PilotCNC Help Center — getting started with CNC and laser engraving

Yes. The first time you open the app, a “Welcome to PilotCNC” screen offers guided tutorials that walk you through step by step:

• Custom poster (drawing + text);
• Engraving an image;
• Engraving a photo (raster).

You can restart them at any time from the app's help. See also the steps of your first project.

PilotCNC is a 2.5D CAD/CAM web application developed by MeissaCNC. It brings together, in a single interface, directly in your browser:

• design (CAD): drawing vector shapes, importing files, text;
• manufacturing (CAM): computing toolpaths and generating the G-code;
• machine control: connection, manual jogging, running the program.

It is designed for beginners as well as advanced users, for CNC milling and laser engraving / cutting, with an internal precision of 0.001 mm (1 micrometer).

Yes, beginners are its primary audience. A beginner usually juggles three programs: one to draw (CAD), one to produce the G-code (CAM) and one to control the machine (Candle, UGS, LaserGRBL…). PilotCNC is CNC and laser software for beginners that brings all three together in the browser:

• you pick your machine from a list (Genmitsu 3018, Shapeoko, LongMill, xTool D1…) and its settings fill in automatically;
• beginner mode hides advanced options and offers Engrave, Fill and Cut buttons;
• guided tutorials take you all the way to your first part.

PilotCNC is designed in French, in Québec. The interface can be switched to English (and 100+ other languages) in Settings › General › Interface language.

1. Choose the mode — Milling (CNC) or Laser — at the top of the interface.
2. Draw a shape (rectangle, circle…) or import an SVG/DXF file.
3. Select the object and set its machining parameters (depth, cut type) or laser parameters (power, speed).
4. Generate the G-code and check the toolpath preview.
5. Connect the machine, run Homing, and set the origin on your stock.
6. Start the job and keep the emergency stop within reach.

No. PilotCNC is a web application: it opens in the browser, with nothing to install. Design and G-code generation work everywhere.

The only case where an extra component helps is connecting the machine through the PilotCNC Core driver (see connecting through the driver), needed only if your browser doesn't support direct USB (Web Serial).

PilotCNC offers a free version covering basic drawing, import, G-code generation and machine control. Many advanced features are grouped in the Premium subscription, with a 15-day free trial (see Premium features).

Both. A mode switch lets you toggle between:

• Milling mode (CNC): 2.5D toolpaths, depths, passes, tabs, pockets, V-carving.
• Laser mode: power, speed, line or fill, multiple passes, raster image engraving.

The interface adapts (Laser mode is recognizable by its orange accent) and only shows the relevant settings.

Yes. PilotCNC is designed in French, but you can switch the interface to English — or to 100+ other languages — in Settings › General › Interface language. Your choice is remembered in your browser.

• The translation uses Google Translate. It is loaded only if you pick a language other than French, and then sends the interface text to Google.
• G-code, machine commands and the terminal are never translated — a translated command would be wrong.
• Units (millimeters or inches) are set separately and don't depend on the language.

In the settings, under “Work area dimensions”, enter the width and height (in mm) matching your machine's work area. By default the work area is 500 × 350 mm. The grid adapts automatically.

In the material panel, enter the material thickness (used to compute the number of passes and through-cuts). You can also place the stock on the work area (X/Y position) and choose its zero origin. See setting the work position.

In the settings, the “Interface colors” section lets you customize the app's colors (main color, etc.). You can also change the color of the work grid. Your choices are saved in the browser.

• Zoom: mouse wheel (zoom is centered on the cursor).
• Pan: hold the middle mouse button and drag, or hold the space bar and drag.
• Work grid: it represents your real work area, graduated in millimeters.

Editing

Shortcut	Action
Ctrl+Z	Undo
Ctrl+Y / Ctrl+Shift+Z	Redo
Ctrl+S	Save the project
Ctrl+O	Open a project
Ctrl+N	New project
Ctrl+A	Select all
Ctrl+I	Invert selection
Ctrl+C / Ctrl+V	Copy / Paste
Ctrl+D	Duplicate selection
Ctrl+M / Ctrl+Shift+M	Mirror horizontally / vertically

Tools & objects

Key	Action
V	Selection tool
R	Rectangle
E	Ellipse / circle
L	Line
Delete / Backspace	Delete selection
Esc	Deselect / cancel the current action
↑ ↓ ← →	Move (1 mm; Shift = 10 mm; Alt = 0.1 mm)

By default the interface hides the most specialized settings to stay simple. Advanced mode reveals the extra options (machining strategies, fine parameters, etc.). Beginners also get one-click action buttons — Engrave, Fill, Cut — that apply ready-to-use settings.

In advanced mode, the right panel is resizable: widen it when fine-tuning a job, narrow it to leave all the room for your drawing.

Grid snapping automatically aligns points to the work grid, making precise positioning easier. You can turn it on or off, and hold Alt while moving to ignore it temporarily. All positions remain rounded to 0.001 mm.

Yes, to place your jobs exactly on the material — a wood offcut, a knot to avoid, a part already cut:

• Workspace camera — mount a USB camera above the bed. After a calibration wizard, its image is shown under the grid, straightened and to scale. Stock thickness is compensated automatically.
• Workspace photo — no camera? Take a photo of your bed with your phone, import it and place its 4 corners on the grid: it becomes a background just like the camera. The image is static: retake it if you move your material.

Everything is set in Settings › General. The image opacity is adjusted directly on the work area.

Select the object, then work its Bézier points and handles to reshape the outline. Dedicated tools are also available:

• Eraser: remove a specific segment (see the eraser);
• Corner: round or chamfer a joint;
• Split / Merge: separate or combine paths (the “main elements” and “outline only” variants are Premium);
• Mirror, rotation and resizing to transform the whole shape.

All geometric changes are recomputed by the engine at 0.001 mm precision.

• Selection: select, move, resize, rotate.
• Rectangle and Ellipse / circle (hold Shift for a perfect square or circle).
• Line and freehand drawing (curves / polylines with control points).
• Text converted to vector outlines (see the Text section).
• Drilling (CNC mode): one click places a drill point — see the Drilling tool.
• Measure: distance between two points and angle measurement, snapping to the drawing's points.

Every shape is actually a compound object made of unified Bézier segments (4 control points each). This is what guarantees consistent geometry after rotation or merging.

