What M114 means
Motion commands are queued, so 'current position' needs a definition. Default Marlin commonly reports the projected position—the latest endpoint it has been instructed to reach—even if the stepper is still working through earlier moves. Optional legacy or real-time modes can synchronize first or read a more recent stepper position.
Hosts use the response to update their coordinate display and for troubleshooting. The reply can include logical coordinates, step counts or extra detail, but it is not an independent physical measurement: skipped steps and manual motion after motors are released may not be visible without homing or external feedback.
Syntax and parameters
M114M114 RM114 DRRequest real-time position when Marlin is built with M114_REALTIME.
D / ERequest additional detail or E stepper data when the related Marlin option is enabled.
Practical examples
Request the normal report
M114Asks firmware to return the position format it has configured.
Synchronize before reporting
M400
M114Waiting for queued motion first makes a planned endpoint less likely to be ahead of the mechanism.
Firmware context
| System | Status | What changes |
|---|---|---|
| Marlin | Common | Reports projected, synchronized or real-time data depending on build options and parameters. |
| Klipper | Common | Supports M114 for common host workflows; API status is preferred for structured integrations. |
| RepRapFirmware | Common | Reports machine position/status with firmware-specific coordinate detail. |
| CNC controllers | Check dialect | Position displays and probing reports are controller-specific; M114 is not universal. |
What this viewer can show
The viewer calculates path coordinates from earlier commands, but it cannot reproduce a live M114 reply, step counts, queue progress or physical position.
Common mistakes
- A reported logical position does not prove that no steps were lost.
- During queued motion, the reported endpoint may be ahead of the mechanism unless the mode synchronizes.
- G92 and work offsets can make logical coordinates differ from raw machine coordinates.
Primary sources
This page is an original explanation, reviewed against the firmware documentation below. Always confirm commands against the firmware and configuration on the machine that will execute them.