What does this calculator do?
Read text G-code metadata without executing commands. Missing information means unknown, not zero; slicer comment conventions vary.
How to use the calculator
- Collect measurements and check units.
- Check printer compatibility before printing foreign files. Binary or compressed G-code needs decoding; never execute uploaded commands.
- Record assumptions and check the result before applying it.
How the calculation works
Read explicit supported comment metadata; never infer absent data
Recognized comments may report time, mass, length, layers and slicer. These remain slicer claims, not independent simulation of motion or waits.
Practical calculation example
TIME 7200 seconds means two hours. A 1500 mm filament comment means 1.5 m only under a convention declaring millimeters.
Understanding the results
Check printer compatibility before printing foreign files. Binary or compressed G-code needs decoding; never execute uploaded commands.
A metadata reader, not a printer interpreter
Choose a plain-text G-code file and the analyzer looks for a small supported set of explicit comment declarations. It reports values present in those comments rather than reconstructing the printer's execution. No command is sent to a machine or run in the browser. This distinction matters because the apparent contents of a G-code file and the actual outcome of executing it are not the same. Printer firmware, active configuration and operator overrides affect behaviour. Reading a declared duration does not certify that the file is suitable for your printer.
What the current parser recognises
Supported declarations include a numeric TIME comment in seconds; an estimated printing time in normal mode expressed with recognised day, hour, minute and second tokens; certain filament-used comments in metres, millimetres, grams or cubic centimetres; a declared layer height; and a LAYER_COUNT comment. The exact supported syntax is intentionally limited. Plain-text G-code from another slicer may use different names or structures. An absent output therefore means no supported declaration was found, not necessarily that the slicer never calculated the quantity. Inspect the original header when a value is unexpectedly missing.
Units are retained rather than guessed
A declared filament length in metres remains a length. A declared mass in grams remains a mass. The analyzer does not silently convert between them using a guessed diameter or density. Likewise, a volume does not become a material cost without a known price and material specification. For conversion, take the explicitly reported quantity to the relevant filament tool and supply the missing measured inputs. If a file provides both length and mass, discrepancies may reflect the slicer's material settings or stale comments rather than an error in arithmetic performed by this reader.
A short explicit example
A file with the comment TIME:3600 declares one hour in seconds. A separate Filament used: 12.5m comment declares 12.5 metres. An estimated normal-mode time of 1h 2m 3s becomes 3600 + 120 + 3 = 3723 seconds. The analyzer does not compare these declarations with actual motion or choose a more physically accurate one. When multiple supported comments describe the same metadata key, the current implementation retains the first recognised value. Keep the source file and review conflicting declarations rather than treating the first displayed number as an unquestionable ground truth.
Why motion lines are not a time calculation
The tool counts certain lines explicitly beginning with supported G0, G1, G2 or G3 command forms. It also counts comment lines. These counts describe textual structure and are not distance, deposited volume or duration. Numbered lines, modal commands, macros and alternate forms may not contribute to that simple count. Summing straight-line distance divided by a feedrate would still omit acceleration, cornering, arcs, dwell, heating, tool changes and firmware limits. Therefore the analyzer does not produce an inferred completion time when a valid declared duration is absent.
Comments can become stale
G-code comments can be edited or left unchanged after motion has been modified. A declared filament amount may refer to an earlier version, and a duration may have been computed for another machine profile. Check the file's origin and compare its header with a fresh export from the intended slicer profile. The analyzer does not authenticate the author, prove the slicer settings or validate every machine instruction. Treat explicit metadata as a statement carried by the file. It is useful for inspection and planning only after you decide the source and profile are appropriate.
Multi-material and unusual files need care
Some slicers list separate extruders, comma-separated consumption values or specialised metadata. The current parser does not combine unsupported lists or infer missing totals. A summary that appears to cover one material should not be assumed to include supports, purge or every tool. Binary or compressed printer formats are outside this plain-text reader and are rejected or unrecognised. Do not rename a binary file to a text extension and expect a reliable result. Export supported text from an appropriate slicer when that format is available and keep the intended machine configuration intact.
Local handling and resource limits
The browser reads the selected file in a worker and does not upload it through this tool. Maximum file size is 32 MB, with a 15-second timeout to bound analysis. Selecting another file terminates the previous worker so late results cannot overwrite the new analysis. Large files may need another local inspection method rather than being split and interpreted as complete jobs. Shared links contain calculator parameters, not file contents or a stored private upload. The application cannot recreate another person's analyzed file from the tool URL alone.
From inspection to responsible planning
If a valid declared duration is available and you trust its profile, use it as the estimate in the finish-time tool with a justified scheduling buffer. Take explicitly reported material amounts to filament or print-cost calculations without adding already included waste twice. Before any real print, inspect the full file in the intended slicer or printer workflow, verify the machine profile and check placement. Metadata inspection is a useful evidence-gathering step. It is not a replacement for preparing a safe, compatible job or confirming the printer's actual completion and consumption.
Advanced tips
- Check printer compatibility before printing foreign files. Binary or compressed G-code needs decoding; never execute uploaded commands.
Common mistakes
- Treating an absent declaration as zero consumption or an inferred duration.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my file show no print duration?
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Its comments may omit a duration or use unsupported syntax. The tool does not infer time from movement commands.
Is a declared filament amount necessarily accurate?
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No. It is a file declaration, possibly based on another profile or earlier revision. Verify source and units.
Does this execute or validate the job?
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No commands are executed, and the reader is not a full machine-compatibility or safety validator.
Sources & methodology
Mathematical results depend on the supplied inputs. Material properties and machine limits need confirmation for your exact equipment. Editorial specialist approval remains pending.