The EMC2 G Code language is based on the RS274/NGC language. The G Code language is based on lines of code. Each line (also called a "block") may include commands to do several different things. Lines of code may be collected in a file to make a program.
A typical line of code consists of an optional line number at the beginning followed by one or more "words". A word consists of a letter followed by a number (or something that evaluates to a number). A word may either give a command or provide an argument to a command. For example, "G1 X3" is a valid line of code with two words. "G1" is a command meaning "move in a straight line at the programmed feed rate to the programmed end point", and "X3" provides an argument value (the value of X should be 3 at the end of the move). Most EMC2 G Code commands start with either G or M (for General and Miscellaneous). The words for these commands are called "G codes" and "M codes."
The EMC2 language has no indicator for the start of a program. The Interpreter, however, deals with files. A single program may be in a single file, or a program may be spread across several files. A file may demarcated with percents in the following way. The first non-blank line of a file may contain nothing but a percent sign, "%", possibly surrounded by white space, and later in the file (normally at the end of the file) there may be a similar line. Demarcating a file with percents is optional if the file has an M2 or M30 in it, but is required if not. An error will be signalled if a file has a percent line at the beginning but not at the end. The useful contents of a file demarcated by percents stop after the second percent line. Anything after that is ignored.
The EMC2 G Code language has two commands (M2 or M30), either of which ends a program. A program may end before the end of a file. Lines of a file that occur after the end of a program are not to be executed. The interpreter does not even read them.
A permissible line of input code consists of the following, in order, with the restriction that there is a maximum (currently 256) to the number of characters allowed on a line.
Any input not explicitly allowed is illegal and will cause the Interpreter to signal an error.
Spaces and tabs are allowed anywhere on a line of code and do not change the meaning of the line, except inside comments. This makes some strange-looking input legal. The line "G0X +0. 12 34Y 7" is equivalent to "G0 x+0.1234 Y7", for example.
Blank lines are allowed in the input. They are to be ignored.
Input is case insensitive, except in comments, i.e., any letter outside a comment may be in upper or lower case without changing the meaning of a line.
A line number is the letter N followed by an integer (with no sign) between 0 and 99999 written with no more than five digits (000009 is not OK, for example). Line numbers may be repeated or used out of order, although normal practice is to avoid such usage. Line numbers may also be skipped, and that is normal practice. A line number is not required to be used, but must be in the proper place if used.
A word is a letter other than N followed by a real value.
Words may begin with any of the letters shown in Table [.]. The table includes N for completeness, even though, as defined above, line numbers are not words. Several letters (I, J, K, L, P, R) may have different meanings in different contexts. Letters which refer to axis names are not valid on a machine which does not have the corresponding axis.
| Letter | Meaning |
| A | A axis of machine |
| B | B axis of machine |
| C | C axis of machine |
| D | Tool radius compensation number |
| F | Feed rate |
| G | General function (See table [.]) |
| H | Tool length offset index |
| I | X offset for arcs and G87 canned cycles |
| J | Y offset for arcs and G87 canned cycles |
| K | Z offset for arcs and G87 canned cycles. |
| Spindle-Motion Ratio for G33 synchronized movements. | |
| M | Miscellaneous function (See table [.]) |
| N | Line number |
| P | Dwell time in canned cycles and with G4. |
| Key used with G10. | |
| Q | Feed increment in G73, G83 canned cycles |
| R | Arc radius or canned cycle plane |
| S | Spindle speed |
| T | Tool selection |
| U | U axis of machine |
| V | V axis of machine |
| W | W axis of machine |
| X | X axis of machine |
| Y | Y axis of machine |
| Z | Z axis of machine |
The following rules are used for (explicit) numbers. In these rules a digit is a single character between 0 and 9.
Notice that initial (before the decimal point and the first non-zero digit) and trailing (after the decimal point and the last non-zero digit) zeros are allowed but not required. A number written with initial or trailing zeros will have the same value when it is read as if the extra zeros were not there.
