Resources
Media Guide
A media guide covering timber, MDF, acrylic and other common materials used on CNC routers and CO₂ lasers.
How a Media Guide helps with machine content
The Media Guide covers common sheet and board materials used on CNC routers and CO₂ lasers, including timber, MDF and acrylic. It helps Cape workshops match the machine to the material they cut every day.
A useful media guide starts with the sheets and boards your shop cuts most often. Timber species, MDF density, cast or extruded acrylic, and even moisture in Somerset West air can change feed choice, edge finish, and extraction needs. For Cape workshops running CNC routers and CO₂ lasers side by side, material behaviour matters as much as machine size.
Include one reference image for each material with the guide. A close shot of the cut edge, protective film, and chip or flame finish helps staff compare results before committing a full board. That record is handy after a power interruption or when a repeat job returns months later.
Materials covered in the guide
You leave with material-specific notes, sample photo guidance, and a short checklist for each machine type. The guide points out what to show when cutting MDF, engraving acrylic, or machining timber so feed rates, edge quality, and extraction needs are visible. Use workshop images and clips that explain the machine clearly.
Link the media guide to sample parts, cutting notes, and the matching machine page before sending anything through the contact form. Add the exact material name, thickness, and whether the job is routed, engraved, or laser cut so the right setup is discussed. One workshop photo showing extraction, table size, and available space gives better context than a long message.
- MDF grades and typical cut quality
- Acrylic edge finish with masking shown
- Material details sent through the website
Cape workshop conditions to note
In the Western Cape, stored board can pick up moisture and change how cleanly it machines. Shared spaces also matter, because routing dust, laser fumes, packing benches, and sheet storage often compete for the same square metres. A media guide should reflect the actual shop layout, not an ideal setup from a showroom.
Coastal conditions can shorten cleaning intervals on rails, optics, mirrors, and extraction components. Load-shedding affects long nested router runs and repeat laser batches, so mark which materials are less forgiving if a job stops midway. When samples are photographed, show the entry edge, exit edge, and any heat effect clearly.
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Sample notes worth recording
Share wide shots of the workshop, close-ups of the machine, the material being cut, and the finished result so the right CNC router or CO₂ laser setup is clear.
Capture the settings used for each photographed sample while the sheet is still on hand. Record the material type, nominal thickness, cutter or lens setup, and the visible result on both faces. That gives buyers and operators a grounded reference for what the machine produced on timber, MDF, acrylic, and similar stock.