Hi! Complete beginner here: I’ve had machine sitting in my office for a year and only yesterday took it out of the box.
I have been searching the forum (and google) but have not found anything directly answering whether one can cut chipboard with the Aura or not. Most of the answers I find are for the Performance series.
I’ve also found some online stores that sell MDF for craft diode laser, even though it seems MDF is not recommended for the Aura. Is this a change and I just have outdated information? Are there updated settings that now allow the Aura to do this?
Does anyone have a definitive answer? Thank you very much!
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Welcome to the community. I have used chipboard but only in my performance machine and not my Aura. Someone may come up with definitive information, but I suggest you just do a few tests.
It is still correct that MDF is not recommended for the Aura or Spark, but not because of settings. It’s a really dirty material and since the Aura is already pretty picky about having clean rails, working with MDF would probably be a nightmare.
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I concur with above - I use a lot of chipboard but in my Pro, so no idea of settings, but as a starting point I can tell you my chipboard settings are just a little bit faster, but at about 80% lower power, than the Proofgrade Medium Maple Plywood.
You need to be comfortable testing custom materials, so create a small test design and try various settings either side of those speeds or power settings until you are happy with the results. This is an example of the one I use most:
I agree to not use MDF, I’ll cut it but try to avoid engraving. It’s horrible for messing up the machine.
Also - this forum section is for problems with the machine or UI. Beyond the Manual is the better place for non-Proofgrade material questions.
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I’ve moved it over to there.
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Thank you so much for your help!
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I’ve cut assorted chipboards in my Aura - it works great on paper based products, just slow. Anything beyond cardstock thickness usually needs multiple passes. I would start at the built in 80 lb cardstock setting and add passes until you cut all the way through your chipboard.
There’s no settings for the machine to update for assorted materials, it simply doesn’t know what you’re doing (besides the coded GF branded products). MDF in an Aura or Spark will be a bad time. Yes, it’s technically cuttable, but will make a mess in your Aura resulting in lots to clean, prints that don’t work right and clogging up your filter super fast. In contrast- I’ve been cutting lots of only paper and plastics in my Aura for the last year (office setting, 12 people) and have never had any issues. We just wipe the lens and rails after heavy sessions and have replaced the filter once.
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Thank you for this! Can I treat corrugated cardboard (shipping boxes) like chipboard or like cardstock? I found a few settings online that worked decently well in my initial tests, but being able to click 1/8" chipboard for example would be so convenient.
I also saw that draftboard is not recommended for the Aura. I initially thought that it was the same as chipboard, but I can’t find confirmation online. I also find definitions of chipboard as “compressed wood particles” 
Would you happen to know?
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thanks, now I feel at home 
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Once you find settings that work, you can save them as your own custom setting with its own custom name.
The process is described here in this document:
You have to scroll down to get to the part where they tell you how to save, but the entire document is worth reading.
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You’re welcome!
You can, tho keep a close eye on currogated. The wavy channels make perfect air vents so it’s a little more prone to fires.
“Draftboard” is just GF’s name for their own brand of MDF, nothing like chipboard. Recommend avoiding in the Aura.
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There is no one right setting for different materials from different sources. I have black, natural, and white Chipboard for example, and I use different settings for the white that don’t work on the black. Same with MDF - “draftboard” - the proofgrade settings are best for store-bought material.
Learn how to use the manual settings and note, or save, what works for the material you have on-hand.
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