Patent Publication Number: US-11389983-B2

Title: Cutting apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This is a continuation application of International Application No. PCT/JP2019/012758 filed on Mar. 26, 2019 which claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-151999 filed on Aug. 10, 2018. The entire contents of the earlier applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Aspects disclosed herein relate to a cutting apparatus that cuts a sheet-like workpiece based on cutting data. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A known cutting apparatus cuts out a pattern from a sheet-like workpiece using a cutting blade by moving the workpiece and the cutting blade relative to each other. In the cutting apparatus, a blade protruding amount is set so that, in response to the cutting blade being press-contacted with the workpiece, a cutting edge of the cutting blade can penetrate the workpiece adhesively supported by a holding member. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a case where a workpiece has different stiffnesses or thicknesses in different portions, such a known cutting apparatus might not enable the cutting edge of the cutting blade to be located at an appropriate position relative to the workpiece. This may cause inappropriate cutting with respect to the workpiece. 
     Accordingly, aspects of the disclosure provide a cutting apparatus that may adjust a position of a cutting edge of a cutting blade relative to a workpiece more appropriately during execution of cutting processing than a known cutting apparatus. 
     In one or more aspects of the disclosure, a cutting apparatus may include a platen, an attaching portion, a first moving mechanism, a second moving mechanism, a pressure changer, and a controller. The attaching portion may be configured to hold a cutting blade. The first moving mechanism may be configured to move a workpiece supported by the platen and the attaching portion relative to each other in a first direction and a second direction. The second direction may intersect the first direction. The second moving mechanism may be configured to move the attaching portion in a third direction and a fourth direction. The third direction may intersect the first and second directions. The third direction may be a direction in which the second moving mechanism moves the attaching portion toward the platen. The fourth direction may intersect the first and second directions. The fourth direction may be a direction in which the second moving mechanism moves the attaching portion away from the platen. The pressure changer may be configured to, in response to movement of the attaching portion caused by the second moving mechanism, change magnitude of pressure to be applied to the attaching portion in the third direction. The controller may be configured to control the first moving mechanism and the second moving mechanism. The controller may be configured to execute data obtainment, pressure specification, target range specification, cutting control, and position obtainment. The data obtainment may include obtaining cutting data representing a pattern to be cut in the workpiece. The pressure specification may include specifying a pressure value corresponding to the pressure to be applied to the attaching portion by the pressure changer during execution of cutting processing for cutting the workpiece based on the obtained cutting data. The target range specification may include specifying a target range defining a range of target positions of the attaching portion in a fifth direction during execution of the cutting processing. The fifth direction may include the third direction and the fourth direction. The cutting control may include controlling the first moving mechanism while the second moving mechanism, thereby executing cutting processing for cutting the workpiece using the cutting blade held by the attaching portion. Controlling the first moving mechanism may include moving the workpiece supported by the platen and the attaching portion relative to each other in the first direction and the second direction. Controlling the second moving mechanism may include causing the pressure changer to apply, to the attaching portion, the pressure corresponding to the pressure value specified in the pressure specification. The position obtainment may include obtaining the position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction during execution of the cutting processing in the cutting control. The controller may be further configured to execute pressure change in a case where the position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction obtained in the position obtainment is out of the target range. The pressure change may include changing the pressure value specified in the pressure specification to a particular pressure value different from the current pressure value. The controller may be further configured to, in a case where the pressure value specified in the pressure specification is changed to the particular pressure value in the pressure change, execute the cutting control while causing the pressure changer to apply, to the attaching portion, the pressure corresponding to the particular pressure value. 
