{"id":28537,"date":"2022-02-23T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-23T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/?p=28537"},"modified":"2025-05-09T10:54:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T17:54:57","slug":"machining-fundamentals-nc-code","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-nc-code\/","title":{"rendered":"Machining Fundamentals: Introduction to NC-Code"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>We created the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLmA_xUT-8UlIgb8kWsg3L5OA2I9JxI1gc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Machining Fundamentals<\/a>&nbsp;series to help you brush up on your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/computer-aided-manufacturing-beginners\/\">CAM<\/a>&nbsp;knowledge, whether you work in a machine shop or are just getting started. In-house machinists at our Birmingham Technology Center host each episode and provide a detailed overview of a tool\/process. In the last edition, we covered&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-tool-length-offset\/\">tool length offset<\/a>. Here we cover how to make your CNC machine move using NC-code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<?php\nfunction autodesk_fusion_cta_horizontal() {\n    ob_start();\n    ?>\n    <style>\n        .cta-section-horizontal {\n            background: #ddd; \/* Much lighter grey background *\/\n            padding: 12px; \/* Adjusted padding *\/\n            border-radius: 8px;\n            box-shadow: 0 3px 5px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);\n            color: #333; \/* Darker text color for better readability *\/\n            display: flex;\n            align-items: center;\n            justify-content: space-between;\n            max-width: 650px; \/* Width adjusted for a more compact look *\/\n            margin: 20px auto;\n            position: relative;\n            flex-wrap: nowrap; \/* Prevent wrapping *\/\n        }\n\n        .cta-section-horizontal img {\n            width: 60px; \/* Slightly larger logo *\/\n            height: auto; \/* Maintain aspect ratio *\/\n            margin-right: 12px; \/* Adjusted spacing *\/\n            background-color: #ddd; \/* Match the background color *\/\n            padding: 6px; \/* Adjusted padding *\/\n            border-radius: 8px; \/* Slightly rounding to match container *\/\n            box-shadow: 0 0 0 4px #ddd; \/* Blend with background *\/\n        }\n\n        .cta-text {\n            flex: 1;\n            margin-right: 12px; \/* Adjusted spacing *\/\n        }\n\n        .cta-title {\n            font-size: 18px; \/* Slightly larger title font size *\/\n            font-weight: bold; \/* Bold title *\/\n            color: #f9a825; \/* Orange color *\/\n            margin-bottom: 4px; \/* Reduced margin *\/\n        }\n\n        .cta-info {\n            display: none; \/* Hide description *\/\n        }\n\n        .cta-buttons {\n            display: flex;\n            gap: 8px; \/* Adjusted button spacing *\/\n            align-items: center;\n        }\n\n        .cta-button {\n            padding: 8px 12px; \/* Button padding *\/\n            font-size: 12px; \/* Smaller font size for buttons *\/\n            font-weight: bold;\n            text-transform: uppercase;\n            border-radius: 4px; \/* Slightly rounded corners *\/\n            border: 2px solid transparent;\n            cursor: pointer;\n            transition: all 0.3s ease;\n            display: inline-flex; \/* Use inline-flex to ensure proper alignment *\/\n            align-items: center; \/* Center align text vertically *\/\n            justify-content: center; \/* Center align text horizontally *\/\n            text-decoration: none !important; \/* Ensure no underlines with !important *\/\n            color: inherit; \/* Use the button's text color *\/\n        }\n\n        .cta-button.white-button {\n            background-color: #fff;\n            color: #333;\n            border: 2px solid #ddd;\n        }\n\n        .cta-button.white-button:hover {\n            background-color: #333;\n            color: #fff;\n            border: 2px solid #f9a825;\n        }\n\n        .cta-button.black-button {\n            background-color: #f9a825;\n            color: #fff;\n            border: 2px solid #f9a825;\n        }\n\n        .cta-button.black-button:hover {\n            background-color: #fff;\n            color: #f9a825;\n            border: 2px solid #fff;\n        }\n    <\/style>\n\n    <div class=\"cta-section-horizontal\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/autodesk-fusion-product-icon-400.png\" alt=\"Autodesk Fusion Logo\">\n        <div class=\"cta-text\">\n            <h1 class=\"cta-title\">Elevate your design and manufacturing processes with Autodesk Fusion<\/h1>\n        <\/div>\n        <div class=\"cta-buttons\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/trial-intake-flow\" class=\"cta-button white-button\">Get a 30-Day Free Trial<\/a>\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/extensions\" class=\"cta-button black-button\">See Plans and Pricing<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <?php\n    return ob_get_clean();\n}\nadd_shortcode('autodesk_fusion_cta_horizontal', 'autodesk_fusion_cta_horizontal');\n?