• Move: drag the object with the Selection tool, or use the arrow keys.
• Resize: drag the corner/side handles. The anchor point is the opposite corner.
• Rotate: drag the red rotation handle. While rotating, a circle shows the sweep and the object's actual angle is displayed next to it; move the pointer into the small inner circle to snap the rotation in 45° steps. You can also type an exact angle.
• Mirror: Ctrl+M (horizontal) or Ctrl+Shift+M (vertical).

Merge combines several objects into one. PilotCNC gathers all the segments of every object, computes the intersections and splits the segments at the crossing points. For example, two crossing segments become four segments.

Select at least two objects, then activate the Merge tool. The result is always a single new compound object that replaces the originals.

Full merge is free; the “outline only” variant (keep only the outer contour) is part of Premium.

The Split tool breaks a compound object into several separate objects by grouping connected segments (continuous paths). Useful after an import or a merge to handle each contour independently. “Split all” is free; the “main elements” variant is part of Premium.

Objects can be gathered into folders, shown in the machining order list. A folder doesn't lock anything in: its members remain normal project objects, which avoids surprises at machining time.

• Selecting the folder selects all its members at once: you move, resize or rotate them as a whole, in a single frame.
• Active folder: once you enter a folder, new objects you draw are placed in it automatically.
• Skipping a folder removes it from machining in one click. When you re-enable it, PilotCNC remembers each member's state: the ones you had deliberately excluded stay excluded.
• Deleting a folder releases its objects, it never deletes them.

Folders are saved in the project and tracked by undo (Ctrl+Z).

The Measure tool shows the distance between two points: click the first point, then the second. A variant measures an angle (three points). Points snap to the ends and nodes of your drawing, so you check a real dimension rather than an eyeballed one.

A measurement is only an on-screen reading: it changes no object and does not appear in the G-code.

The Eraser tool removes specific segments of an object. You select the object and the segment; the computing engine detects the intersection, cuts the affected segments and returns the modified object for display. The eraser removes portions without breaking the consistency of the rest of the shape.

• Corner (round / chamfer): softens or chamfers the joints between segments, with an adjustable radius.
• Align Premium: aligns several objects (left, right, top, bottom, center) and distributes them evenly.
• Duplicate with offset Premium: creates several spaced copies (useful for grids of objects).
• Crop Premium: crops an image / an area.
• Nest Premium: automatically places your parts on the stock to minimize wasted material.

An inner shape (a hole) can be recognized as a child of a parent object. During a pocket or a laser fill, the child is automatically avoided: the material around it is machined/engraved but the hole is left untouched. This is the basis for cut-out letters (the inside of “o”, “a”…) or frames.

From the Save / Export menu, choose SVG file (.svg). The exported file contains your paths (Bézier segments) with colors and stroke widths, at 0.001 mm precision. Useful to reuse the drawing in another vector program (Inkscape, Illustrator…).

Same Save / Export menu, choose DXF file (.dxf). DXF suits technical CAD software and some machines/lasers that expect it. Your outlines are converted to lines/polylines.

After generating the G-code and checking the preview, use Save to download the .gcode / .nc file to your disk (for example for an SD card). You can also send it directly to the connected machine without going through a file.

• SVG (.svg) — vector formats: paths, lines, circles, rectangles, polygons, groups. Paths are converted to Bézier segments.
• DXF (.dxf) — technical drawings (lines, circles, polylines).
• Images (PNG, JPG, WEBP, SVG) — to vectorize or to engrave in raster mode.
• STL (.stl) — 3D models converted into a carvable bas-relief.
• xTool laser projects (.xs, .xcs) and LightBurn (.lbrn, .lbrn2) — paths are imported layer by layer, with their laser settings (power, speed, number of passes) when the file contains them.
• PilotCNC projects (.ms) — your own saved projects.

• G-code — for milling or laser, adapted to the chosen target firmware (GRBL, Marlin, LinuxCNC, Mach3, etc. — see G-code compatibility).
• SVG (.svg) and DXF (.dxf) — to get your vector drawing back.
• Project — native save of everything (objects + parameters) to reopen later.

Machine profiles export/import as JSON, and tool / material libraries as CSV.

SVG units depend on the program that created it. PilotCNC reads the drawing in millimeters and converts according to the viewBox. If the size doesn't match:

• check that the source document is set in mm (e.g. in Inkscape: Document Properties → units mm);
• after import, resize the object to the exact dimensions in the properties panel.

Yes. A bitmap image can be vectorized (edge detection) to produce paths you can mill or cut. For photo engraving, use raster mode instead, which modulates power/depth according to the gray levels.

Yes, on two levels:

• Auto-save to disk — as soon as your project has a file (after a “Save as”, or when opening an existing project), PilotCNC periodically rewrites that .ms file, with no dialog. It's your real file that is kept up to date, not a hidden copy somewhere.
• Safety net in the browser — an automatic local save lets you recover after an accidental close, even if you never saved the project.

Manual saving (Ctrl+S) is of course always available.

Yes, from the “Online – Project” tab of the Library:

• Public gallery — open projects shared by the community for free.
• Your online projects Premium — save a project to your private space to reopen it from any computer, or publish it to the gallery.
• Settings sync Premium — your tools, materials and machine profiles follow you from one computer to another (for example between home and the workshop).

Activate the Text tool: a window lets you type the text and choose the font, size and alignment. Text can span several lines. It is then converted into vector outlines (a compound object), ready for milling or laser.

Select a text object, then choose Curve in the Text tool menu, or the “Curve text” button in the Properties panel. A panel opens with a live preview on the work area:

• Arc: set the curvature, upward or downward — ideal for round signs, medallions and dials.
• Along a shape: the text follows the outline of an existing object. You choose the side (outside or inside), the position along the shape, flipping (upside-down text) and the offset from the path.

In both modes, letter spacing can also be adjusted. Apply confirms; Cancel restores the original text.

Several fonts are available in the software. Once confirmed, the text becomes a geometric path: each letter is made of Bézier outlines, with its counters (inside of “o”, “a”, “e”…) handled as holes.

Convert the text to an object, then choose the V-carving cut type Premium with a V-bit. The depth varies with the local width of the letters, giving a crisp carved look — ideal for signs and lettering. See V-carving.

