CNC Letters

NOTE: The following will be a listing and

description of Computer Numerical Control
(CNC) Codes and Letter designations. We
will try to stick with only generic codes
that will work on most machines. Some
examples may be specifically for the
machines we have at South Adams / Area
18 Machine Trades. Please contact the
instructor if you find any errors, missing
items, or anything you would like to see
added. jdailey@southadams.k12.in.us

Letter

Meaning

Rotary indexing axis around the "X" axis

Rotary indexing axis around the "Y" axis

Rotary indexing axis around the "Z" axis

Cutter Radius / Diameter offset number

Feedrate in inches per revolution (Lathe)

Feedrate in inches per minute (can be used on lathes)

Preparatory commands

Offset Number (Mill - tool length)(Lathe - Position offset)

Arc center location in the "X" axis

Arc center location in the "Y" axis

Arc center location in the "Z" axis

Fixed Cycle repetition count / subprogram repetition count

Miscellaneous function

Block / Sequence number

Program Number

Subprogram / Macro Number call

Dwell time in milliseconds

Block number in main program when used with M99

Depth of peck in fixed cycles (G73and G83)

Shift amount in fixed cycle (G76 and G87)

Retract point in fixed cycles

Arc Radius designation

Spindle speed in RPMs

Tool function

Incremental move in "X" axis

Incremental move in "Y" axis

Incremental move in "Z" axis

"X" axis coordinate value designation

"Y" axis coordinate value designation

"Z" axis coordinate value designation

You should already

have a list of G&M
Codes and CNC
Letters as shown.
If you do not have
one, see your
instructor, or
download one off
of the South
Adams / Area 18
Machine Trades

CNC Alphabet
- We learned our A-B-Cs at home with
our parents, in pre-school or
kindergarten but I bet you never knew
they could be this powerful.
- Most of what we are going to start
with will be based around a Fanuc 3
Axis CNC Vertical Milling Machine

XYZ
We are going to start with the end of the
alphabet first since you have been using
the Cartesian coordinate system in math
class for several years
Z = The axis that is parallel to the
spindle
X = The axis which is normally the
longest Linear movement that crosses
the Z axis
Y = The last axis on a 3-axis machine,
normally the shorter linear movement

A-B-C
- A, B, C axes are used when you want to
rotate or index the partX Y Z

ABC

A
X-

X+

- A = The Rotary axis around the BX axis

- B = The Rotary axis around the Y+/Y axis
Z+
- C = The Rotary axis around the Z axis

Z-

D
- Cutter Diameter Compensation
Number
- Some machines may require the Radius of
the tool

- The Number associated with the D

refers to where in the Offsets page
the program will look to find the right
number to use.
Example: G41 D14

E
- Feedrate on a CNC Lathe
- Specified as IPR (Inches Per Revolution)

Example: G01 X1.0 E.006

F
- Feedrate on a CNC Mill or Lathe
- Milling = Specified as IPM (Inches Per
Minute)
- Lathe = Specified as IPR (Inches Per
Revolution)

Example: Mill = G01 X1.0 F12.0 (12 IPM)

Lathe = G01 X1.0 F0.006 (.006 IPR)

G
- Preparatory Commands
- The G codes typically prepare or prompt
the machine to do something

- Preparatory Definition

(according to

www.dictionary.com)

1. Serving or designed to prepare

2. Preliminary; Introductory

Example: G17 G20 G40 G80 G90

- Height Offset
- Cutter Compensation typically used to
compensate for the Length of the tool
- G43 or G44

- Typically the distance the tool would

need to travel to get from the Z
home position to the top of the part
- The Number associated with the H
refers to where in the Offsets page
the program will look to find the right
number to use.

I-J-K

- I, J, K axis are used when you need to

specify the point from where the tool is
currently at to the centerline of the arc
when using G02 or G03
- I = Radius centerline location on the X
axis
- J = Radius centerline location on the Y
X
Y
Z
axis
I J on
K the
- K = Radius centerline location
Zaxis

1. Canned or Fixed Cycle Repetition

Count
- Example: 10 holes 1 apart, .250 deep
-

G81 X1.0 Y2.0 Z-.250 R.100

G91 X1.0 L9

2. Sub-Program Repetition Count

- Example: Call up Program o1001 and
repeat 10 times
-

M98 P1001 L10

1. Miscellaneous Functions
- Typically turns something ON or OFF
-

M30
M03
M05
M98
M99
M07
M09

=
=
=
=
=
=
=

turns
turns
turns
turns
turns
turns
turns

OFF program
ON spindle
OFF spindle
ON a sub-program
OFF a sub program
ON mist coolant
OFF coolant

- Line Number

- Typically by Tens
- Example:
-

N0010
N0020
N0030
N0040

- Reason it is by Tens..
-

What if you had a 3000 line program and

realized you forgot something between line
N0030 and N0040
Answer: You could number lines N0031,
N0032, N0033, N0034, N0035, N0036, N0037,

- Program Number
- On most older machines it must
be:
-

the letter O and any four digits

-

No more no less

- Nowadays, most machines will

take about anything as a
program name
- Most program numbers would

1. Sub-Program call number when used

with M98
- Used in the place of O

2. Work Offset Number when used with

G10
3. Dwell time in milliseconds: G4 and
Canned cycles
- to renumber the whole program! (but you
can)

1. Depth of peck in Canned or Fixed

Cycles
- G73 or G83
- G83 X2.0 Y3.0 Z-1.50 R.100 Q.250 F6.0

2. Shift amount in Canned or Fixed Cycles

- G76 or G87

1. Retract point in Canned or Fixed

Cycles
- G83 X2.0 Y3.0 Z-1.50 R.100 Q.250 F6.0

2. Arc Radius Designation

- G02 X1.0 Y1.0 R1.0

- Spindle Speed in RPMs

- M03 S1500

- Tool Function

- Specifies what tool number you want to

use
- M06 T10

U-V-W
- U, V, W axes are used when you an
auxiliary axis parallel to the XYZ axes
- Incremental move parallel to the XYZ
axes
XYZ

UVW
- U = Incremental move in the X axis
- V = Incremental move in the Y axis
- W = Incremental move in the Z axis

X-Y-Z
- X, Y, and Z are probably the 3 most
popular letters in CNC Programming
even though they are last!
- Dont forget, there are a lot of other
letters that are directly related to the
XYZ axes

XYZ
ABC
I J K
UVW