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PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 05:30am 02 Feb 2026

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G'Day All.

I decided to upgrade my CNC system to KiCad & MACH3. It hasn't worked since.
MACH3 responds to commands like G01 X20 Y20.
Unfortunately, KiCad generates commands like G01*
I know that I am doing something wrong, but what is it?
Please HELP!

Peter

Bryan1

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Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1842

Posted: 06:53am 02 Feb 2026

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Peter what controller are you using for your CNC ? Last year I got one from a Aussie Ebay seller and asked the question before I bought it will it run on win10 and the reply was yes it can.

Now I did find I had to download off the mach3 website the software and on the CD I got was a file called motion software. Installed that and my cnc just worked.

So when you say you upgraded what did you upgrade.

Regards Bryan

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 07:39am 02 Feb 2026

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G'Day Bryan

KiCam is on a WIN10 PC
MACH3 is on a separate WIN10 PC
My hardware is probably like yours, Ebay cheap.
The problem is (Ithink) KiCam generates code that is not compatible with MACH3.
What does G01* mean and were does it come from?

Peter

pwillard
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Joined: 07/06/2022
Location: United States
Posts: 339

Posted: 02:21pm 02 Feb 2026

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I was curious, so I asked chatgpt thinks the "*" is about. ChatGPT thinks this is a placeholder for a post-processing step.

The response said: 'KiCad does not generate finished machine-ready G-code by itself

Officially, KiCad’s PCB editor exports Gerber (and drill/Excellon) files, not CNC G-code directly. Those Gerber files are industry standard formats intended for PCB fabrication and OTHERS tools (CAM) to interpret and convert into final toolpaths and G-code'

So something along the lines of https://github.com/r-gal/KiCAD2GCode will still be needed.

Note: I don't do any of this kind of work... it just got me curious.

dddns
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Joined: 20/09/2024
Location: Germany
Posts: 819

Posted: 04:10pm 02 Feb 2026

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I'm using pcb2gcode
It is nice but a journey to install under Linux. Don't know about Windows

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 10:13pm 02 Feb 2026

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Thanks to you both.

That should get me going......I hope.

And the Shed still does wonderful things.

Peter

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 09:01am 04 Feb 2026

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Back again.

I have always had problems with GitHub.
When I download pcb2gcode or kiCad2gcode I get things like "compressed zipp" or "File folder".
Where to from here?

Please understand that you are dealing with a very old idiot.

Peter

dddns
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Joined: 20/09/2024
Location: Germany
Posts: 819

Posted: 09:43am 04 Feb 2026

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You can download the whole project by clicking on the green "code" button.
In both cases it is source code and needs to be compiled. How to do it is described in the Readme below.

I would start with KICAD2gcode. So you need to install VSCode first and open the downloaded project and compile it.

I have no idea of windows and the details and can't help further..sorry

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 04:26am 06 Feb 2026

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And again.

I did warn you, old, senile etc.
I can get to a file called pcb2gcode-master
If I open that, there is a READ ME
This opens up to a KiCad screen.

I asked a young lady in the local PC repair shop but she had no idea.

If I do a google search I am given instructions at great length for developing code.
Why is life so difficult? Why me?

Peter (the confused)

Bryan1

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Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1842

Posted: 06:47am 06 Feb 2026

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Your not alone Peter as when one finally finds time to do things that we did all those years ago and try to them today ends up being a new learning experience.

Now my use of my CNC now I have it going on win10 trying to find a decent cheap software package to do the G-code just became too hard.

Now if I have this right KICAD2gcode runs on linux so one could develop the project in KICAD on linux use the KICAD2gcode app to develop the G-code then just save it to a USB disk then open up Mach3 and do the job on win10

If you want mate I can have a go as I did just this week setup a linux box that is sitting on my CNC

as it was free space in my shed.

Now this may also be the ticket to getting my CNC going

Regards Bryan

Edit: Just fired up my linux box and in MX within a minute I am downloading KICAD in a flatpack which is a new way for me in linux.
Edited 2026-02-06 17:03 by Bryan1

Bryan1

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Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1842

Posted: 08:05am 06 Feb 2026

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OK Peter finally got KICAD running in MX after that huge download so if you want to share your file in the morning I will download that KICAD2gcode so I can convert that file for you.