There is no magic number: it all depends on the material, the tool (diameter, number of flutes) and the rigidity of your machine. A good method:

• Depth per pass: start at ½ of the bit diameter in softwood (e.g. 1.5 mm for a 3 mm bit), less in hardwood, even less in metal.
• Feed rate ≈ spindle speed (RPM) × number of flutes × chip load per tooth. Chip load is small (0.01–0.05 mm) on small CNC machines.
• Plunge rate: use about ⅓ to ½ of the feed rate — plunging is more delicate.

Type	Effect	Use
On line	The tool follows the path exactly.	Engraving lines, grooves.
Outside	Offset by half a diameter outward.	Cutting a part to its exact dimensions.
Inside	Offset by half a diameter inward.	Holes / openings to the right size.
Pocket	Clears the whole inner area.	Cavities, recesses, flat bottoms.

The offset takes the tool diameter into account: enter it correctly for accurate dimensions.

Separately, there is also drilling: a simple straight plunge at a given point (see below).

Choose the Drilling tool and click: each click places a red target where the hole goes. The point snaps to the grid if snapping is on, and you can then select it, move it or type its exact coordinates like any other object.

When machining, PilotCNC produces the simplest possible motion: retract to the safe height, rapid move above the point, straight plunge to the requested depth at the plunge rate, then retract. No sideways motion under load.

The Drilling tool is for CNC mode only: drill points are not shown and not exported in laser mode.

• Tool diameter — used to compute offsets.
• Total depth — final depth to reach (often the material thickness for a cut-out).
• Depth per pass — how far the tool goes down on each pass.
• Feed rate — travel speed while cutting (mm/min).
• Plunge rate — vertical speed going into the material (mm/min).
• Safe height — clearance height for rapid moves.
• Stepover — radial step between passes for pockets (as a % of the diameter).
• Spindle speed — rotation speed (RPM) if the spindle is controlled.

The number of passes is the total depth divided by the depth per pass. For example, for a total depth of 6 mm with 1.5 mm per pass, the software programs 4 successive, progressively deeper passes.

Tabs are small bridges of material left on the last passes of a cut so the part doesn't come loose and get thrown at the end of machining. Settings:

• On / off
• Width (mm) — around 6 mm by default
• Height (mm) — around 2 mm by default
• Count — spread along the contour (3 by default)

After machining, break the tabs by hand, then sand off the leftovers.

Instead of plunging straight down into the material (which puts heavy load on the tool), a ramp lowers the tool on a gentle slope (e.g. 5° or 10°). Benefits: less strain, better chip evacuation, longer tool life. A finishing pass then cleans up the bottom of the ramp. A straight plunge is still available when it fits.

A pocket clears the whole inner area of a closed shape. PilotCNC generally machines from the center outward, with a spiral descent at each depth level and an adjustable stepover (overlap between passes). Inner shapes (children) are avoided to preserve islands.

V-carving uses a V-bit whose depth varies with the local width of the path: narrow areas are carved shallow (fine line), wide areas deeper. It's the reference technique for lettering and crisp decorative patterns. You enter the V-bit angle and tip diameter.

Yes. The machining list shows the objects in the order they will be machined: drag them to change that order. Objects in the same group are machined one after the other.

When you click Preview, PilotCNC shows your order next to an optimized order, and you choose: Keep my order or Apply the optimized order. The optimized order follows a few common-sense rules:

• what doesn't free the part (engravings, pockets) comes before through-cuts, so the part stays held until the end;
• on a laser, a hole is cut before the contour that contains it, and travel moves are shortened;
• on a CNC, objects are grouped by bit, to limit tool changes;
• the order of your groups is respected: optimization only happens inside each one.

For hard materials, a trochoidal option limits tool engagement and heat. Combine it with a small depth per pass, a suitable feed rate and, if possible, coolant / lubrication. Always check what your machine can really handle.

Three main settings: power (0–100%), speed (mm/min) and number of passes. The general rule:

• More power / less speed = a deeper, darker effect.
• To engrave: low power, fast speed, 1 pass.
• To cut: high power, slow speed, several passes if needed.

For engraving (marking the surface without cutting through), keep low power and fast speed. Starting values (test on a scrap piece; they depend on your laser's power):

• Wood / plywood: 20–40% at 800–1500 mm/min
• Leather: 30–50% at 500–1000 mm/min
• Cardboard / paper: 15–30% at 1000–2000 mm/min

See the full table by material.

To cut (go through the material), you need high power + slow speed, and often several passes rather than one very slow one. Starting values:

• Plywood: 80–100% at 200–400 mm/min, 1 to 3 passes
• Acrylic: 80–100% at 150–350 mm/min

Air assist clearly improves cutting. See also why use several passes.

• Power (0–100%) — the higher, the deeper/darker the engraving.
• Speed (mm/min) — the slower, the stronger the effect.
• Style: line (follows the path) or fill (hatching to fill the area).
• Fill spacing — distance between hatch lines.
• Passes — number of repetitions (useful for cutting).
• Z step — lowering between passes if your machine has a motorized Z axis.

• Line (vector): the laser follows the path. Ideal for cutting or engraving thin lines.
• Fill: the laser sweeps the area with parallel lines to “darken” a zone. Inner shapes (children) can be excluded to leave cut-outs.

These values are starting points and depend heavily on your laser's real power: always do a test on a scrap piece.

Material	Power	Speed	Passes
Plywood (engrave)	20–40%	800–1500 mm/min	1
Plywood (cut)	80–100%	200–400 mm/min	1–3
Solid softwood	40–60%	300–800 mm/min	1–2
Acrylic (cut)	80–100%	150–350 mm/min	1–2
Leather	30–50%	500–1000 mm/min	1
Cardboard / paper	15–30%	1000–2000 mm/min	1

Air assist blows air at the focal point to clear smoke and debris, reduce burn marks and limit flare-ups. When enabled, the G-code includes the matching commands (M7/M9). It clearly improves cut quality.

Rather than one very slow, very powerful pass (which burns and widens the kerf), several faster passes give a cleaner cut, especially on thick materials. If your machine has a Z axis, a Z step between passes keeps the focus right.

Because the machine slows down in corners to change direction: at fixed power, it deposits more energy in the same spot, and the corner darkens or digs in.

