Table legs, balusters, stair posts
Choose a ready-made design or draw your own outline. The app does roughing and finishing around the stock for you.
Menu 3D → Revolve (turned shape), rotary axis…
New: carve Buddha statues / sculptures from STL · 4-axis and 5-axis
CNC turningG-code for 4-axis rotary machines, all in one app
XYZA
Table legs, balusters, stair posts, vases. Pick a design or draw your own shape and enter the stock size. The app builds toolpaths around the stock, lets you simulate first, then exports A-axis G-code ready for your machine. You can even engrave a name around a handle.
- 3-day free trial, every feature
- Mach3 · NcStudio · DSP · Syntec · grblHAL
- English and Thai interface
Can Gcodai do 4-axis / 5-axis turning?
Yes. Gcodai Studio outputs G-code for turning and 4-axis CNC work (rotary axis A) in several ways: turned shapes such as table legs, balusters, stair posts and vases (3D menu → Revolve), names or patterns around the stock (Machining menu → 4-axis rotary), indexed rotary for square parts, and 3D carving around the stock from STL such as Buddha statues and sculptures (3D menu → 3D carving around the stock). Choose 4-axis or 5-axis with a tilting B head. Export for controllers with an A axis, or use the mode where the rotary axis replaces the Y motor on a 3-axis machine.
7 shapesready-made turned shapes
4 modesof rotary work
10 typesof controllers with A-axis output
4 / 5axes · A, or A + tilting B head
01 · Raw stock
Round wood stock ⌀50 × 300 mm
Enter the stock size to match the wood you have and choose the classic baluster design.
02 · Roughing
Remove material around the stock
The bit runs lengthwise while the A axis turns the stock a little at a time, clearing excess material fast.
03 · Finishing
Finish with a ball nose bit
Beads, rings and curves come out as designed, with a smooth surface ready for sanding.
4 kinds of rotary work
One 4-axis machine, many kinds of jobs
Names, patterns, logos around a handle
The app unrolls the stock surface into a flat sheet. Design like a normal flat job, and it converts to rotation angles on export.
Menu Machining → 4-axis rotary (Rotary)…
Buddha statues, sculptures, post caps
Use a full STL model. The app finds the stock size and does roughing + finishing around the stock. Choose a 4-axis machine or 5-axis with a tilting B head.
Menu 3D → 3D carving around the stock (STL) 4/5 axis…
Square table legs, 4-sided sign posts
Choose a square or round part, enter its size and the faces to cut. You get a design sheet for every face and cut one face at a time, like a flat job.
Menu Machining → Indexed rotary (Indexed 4-axis)…
Features
Everything from shape to A-axis G-code
No expensive CAM software needed. Do it all in one window, in English or Thai.
7 ready-made turned shapes
Pick one and adjust with sliders: overall depth, bead / ring size, taper.
Classic balusterTapered table leg + ringsVaseBed post / stair postFinial / post capFluted cylinderTool handle
Draw your own shape
Draw half the outline with the line tool and click use selected line, or drag points to adjust.
Lengthwise flutes
Cut grooves along the stock. Set the number of flutes, width and depth.
Roughing + finishing
Both steps are created for you. It picks a ball nose bit from the tool library and warns if the depth exceeds the bit's cutting length.
Simulation around the stock
Watch the stock being cut pass by pass. Drag to spin the stock or change the view before you cut.
Estimated cutting time
See the time for the whole job, the number of steps and the bits used before the wood goes on the machine.
A-axis or Y G-code
Machines with an A axis get A-axis degrees · a 3-axis machine can run the rotary axis in place of the Y motor. Rotation direction is selectable.
G93 inverse time
Accurate surface speed on every line. If your machine does not support it, the app compensates feed by radius instead.
Edit later
Select the part and click 3D → Edit selected turned shape. Reshape it without starting over.
New · 3D carving around the stock
Carve Buddha statues and sculptures from a full STL model
Choose your machine: 4-axis, where the bit points straight down at the axis, or 5-axis, which adds a tilting B head to reach recesses under arms and chins that 4 axes cannot.
Real simulation in the app: the sample model "praying figure" on ⌀65 × 200 mm stock.
- Click 3D → 3D carving around the stock (STL) 4/5 axis… and choose an STL file, or try the sample model.
- Enter the part length. The app picks the raw stock ⌀ + end holding + tenons at both ends (so both ends of the statue are carved cleanly all around; saw the tenons off afterwards).
- Choose 4-axis (A) or 5-axis (A + tilting B head). The preview shows hidden areas in pink.
- 5-axis: set the tilt angle (start at 30°), turn on RTCP if your machine supports it, or enter the head pivot distance.
- Create the job → check toolpaths → simulate → export G-code (A axis, or A + B).
4-axis rotary engraving
Type a name and engrave it around a handle
Sample job in the app: a ⌀40 × 250 mm wooden handle engraved with a name (in Thai script). You design on a flat sheet that is the unrolled stock surface, and the app converts it to rotation angles on export.
- Click Machining → 4-axis rotary (Rotary)…
- Choose the machine mode: Has an A axis or Rotary axis replaces the Y motor
- Enter the stock diameter and length, then click Set sheet to the turned stock
- Type the name, place patterns, set up machining as usual, simulate around the stock, then export.
