Guides
Practical guides for trade.
Process and material guidance for signwriters, builders and shopfitters sending jobs through CutPro.
No marketing fluff — just the same call-outs we make in-house when we look at a file. Each guide stays grounded in what our machines actually do and what AU stock actually carries.
Guide · Process choice
Laser cutting vs CNC routing — which suits your job
Laser cutting and CNC routing both cut sheet material to a file — but they do it differently, and the better choice depends on the material, the thickness, the edge finish you need, and the detail in the artwork. This guide is the same call-out we make in-house when we look at a job..
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Guide · Material choice
Acrylic vs ACM — which to use for signage
Acrylic and aluminium composite panel (ACM) are the two materials most signage jobs come down to. They look superficially similar as panel stock, but they behave very differently — different edges, different weather tolerance, different cutting processes, and very different costs at scale..
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Guide · Letter signs
Custom acrylic, 3D & illuminated letter signs on the Gold Coast
Flat-cut, built-up, channel and push-through letters — what each one is, what we cut it from, and what to think about before you order one for the Coast.
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Guide · File preparation
DXF file preparation for CNC & laser cutting
DXF is the format we prefer for cut files — it carries clean vector geometry, supports layer separation for cut / engrave / score, and reads consistently across CAD and design software. This guide is what we ask senders to check before submitting a file, so the quote is fast and the cut lands right first time..
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Guide · File specs
How to supply artwork for laser cutting, CNC routing & engraving
The right file format for each process, why fonts have to be outlined, and how to set up cut, score and engrave layers — so your quote comes back fast and the cut lands first time.
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Guide · Outdoor & coastal
Which materials last outdoors on the Gold Coast
Sun, salt air and humidity are hard on signage. The Gold Coast climate yellows the wrong plastics, lifts laminates and eats cheap fixings inside a season. This guide covers which of our materials hold up outside, roughly how long, and what kills them early — so the job still looks right in two years, not two months.
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Guide · Lead times
Lead times — what to expect
How long a job takes is really three separate clocks: getting the quote back, making the parts, and getting them to you. They don't all run at once, and the make clock doesn't start until the file's signed off and the order's confirmed. This guide explains what drives each one, so you can set a deadline that actually holds.
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Guide · Job prep
What we need to quote your job fast
A clean file is half the job — the DXF guide covers that. The other half is the spec around it, plus knowing whether your artwork sits inside what the machines can actually hold. This guide covers what to send so we can quote without the back-and-forth, and the detail limits worth knowing before you draw.
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Ready to send a job?
Send your file and material details. Quote back, usually within 1 business day.
Request a quoteor call 0479 143 649