Numbers used for specific purposes in RS274/NGC are often restricted to some finite set of values or some to some range of values. In many uses, decimal numbers must be close to integers; this includes the values of indexes (for parameters and carousel slot numbers, for example), M codes, and G codes multiplied by ten. A decimal number which is supposed be close to an integer is considered close enough if it is within 0.0001 of an integer.
A numbered parameter is the pound character # followed by an integer between 1 and 5399. The parameter is referred to by this integer, and its value is whatever number is stored in the parameter.
A value is stored in a parameter with the = operator; for example "#3 = 15" means "set parameter 3 to 15." A parameter setting does not take effect until after all parameter values on the same line have been found. For example, if parameter 3 has been previously set to 15 and the line "#3=6 G1 x#3" is interpreted, a straight move to a point where x equals 15 will occur and the value of parameter 3 will be 6.
The # character takes precedence over other operations, so that, for example, "#1+2" means the number found by adding 2 to the value of parameter 1, not the value found in parameter 3. Of course, #[1+2] does mean the value found in parameter 3. The # character may be repeated; for example ##2 means the value of the parameter whose index is the (integer) value of parameter 2.
The interpreter maintains a number of readonly parameters for a loaded tool:
Named parameters work like numbered parameters but are easier to read. All parameter names are converted to lower case and have spaces and tabs removed. Named parameters must be enclosed with < > marks.
#<named parameter here> is a local named parameter. By default, a named parameter is local to the scope in which it is assigned. You can't access a local parameter outside of its subroutine - this is so that two subroutines can use the same parameter names without fear of one subroutine overwriting the values in another.
#<_global named parameter here> is a global named parameter. They are accessible from within called subroutines and may set values within subroutines that are accessible to the caller. As far as scope is concerned, they act just like regular numeric parameters. They are not stored in files.
Examples:
#<_endmill_dia> = 0.049
#<_endmill_rad> = [#<_endmill_dia>/2.0]
o100 call [0.0] [0.0] [#<_inside_cutout>-#<_endmill_dia>] [#<_Zcut>] [#<_feedrate>]
Notes:
The global parameters _a, _b, _c, ... _z have been reserved for special use. In the future, they may provide access to the last Aword, Bword, Cword, etc.
An expression is a set of characters starting with a left bracket [ and ending with a balancing right bracket ]. In between the brackets are numbers, parameter values, mathematical operations, and other expressions. An expression is evaluated to produce a number. The expressions on a line are evaluated when the line is read, before anything on the line is executed. An example of an expression is [1 + acos[0] - [#3 ** [4.0/2]]].
Binary operators only appear inside expressions. There are four basic mathematical operations: addition (+), subtraction (-), multiplication (*), and division (/). There are three logical operations: non-exclusive or (OR), exclusive or (XOR), and logical and (AND). The eighth operation is the modulus operation (MOD). The ninth operation is the "power" operation (**) of raising the number on the left of the operation to the power on the right. The relational operators are equality (EQ), inequality (NE), strictly greater than (GT), greater than or equal to (GE), strictly less than (LT), and less than or equal to (LE).
The binary operations are divided into several groups according to their precedence. (see table [.]) If operations in different precedence groups are strung together (for example in the expression [2.0 / 3 * 1.5 - 5.5 / 11.0]), operations in a higher group are to be performed before operations in a lower group. If an expression contains more than one operation from the same group (such as the first / and * in the example), the operation on the left is performed first. Thus, the example is equivalent to: [[[2.0 / 3] * 1.5] - [5.5 / 11.0]] , which is equivalent to to [1.0 - 0.5] , which is 0.5.
The logical operations and modulus are to be performed on any real numbers, not just on integers. The number zero is equivalent to logical false, and any non-zero number is equivalent to logical true.
| Operators | Precedence |
| ** | highest |
| * / MOD | |
| + - | |
| EQ NE GT GE LT LE | |
| AND OR XOR | lowest |
A function is either "ATAN" followed by one expression divided by another expression (for example "ATAN[2]/[1+3]") or any other function name followed by an expression (for example "SIN[90]"). The available functions are shown in table [.]. Arguments to unary operations which take angle measures (COS, SIN, and TAN) are in degrees. Values returned by unary operations which return angle measures (ACOS, ASIN, and ATAN) are also in degrees.
