CNC · Visualizer · Simulator

CNC drilling cycle visualizer

Simulate G81, G82, G73, and G83 canned drilling cycles with live return-mode timing, peck breakdowns, and a Z-versus-time chart that makes retract behavior visible instead of implicit.

Cycle inputs

Results update instantly. Use the button only if you want a shareable URL.

Unit system

Cycle

Return mode

Repeated holes

Initial plane height

R plane height

Hole depth below surface

Feed rate

mm/min

Rapid rate

mm/min

Peck depth

Chip-break retract

Bottom dwell

Why this page is worth using

A lot of canned-cycle references tell you what the codes mean but leave the motion hidden. That is exactly where confusion about G98 versus G99, chip-break versus full retract, or dwell overhead starts eating time on real parts.

Targets search intent around G81, G82, G73, G83, canned drilling cycle timing, and return-plane behavior.
Shows how feed cuts, rapid retracts, and re-approaches stack up instead of returning one opaque number.
Keeps both metric and imperial mode so setup notes are usable across different shops and controllers.

Read the launch note for this CNC tool.

Cycle summary

Z versus time

Stage breakdown

Cycle notes

What the return mode changes

G99 style return goes back to the R plane, which keeps repetitive drilling faster when clamps are already cleared.
G98 style return goes back to the initial plane, which is slower but can be safer when obstacles sit above the R plane.
The visual timeline makes that overhead obvious once the hole count climbs.

Scope note

This is a planning and explanation tool, not a controller emulator. It does not model spindle accel, exact controller lookahead, coolant delay, or controller-specific canned-cycle quirks. It is meant to make the motion logic legible before you test at the machine.