Canned Cycles (G73, G81, G83) Implemented !
We’re excited to announce that Rabbit GRBL now supports Canned Cycles, bringing powerful and efficient drilling capabilities directly into your CNC workflow.
With the implementation of G73, G81, and G83, Rabbit GRBL moves one step closer to advanced CNC controller capabilities while keeping the lightweight and performance-focused design it’s known fo
What Are Canned Cycles?
Canned Cycles are predefined machining routines that simplify repetitive operations like drilling. Instead of writing long sequences of G-code for each hole, you can now use a single command that handles the full drilling logic automatically.
This means:
- Cleaner G-code
- Faster programming
- More reliable drilling routines
- Better compatibility with CAM-generated files
G81 – Simple Drilling Cycle
The standard drilling cycle.
The tool feeds directly to the specified depth and then retracts.
Syntax: G81 X Y Z R F
- X,Υ = Target hole position in the XY plane
- Z = Final drilling depth
- R = Retract plane height (must be above Z)
- F = Feed rate
Example Usage:
G90 G21
G0 X10 Y10
G81 Z-10 R2 F150
X30 Y10
X50 Y10
G80
What This Code Does:
The machine switches to absolute positioning in millimeters.
It rapidly moves to position X10 Y10.
The G81 cycle drills down to -10mm at a feed rate of 150 mm/min and retracts to 2mm above the surface.
Then, without redefining the cycle, it automatically drills additional holes at X30 Y10 and X50 Y10 using the same parameters.
Finally, G80 cancels the active canned cycle.
This cycle is ideal for standard drilling operations in wood, plastics, or aluminum.
G83 - Peck Drilling (Chip Removing)
G83 is used for deep hole drilling. The tool drills incrementally (pecking), retracting fully to the R plane between each peck to clear chips.
Example Usage:
G90 G21
G0 X20 Y20
G83 Z-25 R2 Q5 F120
X40 Y20
G80
What This Code Does:
The machine operates in absolute positioning and millimeters.
It moves to X20 Y20.
The G83 cycle drills down to -25mm total depth.
It drills in 5mm increments (defined by Q5), retracting to 2mm between each peck to clear chips.
The feed rate is set to 120 mm/min.
The same deep drilling cycle is automatically repeated at X40 Y20.
G80 cancels the cycle.
This method is especially useful for deep holes in aluminum or harder materials where chip evacuation is critical.
G73 Peck Drilling Cycle - Chip Breaking
G73 is a high-speed peck drilling cycle. Unlike G83, it performs short retracts between pecks instead of fully retracting to the R plane, making it faster.
Example Usage:
G90 G21
G0 X15 Y40
G73 Z-15 R2 Q3 F200
X35 Y40
G80
What This Code Does:
The machine switches to absolute positioning in millimeters and moves to X15 Y40.
The G73 cycle drills to -15mm total depth.
It pecks in 3mm increments.
Instead of fully retracting between pecks, it performs short chip-breaking retracts, allowing faster machining.
The feed rate is 200 mm/min.
The same cycle repeats automatically at X35 Y40.
G80 cancels the active canned cycle.
This cycle is ideal for production environments where speed is important and full retract is not required.
Why This Update Matters
By adding support for G73, G81, and G83, Rabbit GRBL:
- Expands compatibility with CAM software
- Reduces manual G-code editing
- Enables advanced drilling strategies
- Brings professional-grade functionality to makers and production users
This update significantly enhances drilling efficiency while maintaining the lightweight and performance-focused design of Rabbit GRBL.
You can always find more on the Rabbit GRBL Wiki on Github:
https://github.com/SourceRabbit/RabbitGRBL/wiki