The FIX operation rounds towards the left (less positive or more negative) on a number line, so that FIX[2.8] =2 and FIX[-2.8] = -3, for example. The FUP operation rounds towards the right (more positive or less negative) on a number line; FUP[2.8] = 3 and FUP[-2.8] = -2, for example.
| Function Name | Function result |
| ATAN[Y]/[X] | Four quadrant inverse tangent |
| ABS[arg] | Absolute value |
| ACOS[arg] | Inverse cosine |
| ASIN[arg] | Inverse sine |
| COS[arg] | Cosine |
| EXP[arg] | e raised to the given power |
| FIX[arg] | Round down to integer |
| FUP[arg] | Round up to integer |
| ROUND[arg] | Round to nearest integer |
| LN[arg] | Base-e logarithm |
| SIN[arg] | Sine |
| SQRT[arg] | Square Root |
| TAN[arg] | Tangent |
A line may have any number of G words, but two G words from the same modal group (see Section [.]) may not appear on the same line.
A line may have zero to four M words. Two M words from the same modal group may not appear on the same line.
For all other legal letters, a line may have only one word beginning with that letter.
If a parameter setting of the same parameter is repeated on a line, "#3=15 #3=6", for example, only the last setting will take effect. It is silly, but not illegal, to set the same parameter twice on the same line.
If more than one comment appears on a line, only the last one will be used; each of the other comments will be read and its format will be checked, but it will be ignored thereafter. It is expected that putting more than one comment on a line will be very rare.
The three types of item whose order may vary on a line (as given at the beginning of this section) are word, parameter setting, and comment. Imagine that these three types of item are divided into three groups by type.
The first group (the words) may be reordered in any way without changing the meaning of the line.
If the second group (the parameter settings) is reordered, there will be no change in the meaning of the line unless the same parameter is set more than once. In this case, only the last setting of the parameter will take effect. For example, after the line “#3=15 #3=6” has been interpreted, the value of parameter 3 will be 6. If the order is reversed to “#3=6 #3=15” and the line is interpreted, the value of parameter 3 will be 15.
If the third group (the comments) contains more than one comment and is reordered, only the last comment will be used.
If each group is kept in order or reordered without changing the meaning of the line, then the three groups may be interleaved in any way without changing the meaning of the line. For example, the line “g40 g1 #3=15 (foo) #4=-7.0” has five items and means exactly the same thing in any of the 120 possible orders (such as “#4=-7.0 g1 #3=15 g40 (foo)”) for the five items.
Many commands cause the controller to change from one mode to another, and the mode stays active until some other command changes it implicitly or explicitly. Such commands are called "modal". For example, if coolant is turned on, it stays on until it is explicitly turned off. The G codes for motion are also modal. If a G1 (straight move) command is given on one line, for example, it will be executed again on the next line if one or more axis words is available on the line, unless an explicit command is given on that next line using the axis words or cancelling motion.
"Non-modal" codes have effect only on the lines on which they occur. For example, G4 (dwell) is non-modal.
Modal commands are arranged in sets called "modal groups", and only one member of a modal group may be in force at any given time. In general, a modal group contains commands for which it is logically impossible for two members to be in effect at the same time - like measure in inches vs. measure in millimeters. A machining center may be in many modes at the same time, with one mode from each modal group being in effect. The modal groups are shown in Table [.].
