CNC Lathe G-Code and M-Code Quick Reference With Examples

Enter a drawing to win a SideStop work stop and receive our free weekly newsletter.

Enter Now!

G-Code and M-Code Reference for Turning

These are the common g-codes for CNC Lathes and turning. Code categories are the groupings for the g-code Wizard (type Ctrl+G for the Wizard). Function tells what the g-code does, Notes gives a little more information such as the parameters, and Tutorial is a link (if any) to a tutorial that uses G-Wizard Editor to teach how to use the g-code.

	Code	Category	Function	Notes	Tutorials
	G00	Motion	Move in a straight line at rapids speed.	XYZ of endpoint	G00 and MDI. Linear Motion: G00 and G01
	G01	Motion	Move in a straight line at last speed commanded by a (F)eedrate	XYZ of endpoint	G01 and MDI. Linear Motion: G00 and G01
	G02	Motion	Clockwise circular arc at (F)eedrate	XYZ of endpoint IJK relative to center R for radius	Circular Arcs: G02 and G03
	G03	Motion	Counter-clockwise circular arc at (F)eedrate	XYZ of endpoint IJK relative to center R for radius	Circular Arcs: G02 and G03
	G04	Motion	Dwell: Stop for a specified time.	P for milliseconds X for seconds	Precise Timing and Speed: Dwell, Exact Stop, Backlash Compensation
	G09	Motion	Exact stop check		Precise Timing and Speed: Dwell, Exact Stop, Backlash Compensation
	G10	Compensation	Programmable parameter input
	G17	Coordinate	Select X-Y plane		CNC G-Code Coordinates
	G18	Coordinate	Select X-Z plane		CNC G-Code Coordinates
	G19	Coordinate	Select Y-Z plane		CNC G-Code Coordinates
	G20	Coordinate	Program coordinates are inches		G20 and G21: Unit Conversion
	G21	Coordinate	Program coordinates are mm		G20 and G21: Unit Conversion
	G27	Motion	Reference point return check		G28: Return to Reference Point
	G28	Motion	Return to home position		G28: Return to Reference Point
	G29	Motion	Return from the reference position		G28: Return to Reference Point
	G30	Motion	Return to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th reference point		G28: Return to Reference Point
	G32	Canned	Constant lead threading (like G01 synchronized with spindle)
	G40	Compensation	Tool cutter compensation off (radius comp.)
	G41	Compensation	Tool cutter compensation left (radius comp.)
	G42	Compensation	Tool cutter compensation right (radius comp.)
	G43	Compensation	Apply tool length compensation (plus)
	G44	Compensation	Apply tool length compensation (minus)
	G49	Compensation	Tool length compensation cancel
	G50	Compensation	Reset all scale factors to 1.0
	G51	Compensation	Turn on scale factors
	G52	Coordinate	Local workshift for all coordinate systems: add XYZ offsets
	G53	Coordinate	Machine coordinate system (cancel work offsets)
	G54	Coordinate	Work coordinate system (1st Workpiece)
	G55	Coordinate	Work coordinate system (2nd Workpiece)
	G56	Coordinate	Work coordinate system (3rd Workpiece)
	G57	Coordinate	Work coordinate system (4th Workpiece)
	G58	Coordinate	Work coordinate system (5th Workpiece)
	G59	Coordinate	Work coordinate system (6th Workpiece)
	G61	Other	Exact stop check mode		Precise Timing and Speed: Dwell, Exact Stop, Backlash Compensation
	G62	Other	Automatic corner override
	G63	Other	Tapping mode
	G64	Other	Best speed path
	G65	Other	Custom macro simple call		Subprograms and Macros
	G70	Canned	Finish Turning Cycle
	G71	Canned	Rough Turning Cycle		G71: Rough Turning Cycle G71 Type II: Rough Turning With "Pockets"
	G72	Canned	Rough Facing Cycle
	G73	Canned	Pattern Repeating Cycle
	G74	Canned	Peck Drilling Cycle
	G75	Canned	Grooving Cycle
	G76	Canned	Threading Cycle		G76 Lathe Threading Cycle
	G80	Canned	Cancel canned cycle
	G83	Canned	Face drilling cycle
	G84	Canned	Face Tapping cycle
	G86	Canned	Boring canned cycle, spindle stop, rapid out
	G87	Canned	Side Drilling Cycle
	G88	Canned	Side Tapping Cycle
	G89	Canned	Side Boring Cycle
	G90	Coordinate	Absolute programming of XYZ (type B and C systems)
	G90.1	Coordinate	Absolute programming IJK (type B and C systems)
	G91	Coordinate	Incremental programming of XYZ (type B and C systems)
	G91.1	Coordinate	Incremental programming IJK (type B and C systems)
	G92	Coordinate	Thread Cutting Cycle
	G92 (alternate)	Motion	Clamp of maximum spindle speed	S
	G94	Motion	Endface Turning Cycle

	G96	Motion	Constant Surface Speed ON		G96: Constant Surface Speed
	G97	Motion	Constant Surface Speed Cancel		G96: Constant Surface Speed
	G98	Motion	Linear Feedrate per Time
	G99	Motion	Feedrate per Revolution






M-Codes
	Code	Category	Function	Notes	Tutorials
	M00	M-Code	Program Stop (non-optional)
	M01	M-Code	Optional Stop: Operator Selected to Enable
	M02	M-Code	End of Program
	M03	M-Code	Spindle ON (CW Rotation)		M03 and MDI.
	M04	M-Code	Spindle ON (CCW Rotation)
	M05	M-Code	Spindle Stop		M05 and MDI.
	M06	M-Code	Tool Change
	M07	M-Code	Mist Coolant ON		M07 and MDI.
	M08	M-Code	Flood Coolant ON		M08 and MDI.
	M09	M-Code	Coolant OFF		M09 and MDI.

	M13	M-Code	Spindle ON (CW Rotation) + Coolant ON		M13 and MDI.
	M14	M-Code	Spindle ON (CCW Rotation) + Coolant ON		M14 and MDI.


	M30	M-Code	End of Program, Rewind and Reset Modes

	M97	M-Code	Haas-Style Subprogram Call		Subprograms and Macros
	M98	M-Code	Subprogram Call		Subprograms and Macros
	M99	M-Code	Return from Subprogram		Subprograms and Macros

Bonus: Check Out our Other CNC Cookbooks for More In-Depth CNC Information!

If you're a CNC Beginnner, check out our CNC Beginner's Cookbook. It'll get you up to speed with a solid CNC foundation fast.

We also have Cookbooks for Feeds and Speeds, G-Code Programming, CNC Manufacturing and Shop Management, DIY CNC, and don't forget the CNC Cookbook Blog--with over 2 million visitors a year it's the most popular CNC blog by far on the web.