Try it now at File → Sample jobs… → Engraved wooden handle (4-axis rotary)
How it works, 5 steps
Turn a baluster on a CNC in 6 minutes
All images are real screenshots of the app.
Open Revolve
Open Gcodai Studio, click the 3D menu and choose Revolve, or click the button below on this page to open the Revolve window right away.
Click 3D → Revolve (turned shape), rotary axis…
Enter stock size, choose a shape
Enter the stock diameter and length to match your wood, choose a ready-made shape, then adjust depth, beads and taper, or turn on lengthwise flutes.
Fields Stock diameter Stock length · section Outline (Profile)
Create, then check toolpaths
Click create turned shape. The app builds roughing and finishing around the stock, picks the bit and shows the estimated time.
Button Create turned shape → step 2 Toolpaths
Simulate around the stock
Click Simulate and watch the stock being cut into the real shape. Drag to rotate in any direction and check before the wood goes on the machine.
Step 3 Simulate
Export A-axis G-code
Choose the machine type in the export tab and click export. You get a file where X runs along the stock and A turns the stock in degrees, plus rotary setup steps.
Button Export G-code · file -rotary.nc
Supported machines
A-axis export for 10 controller types
Choose the machine type in the export tab and the app formats the file for that machine.
Mach3 / Mach4A axis · G93
NcStudio (Weihong)A axis · feed compensation
DSP Richauto / WeihongA axis · feed compensation
Syntec / LNC / Fanuc (ATC)A axis · G93
Standard ISO/Fanuc G-codeA axis · G93
LinuxCNCA axis · G93
grblHAL / FluidNCA axis · G93
UCCNCA axis · feed compensation
MASSO G3A axis · feed compensation
Centroid AcornA axis · feed compensation
GRBL Arduino 3-axisRotary axis replaces the Y motor
For other machines, adjust the machine file format yourself in Export → Customize file format, then turn on "Has rotary axis A".
Project ideas
Add one rotary axis and take on new jobs right away
Table legs, chair legsBalcony balustersStair postsBed postsFinials, post capsRound vasesBuddha statues, sculpturesPost caps with carved patternsKnife handles, tool handlesWooden pens with engraved names4-sided sign postsSouvenirs with engraved names
Get started
3-day free trial
every feature
Sign up with your Google account and start turning right away, no card needed. If you like it, buy once and use it for life. Pay by PromptPay (Thai payments) or card.
Try Revolve free4-axis turning is part of Gcodai Studio
- Revolve, statue carving from STL (4/5 axis), indexed rotary
- 3D relief, 3D slat wall, two-sided jobs
- Full sign toolkit: cutting, V-carve, LED layout
- Buy once, use for life
FAQ
Questions about 4-axis turning
Can Gcodai Studio output G-code for a 4-axis CNC?
Yes, in 3 ways: turned shapes (table legs, balusters, stair posts, vases), names or patterns engraved around the stock, and indexed rotary. It exports A-axis G-code for 4-axis controllers, or a mode where the rotary axis replaces the Y motor for 3-axis machines.
Can I carve a Buddha statue or sculpture from an STL file?
Yes. Use 3D menu → 3D carving around the stock (STL) 4/5 axis. Choose the STL file of the full model and enter the part length. The app picks the raw stock size and builds roughing and finishing around the stock. Works on both 4-axis and 5-axis machines.
How is 5-axis different from 4-axis?
On 4 axes (A) the bit only points straight down at the axis, so hidden recesses under arms or chins cannot be reached. 5 axes (A + tilting head B) add tilted-head finishing at ±B angles only in those recesses. The file includes a B axis, for 5-axis controllers such as Syntec, LNC, Fanuc and LinuxCNC. If your machine has no RTCP, enter the distance from the head pivot to the bit tip and the app compensates.
Which controllers does it work with?
The A axis works with Mach3/Mach4, NcStudio (Weihong), DSP Richauto, Syntec/LNC/Fanuc, LinuxCNC, UCCNC, MASSO, Centroid and grblHAL/FluidNC. Standard 3-axis GRBL Arduino has no A axis, so use the mode where the rotary axis replaces the Y motor.
Do I have to draw the table leg shape myself?
No. There are 7 ready-made shapes, and you adjust depth, bead size and taper with sliders. For a custom shape, draw half of the outline with the line tool (P), select that line, then click use selected line.
What is G93 and do I need it?
G93 (inverse time) gives the most accurate surface speed in rotary work. It is supported in Mach3/Mach4, LinuxCNC, Syntec, Fanuc and grblHAL. If your machine does not support it, the app automatically uses feed compensation by radius instead, with nothing to set up.
Which bit do I use for turning?
Turned shapes use a ball nose bit, and the app picks one from your tool library. If it warns that the depth exceeds the bit's cutting length, reduce the overall depth or choose a bit with a longer cutting length in the tool library.
How do I zero a rotary machine?
Every time you export, the app writes the machine setup steps for you. For example: mount the stock so the rotary axis is parallel to the X axis, move the head so the bit tip is over the rotary axis, zero X at the left end of the stock, set A = 0 at the start position, and set Z0 at the top surface of the stock.
Do I need to install anything?
No. Gcodai Studio runs in your web browser on Windows, Mac and tablets. Sign up and try every feature free for 3 days. Step-by-step guides are in the Revolve lesson and the 4-axis rotary lesson.
One piece of wood in,
a full set of balusters out
Open the app and try a ready-made shape. Nothing to install.