PilotCNC fixes this automatically when your controller allows it: it uses speed-dependent power mode (the M4 command on GRBL 1.1 and FluidNC). The laser then lowers its power in exactly the same proportion as the machine slows down — corners get the same dose as straight lines. On controllers that don't support this mode, PilotCNC stays in constant power (M3).

No. Curves are turned into toolpaths by an adaptive engine: many points where the curve turns tightly, very few on gentle stretches, with a guaranteed deviation from the path (0.01 mm). The result: files several times lighter than with fixed-step slicing, at equal or better quality — so faster transfers and a machine that doesn't choke on large drawings.

Raster engraving engraves an image pixel by pixel by sweeping the surface line by line. The power (laser) or depth (CNC) varies with the gray level: light areas are barely marked, dark areas more. It's the method for engraving photos and gradients.

• Dimensions (width / height in mm) and resolution (spacing between scan lines).
• Invert black/white depending on the material (light on dark or the reverse).
• Threshold and dithering to render shades.
• Max / min power (laser) or depth (CNC).

Yes. PilotCNC turns an STL 3D model into a 2.5D bas-relief carved on a CNC router:

1. Import the STL file (import menu, just like an SVG or an image).
2. The computing engine converts the model into a depth map: each shade corresponds to a height of the relief.
3. The relief is placed on the work area like an object; set its dimensions, total depth and depth per pass.
4. The CNC carves the relief by sweeping the surface with a continuously varying depth — medallions, crests, flowers, animals, furniture ornaments…

It's the same technique as photo (raster) engraving, applied to a real 3D volume: the result is a wood (or other material) carving made from a simple STL file, without complex 3D software.

PilotCNC's Library has a “Reliefs” tab: a collection of STL models ready to carve (ornaments, animals, decorative patterns…). One click imports them directly onto your work area, already converted to a depth map.

You can also import your own STL files downloaded from 3D model sites (Thingiverse, Cults3D, MyMiniFactory…) — prefer models designed as “bas-relief” rather than full 3D objects.

• Ball-nose bit: the relief tool — its rounded tip follows curves without leaving steps. Small diameter (1–3 mm) = fine details, larger = fast roughing.
• Tight line spacing (close to the bit radius) for a smooth surface; wider for fast machining.
• Scan strategy: horizontal by default, or vertical / diagonal / spiral offset Premium depending on the wood grain and the look you want.
• Conservative depth per pass: reliefs involve many plunges, go easy on the tool.

When a relief is deeper than your machine's Z travel (or the bit's usable length), Z slicing automatically splits the relief into several slices, each machinable within the machine's limits. You machine the slices separately, then stack/glue them to rebuild the complete carving — handy for very deep reliefs on small CNC machines.

Once your objects and images are drawn and their engraving or cutting parameters applied, click “Preview”: PilotCNC generates the G-code and shows the result in 3D. You can then save it to your disk or run it directly on your machine.

Behind the scenes, the software splits the objects into paths (segments sharing the same parameters), computes passes, tabs, ramps and cut type, then assembles the final program. It follows the machining order you defined, while applying an extra sort to handle tool changes correctly.

Yes. A preview shows the path of the tool/laser. Check the order of operations, rapid moves and depth consistency before starting the machine. It's the key step to avoid bad surprises.

Yes. When a project needs several tools, PilotCNC pauses the job at the right time and lets you change the tool safely before resuming. Operations are sorted to group what is done with the same tool and limit changes.

If the G-code uses several tools, PilotCNC offers you ways to save it (e.g. a single file with tool changes, or separate files per tool). Remember to reset the origin/tool length at each change, depending on your machine.

Yes, each machine profile can contain custom G-code added automatically before and after the generated program (homing, height probing, parking at the end of the job…). It is added without replacing the firmware's header/footer.

Yes — PilotCNC is not limited to GRBL. The generator first writes “generic” G-code with semantic markers (program end, spindle stop, laser off, air assist), then a post-processor replaces them with the commands expected by the target firmware you chose. Supported targets:

Target firmware / controller	Note
GRBL 1.1	Default (recommended).
GRBL 0.9	Older GRBL boards.
Marlin	3D-printer-style / Marlin CNC boards.
Smoothieware	Smoothieboard and compatibles.
TinyG / g2core	Synthetos controllers.
FluidNC	ESP32 (successor to GRBL).
Mach3	Windows PC controller.
RichAuto DSP A18	Standalone DSP pendant.
LinuxCNC (EMC2)	Linux PC controller.

Choose the target in the machine profile (Firmware field). If no firmware is set, GRBL 1.1 is used. Values stay in millimeters (G21) and absolute coordinates (G90).

With Chrome or Edge (89+), plug the machine in over USB and click Connect: the browser shows the list of serial ports. Select your board's port (often a CH340, FTDI or similar USB-serial port). The link usually runs at 115200 baud, and the firmware (GRBL, Marlin, TinyG…) is detected automatically.

Yes, if its board has WiFi (ESP32 boards running FluidNC or Grbl_ESP32, with the ESP3D interface). In the connection window, choose Network (WiFi) and enter the machine's IP address; PilotCNC remembers the last addresses that worked.

Over WiFi, the G-code isn't sent line by line: it is uploaded to the machine's SD card, which then runs it on its own. A network drop during machining therefore doesn't interrupt the cut. The run wizard only opens once the file has safely arrived on the card, and you can list the files already on the SD card.

The PilotCNC Core driver is a local bridge that talks to PilotCNC over HTTP + WebSocket. Use it if:

• your browser doesn't support Web Serial (Firefox, Safari);
• you want a more robust or cross-platform connection;
• you control the machine remotely.

Token authentication may be required. Once the driver is running, choose this connection mode in the app.

For the real-time connection (reading status, jog, homing, running jobs), PilotCNC supports several machine dialects:

• GRBL 1.1 (recommended: WCO handling, jog with $J=)
• GRBL 0.9
• Marlin
• Smoothieboard / Smoothieware
• TinyG / g2core

The firmware is detected automatically on connection from the board's welcome message; PilotCNC can even switch on its own if the machine restarts on another version. You can also force it in your machine profile.

• Check the USB cable (some cables are charge-only) and try another port.
• Install your board's USB-serial driver (CH340/CH341, CP210x or FTDI depending on the model).
• Close any other software using the port (only one program can use it at a time).
• Make sure you use Chrome/Edge, or go through the PilotCNC Core driver.
• On Linux, add your user to the dialout group, then log in again.

