Any question answered...

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Howard in reply to @gillies

I suspect you model what you want in 3D modelling CAD / CAM software first. The output of that is then raw code (G-code?) for a CNC devices. I'd be surprised if the code was human readable.

Kinda looks like this, apparently

O1000
T1 M6
(Linear / Feed - Absolute)
G0 G90 G40 G21 G17 G94 G80
G54 X-75 Y-75 S500 M3  (Position 6)
G43 Z100 H1
Z5
G1 Z-20 F100
X-40                   (Position 1)
Y40 M8                 (Position 2)
X40                    (Position 3)
Y-40                   (Position 4)
X-75                   (Position 5)
Y-75                   (Position 6)
G0 Z100
M30

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gillies in reply to @Howard

so - assuming I have this raw code on a thumb drive and hand it a CNC operator - they can produce what is on it?

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Howard in reply to @gillies

From a quick google it looks like it.

Assuming the code is an industry recognised standard, rather than a proprietary code for a specific mill. The inudstry seems to have settled on G-code.
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TurtleRecall in reply to @gillies

Are you doing industrial espionage? Sounds fun!
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gbj_tester in reply to @gillies

assuming I have this raw code on a thumb drive and hand it a CNC operator - they can produce what is on it?

As others have intimated, there are things in the G-Code which apply to the specific set up of the machine which is known to the person who generated the code. Some G-Codes are specific to manufacturers or even particular machines, but the main thing if you're not using any odd codes is that the person generating the code will have used a particular tool library. In the snippet @Howard posted, T1 could refer to anything, and the person generating the code either knows what the tools are in the machine, or he tells the operator which tool to use as T1. There's going to be quite a difference in the end result if the programme assumes a 1mm end mill and the machine is actually loaded with a 150mm shell mill :)

The feeds and speeds might not be appropriate for the other machine either, a cut which is fine on a big VMC with a 30HP spindle could stall a <1HP hobby mill

TL;DR: Get the 3D CAD model and program it for the machine you're actually going to use.

Any question answered...

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