Now if I can get some tips on this KICAD as I just need to make a 97.5mm circle and go dots as this project is on making perf plates in copper. A 25mm hole for the down comer will need to put near the edge.

Then edit the g-code file so I can get the code right to make these perf plates as few need to be made

PhenixRising
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Joined: 07/11/2023
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1838

Posted: 08:29am 06 Feb 2026

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G01 is Start linear move but it needs the parameters. Example:

X10.5 Move to 10.5 on the X-axis
Y20.0 Move to 20.0 on the Y-axis
Z-1.5 Drop the tool to -1.5 (cutting depth)
F500 Move at a speed of 500 units/min

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 10:01am 06 Feb 2026

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G'Day

My question was about the asterix, KiCad generates code like G01* which is not what I expected. I agree with you. Nice simple, easy to understand instructions like G01 X1.

I think I am missing something in this (a brain?)
Why doesn't KiCad talk to MACH3?
Does anything talk to MACH3 directly?

I have been looking at ZORIN which I have on a spare laptop. It all seemed so simple when I started.

Peter

dddns
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Joined: 20/09/2024
Location: Germany
Posts: 819

Posted: 11:35am 06 Feb 2026

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I'm using Kicad 8 on Linux. It doesn't create gcode for isolation milling directly.
It creates Gerber files which need to be translated into gcode. I use pcb2gcode for this task.
Then the generated gcode needs to be loaded with the front end milling software.
In your case it would be Mach3 for windows.
The Mach3 software then talks to your CNC controller board.

Edit: I'm using GRBL. I think the very old Mach3 will give you a headache
Edited 2026-02-06 21:39 by dddns

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 10:46pm 06 Feb 2026

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Good morning All.

And that brings us back to the beginning, sort of.

My original problem was how to download pcb2gcode (or KiCODE2gcode)
I have tried to do it on WIN10 but not ZORIN.
pcb2gcode-master is as far as I can get.

I think I need simple, step by step, instructions for how to download and install psb2gcode or KiCode2gcode on WIN10 or ZORIN.

If I buy a $200 CNC machine on ebay it comes with GRBL. Perhaps I should try that.

Peter

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 10:50pm 06 Feb 2026

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G'day Bryan.

you are making progress, I wish I was.

I can't help with cutting holes in MACH3.

Peter

dddns
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Joined: 20/09/2024
Location: Germany
Posts: 819

Posted: 09:36am 07 Feb 2026

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This step by step is from the Readme of pcb2gcode.
It includes the download process, in this case done with "git clone".
I have no windows and can't verify, but these steps need to be done by you.
MSYS2 looks interesting :)

This is just the CLI. pcb2gcodeGUI needs to be installed on top in order to have a convenient GUI

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 10:03am 07 Feb 2026

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Thanks for that, I will look into it tomorrow as it is 8:30pm here.

But I now have pcb2gcodegui on my screen..............at last.
So now as well as doing the washing in the morning, i have to look at your offering and continue the progress that I have made. I'm not sure I believe it yet.

The world is a much nicer place now.

Peter

Bryan1

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Joined: 22/02/2006
Location: Australia
Posts: 1842

Posted: 07:40am 10 Feb 2026

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Hi Peter well mate in order to get a break from my inverter project I fired up MX25 and went looking for LibreCAD only to find MX25 doesn't have it in the repo so a quick search soon got it installed

My initial thoughts on this LibreCAD is pretty good as I got snap to grid and entering dimensions is easy as

Now one can save the file in DXF format and going off my grey matter getting a DXF to G-code converter was easy to get and I'm sure it still is.

Now with my inverter build I will get some time to get my perf plate drawn up and once that is done I will download some software to convert the DXF to G-code and it won't be long before my MX25 computer will need to find a new home

as it is parked on my CNC.

Regards Bryan

PeterB
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Joined: 05/02/2015
Location: Australia
Posts: 667

Posted: 11:10am 10 Feb 2026

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G'Day Bryan.

pcb2gcodegui converts DXF to G-CODE. At least I think it does, I'm not sure about anything at the moment.
I still have a lot of things to sort out but it is fun.

Good luck.

Peter

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