• Electrical noise: keep the USB cable away from the spindle/motors, use a shielded cable and a ferrite.
• Computer sleep mode: disable sleep while machining.
• Insufficient power supply: check the board's power supply.
• For long jobs, the PilotCNC Core driver gives a more stable link than browser USB.

What matters isn't the brand on the cover, but the controller inside. Two very different machines with the same GRBL board are controlled exactly the same way.

There are therefore two levels of compatibility:

Level	What you can do
Full control	Everything: design, toolpaths, connection, jog, origin, starting and monitoring the job from PilotCNC.
File only	You design and generate the file in PilotCNC, then load it with the tool provided by the machine's manufacturer.

If your machine isn't named below, look up its controller: most hobby CNC machines and lasers sold today run GRBL, so they are fully controllable.

In Settings › Machine, edit the profile and choose your brand and then your model from the drop-down lists. The catalog currently covers 39 brands and 141 models.

Choosing a model automatically fills in:

• the firmware (GRBL 1.1, Marlin, Mach3…);
• the type (CNC, laser or both);
• the X / Y / Z work area;
• the power for lasers.

That's the key point: you know your machine's brand, rarely the firmware running inside it. The catalog translates for you, without locking anything — every field stays editable right after.

A colored banner then tells you what you can really do with this machine — full control, file only, or unsupported controller — before you plug anything in.

Machine	Controller	Support
Meissa CNC (Meissa 3, 3 XL, 4)	Arduino UNO + GRBL 1.1	Full control
Entry-level CNC: 3018, 3020, 3040, 4040, 6040, 6090	GRBL 1.1 (Woodpecker / CNC Shield boards)	Full control. A generic entry covers these frames whatever the seller's brand, and the most common brands are listed by name: LUNYEE, Mostics, RATTMMOTOR, CNCTOPBAOS, KKmoon, MYSWEETY, Yofuly.
BobsCNC (E4, Evolution 4, Quantum)	GRBL 1.1 on Arduino Uno	Full control
Carbide3D (Shapeoko, Nomad)	GRBL 1.1	Full control
FoxAlien	GRBL 1.1	Full control
Inventables (X-Carve)	GRBL 1.1 (X-Controller); GRBL 0.9 on older ones	Full control
Sainsmart / Genmitsu	GRBL 1.1	Full control
TwoTrees	GRBL 1.1	Full control
Vevor	GRBL 1.1 (clones)	Full control
V1 Engineering (MPCNC, LowRider)	Marlin (RAMBo / SKR), sometimes FluidNC	Full control
Sienci LongMill	GRBL 1.1	Full control
Maslow 4	FluidNC	Full control
Sienci SuperLongBoard, AltMill	grblHAL	Partial — basic control works (the machine is seen as GRBL 1.1), but grblHAL-specific extensions (advanced spindle handling, probes, automatic tool changer) are not used.
Onefinity	Buildbotics (standalone controller with its own web interface)	File only — the controller can't be driven over a serial link; generate the G-code and load it from its interface.
AvidCNC	Centroid Acorn / Acorn DSP (Mach3 / Mach4 on older ones)	File only, and only on Mach3 machines (Mach3 profile available). Acorn is not supported yet.
Maslow (original model)	Custom firmware with polar kinematics	Not yet — these kinematics are not standard Cartesian kinematics.

Machine / controller	Support
GRBL (the vast majority of diode lasers)	Full control
GRBL-LPC	Full control
Gerbil-STM	Full control
Marlin	Full control
Smoothieware	Full control
xTool D1 / D1 Pro	Full control (these models run GRBL). .xs / .xcs projects from the whole range can be imported, but the S1, M1, P2 and F1 use a proprietary protocol and can't be controlled from PilotCNC.
SnapMaker Original	Full control (Marlin). The 2.0 and Artisan use a proprietary protocol: file only.
GRBL with constant power (M3, 1.1+)	Partial — PilotCNC favors speed-dependent power (M4) on GRBL 1.1, which is much better for corners. To force constant power, select the GRBL 0.9 profile. There is no dedicated profile yet.
Emblaser 1 (A3/A4), 2, Core, Pro	Partial — these machines are GRBL derivatives and work with the generic GRBL profile, but without a dedicated profile: power / speed calibration must be done by hand.
LinuxCNC	File only — G-code generation, no control.
Ruida (Omtech, Thunder, Boss…)	Being validated — see the Coming soon section.
CanCam	Depends on the model: those with a Ruida controller will follow Ruida support; the others are not supported.
Trocen AWC, TopWisdom, ZhiYuan	Not yet — DSP controllers with a proprietary binary protocol.
EZCad 2 (JCZFiber), EZCad 3, BSLFiber	Not yet — galvo-head fiber lasers, which work nothing like a machine with axes.
Cubiio 2, iLaser, FabKit	Not yet — controlled through a closed proprietary app.

There are two zeros to match:

1. The design zero (on the grid): the reference point of your drawing relative to the stock. Place your drawing and choose the origin (a corner, the center…) in the material / zero origin panel.
2. The run zero (on the machine): at the run step, physically bring the tool to that same point on the stock by jogging, then Set origin.

Both must point to the same real spot on the material — otherwise the part will be offset. Details on saving the zero: setting the work zero.

The Z-probe finds the Z zero automatically by lowering the tool until it touches a contact plate placed on the material. Two settings:

• Probe plate thickness (20 mm by default): the height of your contact plate, which the software compensates.
• Probe distance (25 mm by default): the maximum travel before giving up if nothing is touched.

Put the plate on the stock, connect the probe, start the Z-Probe: the tool goes down, touches, and the Z zero is set at the top of the material.

Yes. Auto-leveling probes the heights of a grid of points on your bed or material, then corrects the G-code's Z at start-up to follow that surface. A shallow engraving thus keeps the same depth everywhere, even on a warped spoilboard or a bed that isn't quite square.

1. In Settings › Configuration, check “Offer surface probing before machining” and set the grid resolution (one point every X mm).
2. At start-up, the wizard adds an Auto-leveling step: it shows the number of points and the actual spacing, then probes the grid.
3. The G-code is compensated automatically; your Z zero remains the reference.

Probing can be done with an electrical probe (automatic descent, G38.2) or by hand, without a probe: the machine moves above each point, you lower the tool to contact with the Z jog, then confirm.

