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CNC Programming with G-Code:

The Definitive Guide in 2018

G-Code is the fundamental language of CNC Programming and this is the ultimate guide to CNC G-Code Programming. It will sharpen your skills so that you're a great CNC G-Code Programmer by covering topics from basic CNC Programming all the way through to advanced topics such as Macro B programming. You get great examples, tips, videos, free software, and more.

Chapter 1

What is CNC Programming and how can it help you?

Chapter 2

G-Code Standards and Dialects: What's different; what's the same?

Chapter 3

CNC Coordinates: Learn to do what manual machinists do on your CNC machine

Chapter 4

G-Code Cheat Sheets and CNC Programming Secret Weapons

Chapter 5

Get Productive with CNC Programming Software

Chapter 6

Get Your CNC Machine Ready to Run Your Program

Chapter 7

Jedi CNC Programming Topics, Techniques, and Resources

Resources

G-Code Quick Reference Tables

Complete list of Fanuc and Haas G-Codes with Examples

G-Code Examples

Quick examples to give you a feel for g-code.

Extended Resource List

Chapter 1

What is CNC Programming and how can it help you?

What is CNC Programming?

CNC Programming (Computer Numerical Control Programming) is the art of programming CNC machines to make parts. A CNC Program is a text file that contains g-code.

What is G-Code?

G-Code is the language used to control CNC machines. It's one type of CNC programming that CNC programmers use, the other type being CAM programming. CAM programs will generate g-code from a CAD drawing, but the end result is still g-code.

Your machine's CNC controller probably executes g-code, although there are other possibilities–Heidenhain, Mazak, Shopbot, and others have proprietary formats. Some machines with proprietary formats can also run g-code. It is the Lingua Franca (working language) of CNC.

In order to make a part on a CNC machine, you tell it how to make the part using a G-Code Program.

What are the different methods of CNC Programming?

CNC Machines are programmed using one of three methods:

CAM Software

Conversational Programming

G-Code Programming

Often, it's advantageous to use multiple methods together. For example, you might create an initial CNC program using CAM Software and then edit the g-code from the CAM Software using G-Code Programming to make the program manufacture a part faster.

Why should I learn CNC Programming?

Every CNC machinist should know g-code. If you're interested in CNC and machining, you should too.

We recently did a survey to assess the g-code skills of our readership. You should not be suprised to learn that many are quite proficient with G-Code:

We were impressed at how many readers can write g-code programs from scratch. In fact the overwhelming majority read, write, or tweak programs on a regular basis. If you're not yet able to do that, you need to learn if you want your skills to be on part with others.

CNC Programming can be a valuable skill to possess. According to Glass Door, CNC Programmers receive an average salary of $54000/year. Compare that to CNC Machine Operators that get $42,000/year and CNC Machinist's who get $42,000/year.

Being a proficient CNC Programmer can boost your income pretty substantially based on those numbers.

Learning Conversational Programming is a start. Picking up Conversational CNC along with some MDI work will soon make you as productive if not more productive than a manual machinist on a manual machine.

Getting good with CAM Software is even more important. You'll be able to create parts that are just not possible to do manually, or that would take too long to be worth doing.

But being a capable g-code programmer able to tackle macros and such is the final rung on the ladder. It may come as a surprise to most CAM users, but there are many things a g-code programmer can do that simply aren't possible with CAM. In general, G-Code Programming is ideal for these kinds of tasks:

Simple parts can be easier with g