.gcode files
.gcode file
G-code Toolpath
The line-by-line instructions a 3D printer or CNC machine actually executes.
What opens a .gcode file
- Windows
- PrusaSlicer / Ultimaker Cura (preview), Notepad (built in), Pronterface
- macOS
- PrusaSlicer / Ultimaker Cura (preview), TextEdit (built in)
- Linux
- PrusaSlicer / Ultimaker Cura (preview), Text Editor (built in), OctoPrint
- In a browser
- gcode.ws viewer
What a .gcode file is
G-code is plain text telling a machine where to move, how fast, and at what temperature — the output of a slicer, not a model. It is specific to the printer and settings it was generated for, so a file sliced for one machine can damage another. Any text editor opens it, and slicers and preview tools such as gcode.ws show the toolpath layer by layer.
Converting it
A .gcode file is commonly converted to .txt. It is a plain text format, so any text editor can open and edit it directly.
Details
- Extension
- .gcode
- Full name
- G-code Toolpath
- Category
- 3D and CAD
- Created by
- RS-274 / machine tool standard
- Format
- Plain text
Common questions
- How do I open a .gcode file?
- On Windows use PrusaSlicer / Ultimaker Cura (preview); on macOS use PrusaSlicer / Ultimaker Cura (preview); on Linux use PrusaSlicer / Ultimaker Cura (preview). The line-by-line instructions a 3D printer or CNC machine actually executes.
- What is a .gcode file?
- G-code Toolpath. G-code is plain text telling a machine where to move, how fast, and at what temperature — the output of a slicer, not a model. It is specific to the printer and settings it was generated for, so a file sliced for one machine can damage another.
- Can I convert a .gcode file?
- Yes. It is usually converted to .txt, either by exporting from one of the programs listed above or with a format converter.
Related pages
- .stl — Stereolithography Model The universal 3D printing format — a shell of triangles with no colour or units.
- .obj — Wavefront OBJ Model A plain-text 3D mesh format that nearly every 3D program can import.
- .fbx — Filmbox 3D Scene The standard interchange format for 3D models with rigging, animation and materi
- .blend — Blender Project Blender's own project file, holding an entire scene, its animation and its setti
- .3mf — 3D Manufacturing Format The modern replacement for STL, carrying colour, materials and units.
- .3ds — 3D Studio Model The legacy Autodesk 3D Studio mesh format from the DOS era.
Sources
- Media Types Registry — IANA
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place