     In the cutting apparatus according to the disclosure, the controller may obtain the position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction during execution of the cutting processing. In a case where the obtained position of the attaching portion is out of the target range, the pressure changer may change the pressure applied to the attaching portion. Thus, as compared with a case where a constant pressure is applied to the attaching portion by the pressure changer during execution of the cutting processing without consideration of the position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction during executing of the cutting processing, in the cutting apparatus, the position of the cutting edge of the cutting blade relative to a workpiece may be adjusted appropriately. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cutting apparatus according to one or more of first, second, and third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of an attaching portion and an up-down drive mechanism of the cutting apparatus according to one or more of the first, second, and third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a partial sectional perspective view of the attaching portion and the up-down drive mechanism taken along line A-A of  FIG. 2  according to one or more of the first, second, and third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram of an electrical configuration of the cutting apparatus according to one or more of the first, second, and third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a chart for explaining first, second, and third examples according to one or more of the first, second, and third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of main processing according to one or more of the first, second, third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of pressure specification processing for variable M executed in the main processing of  FIG. 6  according to one or more of the first, second, third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a flowchart of moving processing executed in the pressure specification processing for variable M of  FIG. 7  according to one or more of the first, second, third illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 9A  is a flowchart of cutting control processing executed in the main processing of  FIG. 6  according to one or more of the first, second, third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 9B  is a continuation of the flowchart of  FIG. 9A  according to one or more of the first, second, third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a graph showing changes in a pressure value relative to a height of the attaching portion when a holding position is obtained and when a reference pressure value for an Nth cutting process is specified according to one or more of the first, second, third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a graph showing the presence or absence of execution of an orientation correction in chronological change of the height of the attaching portion and chronological change of the pressure value in a case where a variable N is assigned 1 (one) and in a case where the variable N is assigned 2 in the cutting processing of the first example according to one or more of the first, second, third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart of moving processing according to the second illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 13A  is a flowchart of pressure specification and cutting control processing according to the third illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 13B  is a continuation of the flowchart of  FIG. 13A  according to the third illustrative embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a graph showing chronological change of the height of the attaching portion and chronological change of the pressure value according to one or more of the first, second, third illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings to be referred to are used for explaining technical features employable in the disclosure. Configurations of devices, apparatuses, and systems, and flowcharts of various processing illustrated in the drawings are not intended to limit the disclosure thereto but are merely examples. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 , a description will be provided on a common physical configuration of a cutting apparatus  1  among first, second, and third illustrative embodiments. In the following description, lower left, upper right, lower right, upper left, upper side, and lower side of the page of  FIG. 1  may be defined respectively as left, right, front, rear, upper side and lower side of the cutting apparatus  1 . That is, an extending direction of a casing  9  extends corresponds to a right-left direction. A surface of the cutting apparatus  1 , in which an operation interface  50  is provided, may be an upper surface of the cutting apparatus  1 . A front-rear direction, a right-left direction, a downward direction, an upward direction, and an up-down direction may be also referred to as a first direction, a second direction, a third direction, a fourth direction, and a fifth direction, respectively. In the description, an expression indicating a time period used with a specific condition includes a moment when the specific condition is satisfied and a period including a moment when it is determined that the specific condition is substantially satisfied and time before and after the moment. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cutting apparatus  1  is configured to, based on cutting data, cut one or more patterns in a sheet-like workpiece  20 . More specifically, for example, in a state where the workpiece  20  is held by a holding member  10 , the cutting apparatus  1  cuts the workpiece  20 . The holding member  10  may have a rectangular shape and a certain thickness. In one example, the holding member  10  may be, for example, a mat made of synthetic resin. In another example, the holding member  10  may be a releasable sheet to which a workpiece  20  such as a sticker or label is adhered. The holding member  10  has a rectangular border  11  printed on its upper surface  18  (e.g., a first surface). The holding member  10  has a cutting area in which the cutting apparatus  1  can cut a workpiece  20 . The cutting area may be a substantially rectangular area defined inside the border  11 . That is, the cutting area excludes a peripheral portion of the holding member  10  outside the border  11  and the border  11  itself. The holding member  10  has an adhesive coating  100  applied in the cutting area. The adhesive coating  100  is provided by application of adhesive. A workpiece  20  may be a sheet-like member such as a cloth or a sheet of paper having a front surface  23  and a back surface opposite to the front surface  23 . A workpiece  20  may be held by the holding member  10  such that the front surface  23  of the workpiece  20  faces upward and the back surface of the workpiece  20  is adhered to the upper surface  18  (e.g., the first surface) of the holding member  10  via the adhesive coating  100 . The front surface  23  of the workpiece  20  may face an attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction during execution of cutting processing. The cutting apparatus  1  includes the casing  9 , a platen  3 , a head  5 , a conveying mechanism  7 , and a head moving mechanism  8 . The conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  are an example of a first moving mechanism. 