Homing sends the axes against the limit switches to establish the machine origin (a known absolute position). It's recommended at every power-up if your machine has switches. Without homing, GRBL may stay in Alarm as long as the position is unknown.

Use the direction buttons, the arrow keys, or a gamepad. You choose the step (distance per click) and the speed. On GRBL 1.1, jogging uses $J= commands that can be cancelled cleanly.

Bring the tool to the desired point (corner of the stock, center…), then Set origin. PilotCNC saves the work zero with the G92 command (the firmware adapter changes the syntax if needed — Marlin, TinyG…). Your G-code runs from that point. You can set X, Y and Z separately.

• Pause: suspends execution (Hold state); the spindle/laser may be handled depending on the firmware.
• Resume: continues where it stopped.
• Emergency stop / Reset: stops immediately. An Unlock will be needed afterwards.

Yes, the feed override changes the speed in real time (typically from 50% to 150%) without regenerating the G-code. Handy to slow down in a tricky section or speed up once you're confident.

PilotCNC guides you step by step rather than starting everything from a single button. You are taken through, in order:

1. Project check — tool, material, toolpath.
2. XY origin — place the machine at the drawing's starting point.
3. Z origin — set the height, with a sheet of paper or the probe.
4. Frame check (optional) — the machine traces the part's outline without cutting to confirm everything lands on the material.
5. Spindle / laser, then run, with live monitoring.

Handling the XY origin and the Z origin in two separate steps is deliberate: they are the two settings that ruin the most parts, and treating them separately keeps you from forgetting one.

PilotCNC estimates the duration from the real toolpath and the programmed speeds, before you even start the machine. During machining, you follow the elapsed time and the remaining time, shown as a countdown.

It's an estimate: your machine's acceleration, tool changes and any speed change along the way (override) make it vary.

The terminal sends raw commands to the machine and shows its replies. Useful examples:

$$        show GRBL settings
$H        run homing
?         request status (position, state)
$X        unlock (clear alarm)
G0 X10 Y10   rapid move

For users who know what they're sending: a wrong command can cause an unexpected movement.

Yes, a compatible gamepad (Xbox type) can drive the jog: sticks for XY/Z, triggers for speed, buttons for homing / pause / resume / stop / unlock. Handy for setting the origin standing in front of the machine, without going back to the keyboard.

Buttons are configurable: a gamepad diagram lets you choose the action triggered by each button, to suit your habits.

The gamepad can also pick up a dimension on the real part: bring the tool to a first point, confirm, move to the second, confirm — PilotCNC draws the matching straight line in your drawing. Handy to line up a job on a part already in place.

This feature records your manual (jog) moves to turn them into reusable G-code. Ideal to capture a simple path or points located by hand without drawing them.

An option lets you invert axis directions for manual jogging and G-code generation; the setting is kept between sessions. For a permanent inversion at firmware level, see the GRBL $3 setting (axis direction).

1. Make sure you use Chrome or Edge (89+) for direct USB; otherwise go through the PilotCNC Core driver.
2. Try another USB cable (some are charge-only) and another port.
3. Install your board's USB-serial driver (CH340/CH341, CP210x, FTDI).
4. Close any other software using the port (only one at a time).
5. On Linux, add your user to the dialout group.

Full details: the machine doesn't show up in the port list.

A bit breaks when it's overloaded. Most common causes:

• Depth per pass too large: reduce it (start at 0.5–1 mm in wood).
• Feed rate too high or spindle too slow: see working out speeds.
• Plunge too abrupt: use a ramp entry Premium or reduce the plunge rate.
• Wrong tool for the material, a dull bit, or not tightened enough in the collet.
• Poor chip evacuation (the bit clogs): use dust extraction / air.

• Wrongly scaled SVG import: see my SVG is the wrong size (source document in mm).
• Steps/mm calibration ($100/$101/$102): if the machine is “almost” the right size, calibrate it (see calibrating my machine).
• Wrong tool diameter: it skews outside/inside offsets.
• Always check the dimensions in the properties panel before generating the G-code.

It's almost always an origin issue. The zero placed on the drawing grid must match the physical zero set on the machine.

• Double-check the work zero before starting: see setting the work position.
• Make sure you reset the origin after homing or a restart.
• Check that no axis is inverted: see inverting an axis.

A “skipped step” shifts the part mid-job. Things to check:

• Feed / depth too aggressive: slow down and reduce the pass.
• Loose belts or pulleys, poorly adjusted carriages: tighten and check the play.
• Motor current (drivers) badly set: too low = lost steps, too high = overheating.
• GRBL max accelerations / speeds too high ($110–$122): lower them.
• Binding mechanics (axis hard to move by hand, motor bearing).

State	Meaning
Idle	Ready, waiting.
Run	G-code running.
Jog	Manual move in progress.
Hold	Paused.
Home	Homing in progress.
Alarm	Locked for safety (see below).
Door	Door/cover open (if a sensor is fitted).
Check	Program check without motion.

The alarm locks movement for safety. General approach:

1. Identify the cause (message shown).
2. Fix the physical problem (move the axis off a limit switch, close the door…).
3. Run Homing if the position is unknown.
4. Unlock (Unlock / $X) to regain control.

Code	Cause	Fix
1	Hard limit: limit switch hit	Move the axis off, redo homing
2	Soft limit: outside the work area	Reduce travel / check the origin
3	Reset during a cycle	Unlock, then reset the origin
4 / 5	Probing failed	Check the probe wiring
6 / 7	Homing failed	Check switches and wiring, try again
8 / 9	Homing switch already triggered	Move the axis off before retrying

An error: means a command line was rejected (syntax, out-of-range value, unsupported command). It isn't a hardware lock, but the line was not executed. Check the command sent and the machine's settings.

• Origin in the wrong place: double-check the work zero before starting.
• Wrong tool diameter: outside/inside offsets depend on it.
• Steps calibration ($100/$101/$102): if the machine is “almost” the right size, calibrate the steps/mm.
• Lost steps: feed/depth too aggressive, loose belts, badly set motor current.
• Inverted axis direction: see inverting an axis.

• Check it isn't in Alarm or Hold (unlock / resume).
• Make sure the motors are powered (many boards have a power supply separate from USB).
• Confirm the Idle state and try a small jog.

