is G96 considered constant cutting speed whereas in the example program it is specified that G96 is variable cutting speed set with Sxxxx, which is NOT surface speed, but rather spindle speed.? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.251.107.193 ( talk) 22:31, 19 August 2010 (UTC)
I believe there should be a brief description of what a WORD is before the term is used further down in the body of the text. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.70.254.196 ( talk) 17:23, 18 September 2010 (UTC)
The reference to NURBS near the end of the first section is inappropriate. G0, G1, G2, etc, in the context of NURBS have to do with continuity conditions across adjacent curve segments and _nothing_ to do with NC G-codes. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 134.242.21.29 ( talk) 19:55, 13 October 2010 (UTC)
Is there a standardized header defined with tool information (form, diameter, spindle speed, X-Y movement speed, Z movement speed etc)? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.165.103.158 ( talk) 09:14, 7 February 2011 (UTC)
Deleted by User:Glrx from the "programming environments" section:
"Another recent evolution of the G-code programming environment is the integration of MTConnect, which makes the data of the G-code runtime environment available over internet protocol using open standards ( XML schemas, XSLT, et al). For example, MTConnect wraps a block of G-code in XML tags and sends it to the mobile phone of the machine owner, who thus gets a real-time status update on the machine's operation."
Note that this is NOT the same text that was deleted the first time. It is a much-reduced mention with link, whereas the original version was, admittedly, forked versus the MTConnect article, as dawned on me after it was deleted. However, this new draft is short and unforked, so unless someone who is knowledgeable about CNC explains here in this talk thread what their objection is to this draft, it will be going back in, as this revised paragraph has NOT been reverted by two different editors. Thanks. — ¾-10 22:25, 12 October 2011 (UTC)
G-code → RS-274 – This article is ultimately about the machine tool language specified in EIA RS-274. The language is frequently called RS-274 (or a close variant such as RS274). It would fit the naming convention used in other common EIA standards that are known by their RS-name: RS-232 and RS-485. I cannot find my copy right now, so I don't if if a hypen is used in the actual RS-274 standard, but my ancient copy of the serial "RS-232-B" standard shows hypens, so I expect the last rev of the machine tool language would be "RS-274-D". For our purposes (like RS-232), the revision letter is irrelevant. Renaming the the article to RS-274 would also side-step/minimize much of the "G-code" name issue. One of the external links even refers to "G-code and M-code" programming, so the mere G-code lacks precision. The NIST interpreter uses the name "RS274/NGC" instead of calling itself a G-code interpreter. The NIST doc says it reads "numerical control code in the 'NGC' dialect of the RS274 numerical control language" (page 1, first sentence). NIST uses the term "G-code" for a specific G and number combination (see pages 19-20). Glrx ( talk) 21:53, 27 February 2012 (UTC)
From time to time, an IPuser will insert an advertising link, for example this edit. The link is to a page that starts, "NC Corrector, my G-code editor". The descriptive paragraph on that webpage apologizes that it is merely project:
WP is not interested in advertising people's projects, and the site is not about G-code as a topic, but rather an application that the author wants one to download. It runs up against WP:ELNO 4, 5, and 11.
I've deleted the link on the basis of WP:BRD, but the IPs don't take it here. I'd appreciate it if somebody would revert the edit so I don't look like I'm engaging in a slow edit war.
Glrx ( talk) 03:39, 29 April 2012 (UTC)
An explanation of the basis of the name "G-Code" would be helpful. Does it have anything to do with Gerber? Or does it derive from Gnn being a subset of codes that are very commonly used to tell a machine what to do? Or?
The article says "G-codes are [...] any word in a CNC program that begins with the letter G." That makes sense, but if so, why does an article that also describes all the other letters go by the title "G-Code"? Gwideman ( talk) 21:38, 6 March 2014 (UTC)
where is that? the 3d file? RealCyGuy ( talk) 14:33, 12 July 2018 (UTC)
.gcode is a plaintext format that contains the g-codes listed one after another, it is not a 3D file of an object but rather the toolpath. Some programs can use the toolpath and operation commands to generate a reconstruction of the object based on some assumptions about what the g-code file is written for. -- 2003:D6:170C:5A82:BCC3:6C66:317:53BE ( talk) 10:31, 6 June 2020 (UTC)
The history section states, "The first implementation of a numerical control programming language was developed at the MIT Servomechanisms Laboratory in the late 1950s."
No sources cited.
My casual investigation online finds no reference to the substance of a G-code language originating at MIT. The statement in the article doesn't assert that MIT had anything to do specifically with G-code, just a "first implementation" of something else. Nowhere does the article give the origins of G-code specifically, or why it had the favor of being adopted by anyone other than whoever invented this horror of software engineering. Any other NC or robotics work of that era has plenty of claimants who take credit. Similarly imperfect language projects like FORTRAN or BASIC have their authors credited.
I've spent some hours researching the technical lore online, and all I can find are old hands talking about G-code being first encountered as a quick hack to run the early Gerber drilling machines. Nobody seems to remember where it actually started as a concrete thing.
Sure hope this unsourced assertion is not some MIT pranksters up to WP mischief.
Can we know today who is responsible in history for starting G-code? Richard J Kinch ( talk) 06:17, 28 March 2019 (UTC)
Sources: Smid 2008;<ref name="Smid2008">{{Harvnb|Smid|2008}}.</ref> Smid 2010;<ref name="Smid2010">{{Harvnb|Smid|2010}}.</ref> Green et al. 1996.<ref name="Greenetal1996">{{Harvnb|Green|1996|pp=1162–1226}}.</ref> This line appears in the article, but there is no link to the actual publication, there is no title to the publication... and worst, it's not something that can be googled for easily! This needs to be fixed.
I miss an article or other description of GRBL in the Wikipedia, so I propose a sub-chapter 'GRBL' under 'implementations'. Okay? -- Edoe ( talk) 11:02, 14 February 2021 (UTC)