     The casing  9  may have a substantially box-like shape elongated in the right-left direction. The casing  9  includes an opening  91 , a cover  92 , and the operation interface  50 . The casing  9  has the opening  91  at its front portion. The cover  92  may be a plate-like member elongated in the right-left direction. The cover  92  has a lower end pivotably supported by the casing  9 . The cover  92  is configured to be opened to uncover the opening  91 . The cover  92  is further configured to be closed to cover the opening  91 . In  FIG. 1 , the cover  92  is opened to uncover the opening  91 . 
     The operation interface  50  is disposed at a right portion of the upper surface of the casing  9 . The operation interface  50  includes a liquid crystal display (“LCD”)  51 , a plurality of operating buttons  52 , and a touch screen  53 . The LCD  51  is configured to display images representing various items such as commands, illustrations, setting values, and messages. The touch screen  53  is disposed on a surface of the LCD  51 . A user is enabled to press the touch screen  53  with a finger or stylus. Hereinafter, such a user&#39;s operation is referred to as a touch-screen operation. The cutting apparatus  1  is configured to determine, based on a pressed position detected by the touch screen  53 , an item that has been selected. The user is enabled to, for example, select one or more patterns from various patterns displayed on the LCD  51 , specify parameters, and input instructions, using one or more of the operating buttons  52  and the touch screen  53 . 
     The platen  3  is disposed inside the casing  9 . The platen  3  may be a plate-like member elongated in the right-left direction. The platen  3  is configured to receive a lower surface of the holding member  10  and support the holding member  10  that may hold a workpiece  20 . More specifically, for example, the platen  3  has an upper surface  26  (e.g., a second surface). The upper surface  26  of the platen  3  is configured to support the lower surface of the holding member  10 . In a state where the cover  92  is opened to uncover the opening  91 , the holding member  10  is allowed to be placed on the platen  3 . The position of the upper surface  26  of the platen  3  in the fifth direction may be also referred to as a platen position PP. 
     The head  5  includes a carriage  19 , the attaching portion  32 , a sensor  41 , and an up-down drive mechanism  33 . The up-down drive mechanism  33  is an example of a second moving mechanism. The attaching portion  32  and the up-down drive mechanism  33  are disposed on opposite sides of the carriage  19  in the front-rear direction. The attaching portion  32  is configured to hold a cutting blade  16 . In the illustrative embodiment, for example, the cutting blade  16  is attached to a cartridge  4 . The cartridge  4  holds a proximal end portion of the cutting blade  16 . The attaching portion  32  holds the cutting blade  16  via the cartridge  4 . Nevertheless, in other embodiments, for example, the attaching portion  32  may hold the proximal end portion of the cutting blade  16  directly. The cartridge  4  is configured to, in a state where the cartridge  4  has the cutting blade  16  at its lower end, be detachably attached to the attaching portion  32 . The sensor  41  may be a position sensor configured to output a signal indicating the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a fifth-direction position of the attaching portion  32 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the sensor  41  is disposed to the left rear of the attaching portion  32 . 