The error message tells you exactly what's blocking: an unknown username and a wrong password don't give the same reply. Read it before retrying — it's often a typo in the address, or an account created with another address.

After five failed attempts, PilotCNC shows dedicated help with the available options (password reset, sign-in with Google, contacting support).

PilotCNC keeps the technical log of your session in memory: everything the machine replied and everything that was sent to it. That's what lets us understand a problem without asking you to reproduce it.

• If the machine reports an error or alarm, if a job freezes or if the connection is lost mid-job, PilotCNC offers to send us this log.
• You can also send it yourself at any time: Settings › Info › Report a problem.

In the machine settings, enter your CNC/laser's characteristics (firmware, dimensions, Z axis, axis inversion, custom G-code…) then Save. This creates a reusable machine profile. Managing several profiles and JSON import/export are part of Premium.

Most settings (interface preferences, work area dimensions, default parameters) are saved automatically in your browser. For reusable setups:

• Machine profiles → JSON export;
• Tool and material libraries → CSV export Premium.

If the machine is “almost” the right size, the steps/mm calibration needs adjusting. In the terminal:

$$            show all settings
$100=...      X axis steps/mm
$101=...      Y axis steps/mm
$102=...      Z axis steps/mm

Method: request a 100 mm move, measure the actual distance, then correct: new = old × (requested distance ÷ measured distance). Max speeds and accelerations are set with $110–$122.

A machine profile stores your CNC/laser's characteristics: whether it has a Z axis, dimensions, custom G-code (homing, parking…), axis inversion, etc.

The easiest way is to choose your brand and model from the catalog lists: firmware, work area and power fill in automatically, and remain editable.

Managing a library of several profiles and JSON import / export of profiles are part of Premium.

The tool library stores your bits (diameter, flat/ball/V-bit type, angles…). Selecting the right tool automatically adjusts the offset and toolpath calculations. It exports / imports as CSV.

Yes, a material library stores proven settings per material and reapplies them in one click, for laser as well as milling. It exports / imports as CSV. No more retesting the same settings on every project.

• On a laser, choosing a material sets the power and speed, and adjusts the options shown: only the settings that make sense for it stay visible.
• For milling, the material adjusts the speeds of the chosen bit. For a specific bit × material pair, you can save your own values, which take precedence.
• In Fast mode, a Material selector next to the Library gives each new object that material by default.

Materials you use often can be marked as favorites to move up the list. You can also link material and bit CSV files to a machine profile: as long as that machine is active, they are the ones that apply.

Your drawing is stored and computed to the micrometer (0.001 mm): positions, dimensions, curve points. That is PilotCNC's reference precision, and it never changes while you work.

When producing the machine file, two things come into play:

• Curves (circles, Bézier) are converted into paths the machine can follow. PilotCNC guarantees the path never deviates more than 0.01 mm from the real curve, placing points where they're useful rather than at regular intervals.
• Points of milling toolpaths are then rounded to the hundredth of a millimeter (±5 µm). Laser G-code and cutting files keep the micrometer.

In other words: your part's final precision depends on your machine — rigidity, calibration, mechanical play, tool condition — never on the computation.

The display can be switched to inches (Settings › General › Display unit), but internal values and the G-code always stay in millimeters (G21). Only the display changes; the machine receives mm. This is deliberate, to avoid conversion errors.

• MPos (machine): absolute position from the machine origin (homing).
• WPos (work): position relative to your work zero (part origin).
• WCO (offset): the difference between the two (stored in GRBL 1.1).

You design and run in WPos; the machine knows its MPos to respect its limits.

PilotCNC Premium is the subscription that unlocks the software's advanced features. The free version remains usable for basic drawing, import, G-code generation and machine control.

A 15-day free trial lets you test every Premium feature right away.

The Premium subscription unlocks, among others:

Drawing tools

• Text, Align, Crop and Duplicate with offset.
• Nest (automatic nesting).
• “Outline only” merge and “main elements” split (full merge and split remain free).

CNC machining

• Machining strategy (execution order).
• 5° and 10° ramp entries.
• V-Carving (V-bit engraving).
• Horizontal and vertical sweep pockets.
• Hard material (trochoidal).

Tool & material libraries

• Bit library, adding tools, tool CSV import/export.
• Laser material library, adding materials, material CSV import/export.
• Concentric offset laser fill.

Images, raster & 3D relief

• 3D STL import (2.5D bas-relief carving) and a library of reliefs ready to carve.
• CNC raster strategies: vertical, offset (spiral), 45° diagonals (NE→SW and NW→SE).
• Z slicing (reliefs deeper than the machine's Z travel).

Machine profiles & control

• Machine profile library and profile JSON import/export.
• Manual Record path.

Premium features are activated by taking out a subscription:

👉 Subscribe to PilotCNC Premium — start my 15-day free trial (page in French)

Once the subscription is active, your account receives a signed license that automatically unlocks the advanced features in the app. You can try it for 15 days for free before the subscription continues. Prices are in Canadian dollars (CAD).

Yes: during the 15-day trial, every Premium feature is unlocked, so you can test V-carving, 3D STL import (bas-relief), the libraries, raster strategies, the Nest tool, etc. before deciding.

In one click, with no notice: every Paddle invoice you receive by email contains a subscription management link, from which you can cancel it yourself. If you can't find your invoice, write to contact@meissacnc.com: the team will take care of it. You keep access to Premium features until the end of the period already paid, then the app goes back to the free version (your projects remain accessible).

Design and G-code generation happen locally in your browser; your projects are stored on your device. PilotCNC uses usage telemetry (anonymous statistics) to improve the product, with a consent setting.

If you choose an interface language other than French, the interface text is sent to Google Translate to be translated (see using PilotCNC in English).

Telemetry offers three levels: full (with an identifier), anonymous (the default, compliant with data protection requirements), or off (no tracking or storage). You can change this choice in the settings at any time.

Depending on the level chosen, these statistics may include anonymous session recordings — which buttons are used, where users get stuck — used only to fix friction points in the interface. The “off” setting excludes them, like everything else.

PilotCNC comes in an education version, designed for classrooms, fab labs and shared workshops — where several people use the same machine and settings must not change from one session to the next.

Its main benefit is settings lock: the teacher locks the configuration (machine profiles, tools, materials, settings), and students can draw, generate their toolpaths and machine without being able to alter the workshop's configuration.

