Basic questions

Hello, I have been lurking on this list for sometime and I have a couple of dumb questions that I hope someone can answer for me or point me in the right direction. I am very close to buying a DIY CNC router kit like the blueChick. I have read a lot about the machines and control software but my questions are pretty basic and most likely dumb, here goes:
1.) How do I hold material on the table? I will be cutting thin wood, liteply and balsa wood. I will be cutting through the wood to cut out parts. My question is how do people hold the material in place and what do you put under the part you are cutting to make sure you do not cut into the bed of the machine.
2.) I have old drawings with patterns for formers (mostly from model airplanes) that I would like to convert to gcode files to enable cutting the parts. Is this possible? If so where can I learn more about the process. I hope I can scan them in and then convert them to gcodes.

I hope these questions are appropriate for this list and appreciate any input.

Thanks!

--Gordon



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