     The up-down drive mechanism  33  is configured to move the attaching portion  32  in the third direction and the fourth direction. The third direction and the fourth direction may each be orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. The third direction may be a direction in which the up-down drive mechanism  33  moves the attaching portion  32  toward the platen  3 . The fourth direction may be a direction in which the up-down drive mechanism  33  moves the attaching portion  32  away from the platen  3 . In the illustrative embodiments, the up-down drive mechanism  33  includes a Z-axis motor  34  and a transmission unit connected to an output shaft  40  of the Z-axis motor  34 . The up-down drive mechanism  33  is configured such that the transmission unit decelerates rotating motion of the Z-axis motor  34 , converts the rotating motion into up-down motion, and transmits the up-down motion to the attaching portion  32 , thereby driving the attaching portion  32  and the cartridge  4  in the fifth direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a Z-axis direction). That is, the Z-axis motor  34  is configured to drive the attaching portion  32  and the cartridge  4  in the fifth direction. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the up-down drive mechanism  33  includes gears  35  and  36 , a shaft  37 , a plate member  48 , a pinion  38 , and a rack  39  that constitute the transmission unit of the up-down drive mechanism  33 . The gear  35  is fixed to a front end portion of the output shaft  40  of the Z-axis motor  34 . The gear  35  is in mesh with the gear  36 . The gear  35  has a dimeter smaller than a diameter of the gear  36 . The gear  36  includes a tubular shaft  46  extending in the front-rear direction. The shaft  37  extends through the tubular shaft  46  of the gear  36 . The output shaft  40  of the Z-axis motor  34  and the shaft  37  both extend in the front-rear direction. 
     The plate member  48  may have a disc-like shape having a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the gear  36 . The plate member  48  has a front surface connected to a rear end of the pinion  38 . The plate member  48  and the pinion  38  are in one piece and inseparable from each other. The plate member  48  and the gear  36  are separate components. The plate member  48  and the pinion  38  are configured to rotate independently of rotation of the gear  36 . The pinion  38  and the plate member  48  are disposed further to the front than the gear  36 . The shaft  37  extends through the pinion  38  and the plate member  48 . The pinion  38  and the plate member  48  are configured to rotate relative to the shaft  37 . The pinion  38  has a dimeter smaller than the respective diameters of the gears  35  and  36 . The rack  39  extends in the up-down direction and has teeth on its right surface. The rack  39  is in mesh with the pinion  38  via their interlocking teeth. The rack  39  is fixed to the back of the attaching portion  32 . 
     The up-down drive mechanism  33  further includes a pressure changer  31 . The pressure changer  31  is configured to change magnitude of pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  in the third direction (e.g., a downward pressure applied to the attaching portion  32 ) (hereinafter, simply referred to as a third-direction pressure). In the illustrative embodiments, the pressure changer  31  may be, for example, a torsion spring disposed in the shaft  46  of the gear  36 . The pressure changer  31  has one end fixed to the shaft  46  and the other end fixed to the plate member  48 . The pressure changer  31  is configured to transmit rotation of the gear  36  to the plate member  48 . The pressure changer  31  is further configured to, in response to change of a compression amount of the torsion spring serving as the pressure changer  31  in accordance with rotation of the gear  36 , change magnitude of a third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32 . In other words, in accordance with rotation of the shaft  46  due to rotation of the gear  36 , the compression amount of the torsion spring serving as the pressure changer  31  whose one end is connected to the shaft  46  changes. Thus, a rotation force of the plate member  48  to which the other end of the pressure changer  31  is connected changes. In response to change of the rotation force of the plate member  48 , the third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  changes. 