• The lock belongs to the account, not the computer: it applies to every computer in the room without configuring them one by one.
• Unlocking requires a security code sent by email to the account holder. Without this code, the lock can't be lifted — not even by clearing the browser.
• Once locked, everything stays usable: only the settings tabs are put out of reach.

Browser	Design & G-code	Direct USB (Web Serial)
Chrome / Chromium 89+
Edge 89+
Firefox		(through the Core driver)
Safari		(through the Core driver)

To control the machine over direct USB, use Chrome or Edge. With other browsers, go through the PilotCNC Core driver.

PilotCNC runs on Windows, macOS and Linux (and even ChromeOS), with nothing to install: everything goes through the browser. There's no “per-OS” version to download — the same web application runs everywhere, and your projects stay identical from one platform to another.

Only the machine connection through the PilotCNC Core driver relies on a small component, also available for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Yes. On a touch device, PilotCNC automatically switches to touch mode: you draw, select and move objects with your finger, pinch to zoom and swipe to move the view, with a layout suited to small screens. Handy for preparing a project on the workshop tablet.

PilotCNC is designed to stay light and run on older hardware: heavy computations are handled by an optimized geometry engine (WebAssembly) and the interface stays smooth even on a 10-year-old laptop. There's nothing to install: the application is simply cached in the browser (less than ~50 MB, including ~15 MB for the computing engine).

Resource	Minimum (older device)	Recommended (comfort)
System	Windows 10, macOS 11, recent Linux, ChromeOS	Up-to-date Windows 11 / macOS / Linux
Processor (CPU)	Dual-core ~1.2 GHz (Intel Atom / Celeron / Core 2 Duo), or any dual-core running a recent Chromium	Recent quad-core (Intel i5 / Ryzen 5 / Apple Silicon)
Memory (RAM)	2 GB	8 GB or more
Disk space	~100 MB free (browser cache + projects)	500 MB+ for many projects and imported files
Graphics (GPU)	Integrated graphics supporting 2D canvas / WebGL (Intel HD, etc.)	Recent integrated GPU for a smoother 3D toolpath preview
Screen	1366 × 768	1920 × 1080 or more
Browser	Chrome / Edge 89+ (for direct USB)	Up-to-date Chrome / Edge

PilotCNC is deliberately designed to stay usable on modest hardware — a dual-core around 1.2 GHz with 2 GB of RAM is enough. Three technical choices explain it:

• A web application, not heavy software to install. The most demanding piece is your browser: if the device runs a recent Chrome / Edge, it runs PilotCNC.
• A streamed computing engine (WebAssembly streaming). The geometry engine is compiled while it downloads, without saturating memory, then cached for later starts.
• Computations offloaded to the background (Web Workers). Heavy operations (geometry, rendering) don't run on the interface thread: even when the processor is busy, the interface stays responsive instead of freezing.

As a reference point, a simple Raspberry Pi 4 (1.5 GHz) already runs Chromium and WebAssembly. On the most modest devices, just expect a slightly longer first load (engine compilation, once) and slower very heavy operations — without freezing. Only the 3D toolpath preview puts more load on the graphics chip; 2D drawing and G-code generation stay light.

Not directly — and the reason isn't the computer's power, but its operating system. PilotCNC relies on web technologies (WebAssembly for the computing engine, Web Serial for USB) that require a recent browser. The last browsers available on these old systems are too old:

• the last Chrome on Windows XP is version 49 (2016), older than WebAssembly;
• Web Serial (direct USB) requires Chrome / Edge 89 or newer.

Supported systems: Windows 10/11, macOS 11+, a recent Linux distribution or ChromeOS (see compatible systems).

Yes, thanks to installing it through Chrome (the application installs like a real app on your device). An Internet connection is still required to get updates and keep your Premium options active. Interface translation into a language other than French also needs a connection.

After a stop, a power cut or a reloaded page, PilotCNC will be able to resume the job where it stopped: the bit lifts to the safe height, returns to the right point, the spindle restarts, then the work continues at the exact line — without starting over or damaging the part.

Being fine-tuned with our beta testers.

Rotary mode lets you machine around a cylindrical stock: the drawing is “unrolled” onto the cylinder and the G-code is adapted to your setup — Y motor wired to the rotary chuck, or a true 4th A axis. Engraving rolling pins, glasses, pool cues, furniture legs…

Being fine-tuned with our beta testers.

PilotCNC already controls the whole GRBL, Marlin, Smoothieware and TinyG world — the vast majority of workshop CNC machines and lasers (see compatible machines). The current work is to reach the families that don't speak that language:

• Ruida laser controllers (Omtech, Thunder, Boss…) — these machines don't take G-code but a compiled file specific to their controller. Generating that file works and is being validated on a real machine; it will only be opened once proven on the bench, because an approximate byte on a CO₂ cutter is not an option.
• grblHAL — basic control already works; the goal is to use its advanced features (spindle, probes, tool changer).
• Other DSP controllers and fiber lasers (Trocen, TopWisdom, EZCad galvos…) — under study, each requiring its own reverse engineering.

Term	Definition
CAD	Computer-aided design: the drawing.
CAM	Computer-aided manufacturing: computing toolpaths and G-code.
2.5D	Machining where the tool moves in XY with a Z depth controlled in layers — up to a carved bas-relief (variable depth), without undercuts.
Bas-relief	Shallow carving obtained by digging into the surface (STL import → depth map).
STL	3D file format (mesh); PilotCNC converts it into a carvable 2.5D relief.
Depth map	An image whose every shade encodes a height of the relief.
Ball-nose bit	A bit with a rounded tip, ideal for carving reliefs without steps.
G-code	The machine's command language (moves, speeds).
GRBL	CNC control firmware that interprets G-code.
Homing	Finding the machine origin using the limit switches.
Jog	Moving the axes by hand.
Feed	Cutting speed (mm/min).
Plunge	Vertical speed going into the material.
Stepover	Overlap between adjacent passes (pockets).
Tabs	Bridges of material that hold the part in place.
V-bit	Conical bit for V-carving.
Raster	Engraving an image pixel by pixel.
WCS / WPos	Work coordinate system / work position (part origin).
MPos	Absolute machine position.
Bézier segment	The geometric building block of every PilotCNC object (4 control points).
Air assist	Air blown at the laser point for a clean cut.