What Actually Is G-Code in 3D Printing?
G-Code is an important part of 3D printing. Without it, your 3D printer wouldn't be able to print anything. Even now, a lot of people don't know what it is or how it works. In this blog, I'll talk more about what G-Code is and how it fits into 3D printing. By the end of this blog, you should know more about G-Code and how it works in the 3D printing process.
What does G-Code mean?
G-Code is a programming language that is used to control modern manufacturing equipment like CNC machines, 3D printers, and Laser Cutters. It is a list of commands that tell the machine how to move and what to do, like extrude material or change the temperature of the print head or change the bed temperature.
In 3D printing, the slicer software takes your 3D model (an STL or OBJ file) and turns it into a set of instructions that the printer can understand. This is called G-Code. The instructions are then sent to the printer, which follows them layer by layer to make the final 3D-printed object.
What is the significance of G-Code in 3D printing?
G-Code is a very important part of 3D printing for many reasons, such as:
Precision: G-Code lets you control the printer's movements with great accuracy, so the final print will be accurate and full of details.
Compatibility: G-Code is a universal language that most 3D printers can understand. This makes it easy to share files and use them on different machines. But keep in mind that different manufacturers use G-Code in different ways for their own machines. Make sure you use the right slicer to make G-Code that works with your 3D printer. If you use the wrong slicer, it might work, but it could also hurt your machine.
Customization: G-Code can be changed to improve print quality, speed, and reliability. This lets users fine-tune their prints to get the best results possible.
Why Should You Use G-code?
For your 3D printer to understand and correctly use the STL code, it needs to use a piece of software called a "slicer." This software will slice up the model layer by layer and then turn this information into G-Code that your printer can understand. The G-Code tells your model where to be placed and gives you a lot of other information.
Without this G-Code, your printer would not be able to understand and correctly use the STL code.
Understanding the G-Code commands
The first part of a G-Code command is a letter, usually G or M, and then a number. Here are some common 3D printing G-Code commands:
G0/G1: Linear move – used to move the print head or bed to a specific position.
G2/G3: Circular move – used to create curved lines or circles.
G28: Home – moves the print head or bed to their home positions.
G90/G91: Absolute/Relative positioning – determines whether coordinates are given in absolute or relative terms.
M104/M109: Set extruder temperature – sets the temperature of the print head and waits for it to reach the specified temperature.
M106/M107: Fan on/off – controls the cooling fan.
There are many other G-Code commands, but these are some of the most common ones you will come across in 3D printing.
What Does G-Code Look Like?
This is the actual G-Code generated by Ultimaker Cura for a motor and gearbox holder;
;Generated with Cura_SteamEngine 4.13.1
;FLAVOR:Marlin (This is the most widely used firmware for the 3D printing)
TIME:110155 (This shows at what time the printing is started in this case 11:01:55 PM)
;Filament used: 33.2995m (This shows the total usage of filament)
;Layer height: 0.1 ( Layer heigh we can vary as per our requirement)
;MINX:47.2 (Minimum travel of 3D printer in X-direction)
;MINY:64.7 (Minimum travel of 3D printer in X-direction)
;MINZ:0.3 (Minimum travel of 3D printer in X-direction)
;MAXX:202.8 (Maximumtravel of 3D printer in X-direction)
;MAXY:185.3 (Maximum travel of 3D printer in X-direction)
;MAXZ:70 (Maximum travel of 3D printer in X-direction)
M140 S60 (This sets the bed temperature to 60 degrees C)
M105 (This is the custom node that measures temperature)
M190 S60 (This command waits for the bed temperature to reach at setpoint)
M104 S200 ( This sets the extruder temperature to 200 degree C)
M105 (This is the custom node that measures temperature)
M109 S200 (This command waits for the extruder temperature to reach at setpoint)
M82 ;absolute extrusion mode
G28 ;Home
;LAYER_COUNT:698
G1 F1800 X51.12 Y66.178 E0.01484
G1 X51.885 Y65.734 E0.03148
G1 X52.163 Y65.593 E0.03734
G1 X52.884 Y65.272 E0.05219
G1 X53.634 Y65.025 E0.06704
G1 X54.473 Y64.845 E0.08318
G1 X54.783 Y64.796 E0.08909
G1 X55.568 Y64.712 E0.10394
G1 X56.001 Y64.7 E0.11209
G1 X193.999 Y64.7 E2.70791
G1 X194.788 Y64.74 E2.72277
G1 X195.527 Y64.845 E2.73681
G1 X196.3 Y65.007 E2.75166
G1 X197.052 Y65.247 E2.76651
Creating G-Code for 3D printing
To create G-Code for a 3D printer, you'll need to use software for slicing. Using a 3D model file, slicing software turns it into G-Code, which the printer can understand. Some of the most popular types of software for slicers are:
Cura: Cura is a free, open-source slicer made by Ultimaker. It is known for being easy to use and having a lot of features.
PrusaSlicer: This slicer was made by Prusa Research. It works best with their line of 3D printers, but it also works with other printers.
Simplify3D: Simplify3D is a paid slicer with advanced features, optimizations, and support for a wide range of 3D printers.
When you use slicing software, you'll need to set some parameters such as speed, layer height, and infill percentage. These settings can make a big difference in the speed and quality of your print job, so it's important to get them right.
How do you put G-Code into Your Printer?
Today, many good printers have wireless LAN connections and are easy to add to your home's wireless network.
Even though this feature is becoming more and more common, there are still a lot of machines that don't have it. For most of these machines, you save the G Code on a standard SD memory card and then physically plug this SD Card into a memory slot on the 3D Printer. The code is then loaded using the controls on the Printer Screen.
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