Which Post Processor are you using, Brian? I don't have a CNC Router Parts machine but that's the one I'm using and it works just fine with no wasted motion.
On the vacuum for thin parts I've seen many folks make a manifold with a grid pattern. Plenty of YouTube videos on that. I see a lot in the Luthier arena where folks are holding bridges, fingerboards, etc.
Larger operations just pull a vacuum through the MDF spoilboard but that takes some serious vacuum pumps, likely costing more than your CNC. But you could scale it down for small 'pads' of vacuum equipped MDF pieces, say 15"x15" or so, and maybe a smaller pump will pull through that but I haven't tried it so test first.
David

On the vacuum for thin parts I've seen many folks make a manifold with a grid pattern. Plenty of YouTube videos on that. I see a lot in the Luthier arena where folks are holding bridges, fingerboards, etc.
Larger operations just pull a vacuum through the MDF spoilboard but that takes some serious vacuum pumps, likely costing more than your CNC. But you could scale it down for small 'pads' of vacuum equipped MDF pieces, say 15"x15" or so, and maybe a smaller pump will pull through that but I haven't tried it so test first.
David