>\n\n\n\n<p>NC-code is a CNC machine\u2019s language. These commands are programmed into Fusion and tell your machine how to cut a part. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-introduction-to-post-processors\/\">Post-processors<\/a> turn toolpaths into NC-code in Fusion.<\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Machining Fundamentals: Introduction to NC-Code\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/TsGWuXpqOyI?list=PLmA_xUT-8UlIgb8kWsg3L5OA2I9JxI1gc\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen style=\"aspect-ratio:500 \/ 281;width:100%;height:auto;\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"g-code-and-m-code\"><strong>G-code and M-code<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at G-code and M-code, the two most common types of NC-codes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, to turn the spindle on, we type M03 into the controller. To tell the machine how quickly to rotate the spindle, we must program its spindle speed. By typing<strong> S1000 M03<\/strong> and pressing <strong>Cycle Start<\/strong>, the machine turns the spindle on at 1,000 revolutions per minute (rpm). Another handy code is <strong>M08<\/strong>, which tells the machine to turn on the coolant.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"linear-moves-with-g-code\"><strong>Linear moves with G-code<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"468\" height=\"253\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-2.jpg\" alt=\"nc-code-fusion-360\" class=\"wp-image-28575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-2.jpg 468w, https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/image-2-300x162.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, we\u2019ll examine linear moves with G-code. In the Fusion 360 <strong>Manual Data Input (MDI)<\/strong> mode, we can enable the G54 coordinate system. Typing <strong>G0 (G zero)<\/strong> on the controller instructs the machine to move as quickly as possible to a known point. This is called a rapid move.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can program the machine to go as fast as possible to specific work coordinates\u2014for example (X0, Y0)\u2014by typing <strong>G0 X0 Y0<\/strong> (G zero X zero Y zero).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As you can see, NC-code is essential for telling a CNC machine where and how to move. Fusion 360 empowers machinists to take a toolpath and turn it into NC-code \u2014 a language that machines understand.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"check-out-the-full-machining-fundamentals-series\">Check out the full Machining Fundamentals series:<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-introduction-to-milling-machines\/\">Milling Machines<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-introduction-to-milling-machines\/\"><\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-introduction-milling-tools\/\">Milling Tools<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-introduction-to-lathes\/\">Lathes<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-introduction-to-post-processors\/\">Post Processors<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-toolpaths\/\">Toolpaths<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-introduction-work-coordinate-system-wcs\/\">Work Coordinate Systems (WCS)<br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-tool-length-offset\/\">Tool Length Offset<br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-introduction-to-speeds-and-feeds\/\">Feeds and Speeds<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-introduction-to-lathes\/\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/free-trial?mktvar002=4333583001|ORG|&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=other&amp;utm_campaign=4333583dmblogf360&amp;utm_id=4333583001 \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/download-free-trial-1024x146.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-26265\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn how to make your CNC machine move using NC-code.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4033,"featured_media":28575,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[235],"tags":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-28537","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-machining","dhig-theme--light"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Machining Fundamentals: Introduction to NC-Code - Fusion Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In this edition of Machining Fundamentals, we cover how to make your CNC machine move using NC-code. Read on and watch the video for more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.autodesk.com\/products\/fusion-360\/blog\/machining-fundamentals-nc-code\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Machining Fundamentals: Introduction to NC-Code - Fusion Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In this edition of Machining Fundamentals, we cover how to make your CNC machine move using NC-code. 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