MDF (CNC / Laser)
Overview
Medium Density Fibreboard — a CNC and laser staple. Uniform density throughout, no grain direction variation, cheap, stable, and widely available. Excellent for cabinetry, speaker boxes, templates, and furniture. Produces toxic formaldehyde fumes when cut or engraved — always use ventilation.
Properties
Difficulty
beginner
Enclosure
no
Dry Storage
no
Pros
- Very consistent density — no grain direction issues
- Extremely flat and stable
- Cheap and universally available
- Takes paint well with primer
- Easy to machine
- Good for large format work
Cons
- Formaldehyde fumes — ventilation mandatory
- Swells and crumbles with moisture
- Heavy
- Chips on edges without sharp tooling or backing
- Dulls tooling faster than solid wood
- Laminate face peels under heat
Best For
- Cabinet carcasses and furniture|Speaker enclosures|Jigs and templates|Painted decorative panels|Laser cut signage|Flat-pack furniture prototypes
Avoid For
- Moisture-exposed applications|Structural load-bearing without sealing|Any application without adequate fume extraction
Laser Compatibility
CO2: Cut 6mm MDF: 15mm/s 85% 2 passes, air assist. Engrave: 400mm/s 30%. Diode 20W: Cut 6mm: 5mm/s 100% 3+ passes. ALWAYS ventilate — MDF contains urea-formaldehyde resin that produces carcinogenic fumes when burned. Air assist and extraction are mandatory, not optional.