| Modal Group Meaning | Member Words |
| Motion ("Group 1") | G0 G1 G2 G3 G33 G38.x G73 G76 G80 G81 |
| G82 G83 G84 G85 G86 G87 G88 G89 | |
| Plane selection | G17, G18, G19 |
| Diameter / Radius for lathes | G7, G8 |
| Distance Mode | G90, G91 |
| Feed Rate Mode | G93, G94 |
| Units | G20, G21 |
| Cutter Radius Compensation | G40, G41, G42, G41.1, G42.1 |
| Tool Length Offset | G43, G43.1, G49 |
| Return Mode in Canned Cycles | G98, G99 |
| Coordinate System Selection | G54, G55, G56, G57, G58 |
| G59, G59.1, G59.2, G59.3 | |
| Stopping | M0, M1, M2, M30, M60 |
| Tool Change | M6 Tn |
| Spindle Turning | M3, M4, M5 |
| Coolant | M7, M8, M9. Special case: |
| M7 and M8 may be active at the same time | |
| Override Switches | M48, M49 |
| Flow Control | O- |
| Non-modal codes (“Group 0”) | G4, G10 G28, G30, G53 |
| G92, G92.1, G92.2, G92.3 | |
| M100 to M199 |
For several modal groups, when a machining center is ready to accept commands, one member of the group must be in effect. There are default settings for these modal groups. When the machining center is turned on or otherwise re-initialized, the default values are automatically in effect.
Group 1, the first group on the table, is a group of G codes for motion. One of these is always in effect. That one is called the current motion mode.
It is an error to put a G-code from group 1 and a G-code from group 0 on the same line if both of them use axis words. If an axis word-using G-code from group 1 is implicitly in effect on a line (by having been activated on an earlier line), and a group 0 G-code that uses axis words appears on the line, the activity of the group 1 G-code is suspended for that line. The axis word-using G-codes from group 0 are G10, G28, G30, and G92.
It is an error to include any unrelated words on a line with O- flow control.
Comments can be added to lines of G code to help clear up the intention of the programmer. Comments can be embedded in a line using parentheses () or for the remainder of a line using a semi-colon. The semi-colon is not treated as the start of a comment when enclosed in parentheses.
G0 (Rapid to start) X1 Y1
G0 X1 Y1 (Rapid to start; but don't forget the coolant)
M2 ; End of program.
The interpreter and task are carefully written so that the only limit on part program size is disk capacity. The TkEMC and Axis interface both load the program text to display it to the user, though, so RAM becomes a limiting factor. In Axis, because the preview plot is drawn by default, the redraw time also becomes a practical limit on program size. The preview can be turned off in Axis to speed up loading large part programs. In Axis sections of the preview can be turned off using special comments.
The order of execution of items on a line is defined not by the position of each item on the line, but by the following list:
Use at least 3 digits after the decimal when milling in millimeters, and at least 4 digits after the decimal when milling in inches.
G-code is most legible when at least one space appears before words. While it is permitted to insert white space in the middle of numbers, there is no reason to do so.
Center-format arcs (which use I- J- K- instead of R-) behave more consistently than R-format arcs, particularly for included angles near 180 or 360 degrees.
When correct execution of your program depends on modal settings, be sure to set them at the beginning of the part program. Modes can carry over from previous programs and from the MDI commands.
As a good preventative measure, put a line similar to the following at the top of all your programs:
G17 G20 G40 G49 G54 G80 G90 G94
(XY plane, inch mode, cancel diameter compensation, cancel length offset, coordinate system 1, cancel motion, non-incremental motion, feed/minute mode)
Perhaps the most critical modal setting is the distance units--If you do not include G20 or G21, then different machines will mill the program at different scales. Other settings, such as the return mode in canned cycles may also be important.
Ignore everything in Section [.], and instead write no line of code that is the slightest bit ambiguous.
Don't use and set a parameter on the same line, even though the semantics are well defined. Updating a variable to a new value, such as #1=[#1+#2] is ok.
Line numbers offer no benefits. When line numbers are reported in error messages, the numbers refer to the line number in the file, not the N-word value.
Because the meaning of an F-word in feed-per-minute mode varies depending on which axes are commanded to move, and because the amount of material removed does not depend only on the feed rate, it may be easier to use G93 inverse time feed mode to achieve the desired material removal rate.