Canned cycles are predefined CNC machining routines designed to automate repetitive machining operations such as drilling, tapping, boring, and peck drilling. Instead of writing long sequences of G-code commands for each hole, programmers can use canned cycles to simplify the program and reduce programming time.
Canned cycles are widely used in CNC milling machines and machining centers because they allow efficient machining of hole patterns and repetitive drilling operations.
This encyclopedia explains the most common CNC canned cycles used in modern CNC controllers such as Fanuc, Haas, Siemens, and other ISO compatible machines.
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SECTION 1 — WHAT ARE CNC CANNED CYCLES
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Canned cycles are pre-programmed machining routines that automatically perform a sequence of operations.
Typical operations performed by canned cycles include
Rapid positioning
Drilling motion
Retract movement
Using canned cycles reduces the amount of code required for repetitive machining tasks.
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SECTION 2 — G81 STANDARD DRILLING CYCLE
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G81 is the most basic drilling cycle used for simple hole drilling.
Example
G81 X20 Y20 Z-15 R2 F120
X40 Y20
X60 Y20
G80
Explanation
X and Y define hole position
Z defines drilling depth
R defines retract height
F defines feedrate
This program drills three holes automatically.
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SECTION 3 — G82 SPOT DRILLING CYCLE
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G82 is used for spot drilling or counterboring operations.
Example
G82 X30 Y30 Z-10 R2 P1 F100
G80
The P parameter specifies dwell time at the bottom of the hole.
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SECTION 4 — G83 PECK DRILLING CYCLE
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G83 is used for deep hole drilling where chips must be removed periodically.
Example
G83 X40 Y40 Z-30 R2 Q5 F100
G80
Explanation
Q defines the peck depth for each drilling step.
This cycle retracts periodically to clear chips.
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SECTION 5 — G84 TAPPING CYCLE
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G84 performs tapping operations for threaded holes.
Example
G84 X20 Y20 Z-12 R2 F1.5
G80
The feedrate must match the thread pitch to maintain proper synchronization.
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SECTION 6 — G85 BORING CYCLE
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G85 performs boring operations with controlled feed in and feed out.
Example
G85 X25 Y25 Z-20 R3 F120
G80
Boring cycles improve hole accuracy and surface finish.
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SECTION 7 — CANCELING CANNED CYCLES
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The G80 command cancels the active canned cycle.
Example
G80
This command stops the cycle and returns the machine to normal programming mode.
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SECTION 8 — SAFE PROGRAM STRUCTURE
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Example program using drilling cycles
%
O2001
G90 G17 G40 G49 G80
G54
T2 M06
S2500 M03
G00 G43 Z100 H02
G81 X20 Y20 Z-15 R2 F120
X40 Y20
X60 Y20
G80
G00 Z100
M30
This program drills three holes using a canned drilling cycle.
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FINAL PRINCIPLE
Canned cycles simplify CNC programming by automating repetitive machining operations. By using cycles such as G81, G83, and G84, CNC programmers can create efficient programs that reduce code length and improve machining productivity in industrial environments.
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