     As the output shaft  40  of the Z-axis motor  34  rotates clockwise, the gear  35  rotates clockwise and the gear  36  rotates counterclockwise. In response, the pressure changer  31  transmits rotation of the gear  36  to the plate member  48 . In a state where the cutting blade  16  is out of contact with a workpiece  20  or the holding member  10 , pressure acting in the fourth direction (hereinafter, simply referred to as a fourth-direction pressure) (e.g., an upward pressure) does not exert on the attaching portion  32 . Thus, in response to receiving rotation of the gear  36  transmitted from the pressure changer  31 , the plate member  48  and the pinion  38  rotate counterclockwise respectively by an amount corresponding to the rotation of the gear  36 . In a state where the cutting blade  16  is in contact with a workpiece  20  or the holding member  10 , the attaching portion  32  receives a fourth-direction pressure via the cutting blade  16 . Thus, even when the plate member  48  receives rotation of the gear  36  transmitted from the pressure changer  31 , the plate member  48  and the pinion  38  do not rotate unless the third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  exceeds the fourth-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32 . As the output shaft  40  of the Z-axis motor  34  rotates clockwise in such a state, the gear  36  rotates relative to the plate member  48  and the pinion  38  and torsion of the pressure changer  31  increases. In response to this, the third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  by the pressure changer  31  via the plate member  48  and the pinion  38  increases. In a case where the third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  by the pressure changer  31  exceeds the fourth-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32 , the pinion  38  starts rotating and the attaching portion  32  moves in the third direction (e.g., downward). The rotation amount of the pinion  38  may differ from or may be equal to the rotation amount of the gear  36 . As the output shaft  40  of the Z-axis motor  34  rotates counterclockwise, the gear  35  rotates counterclockwise and the gear  36  and the pinion  38  rotate clockwise. At that time, the attaching portion  32  moves in the fourth direction (e.g., upward) together with the rack  39 . The cartridge  4  attached to the attaching portion  32  moves between a cutting position and a raised position in accordance with driving of the Z-axis motor  34 . The cutting position is to be determined in cutting processing. The cutting position refers to a particular position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when the cutting apparatus  1  performs cutting on a workpiece  20  based on cutting data. The raised position refers to another particular position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth down direction where the attaching portion  32  is spaced from a workpiece  20  by a predetermined distance in the fifth direction. 
     The rotation amount of the Z-axis motor  34  is in correlation to a third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  by the pressure changer  31  in a case where the cutting blade  16  contacts a workpiece  20  or the holding member  10 . In the illustrative embodiments, the Z-axis motor  34  may be a pulse motor, and a rotation angle of the output shaft  40  of the Z-axis motor  34  is proportional to a pulse input to the Z-axis motor  34 . Thus, the number of pulses input to the Z-axis motor  34  is in correlation to pressure acting toward the platen  3  applied to the attaching portion  32  by the pressure changer  31 . In the illustrative embodiments, the number of pulses input to the Z-axis motor  34  is used as a pressure value that corresponds to the magnitude of a third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  by the pressure changer  31 . 
     The conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  are configured to respectively move the holding member  10  placed on the platen  3  and the attaching portion  32  relative to each other in the first direction and the second direction orthogonal to the first direction. The conveying mechanism  7  is configured to convey the holding member  10  placed on the platen  3  in the front-rear direction (hereinafter, also referred to as a Y-axis direction) in the cutting apparatus  1 . The conveying mechanism  7  includes a drive roller  12 , a pinch roller  13 , a mount frame  14 , a Y-axis motor  15 , and a decelerator  17 . The casing  9  further includes therein inner walls  111  and  112  facing each other. The inner wall  111  is disposed to the left of the platen  3 . The inner wall  112  is disposed to the right of the platen  3 . The drive roller  12  and the pinch roller  13  are disposed between and rotatably supported by the inner walls  111  and  112 . The drive roller  12  and the pinch roller  13  are configured to convey the holding member  10  in the first direction (e.g., the Y-axis direction) relative to the attaching portion  32 . The drive roller  12  and the pinch roller  13  both extend in the right-left direction (hereinafter, also referred to as an X-axis direction) of the cutting apparatus  1 , and disposed next to each other in the up-down direction. The pinch roller  13  includes a roller portion at its left end portion and a roller portion  131  at its right end portion. 
     The inner wall  112  has opposite surfaces in the right-left direction. The left surface of the inner wall  112  faces the inner wall  111 . The mount frame  14  is fixed to the right surface of the inner wall  112 . The Y-axis motor  15  is mounted to the mount frame  14 . The Y-axis motor  15  may be, for example, a pulse motor. The Y-axis motor  15  includes an output shaft connected to a drive gear of the decelerator  17 . The drive gear of the decelerator  17  is in mesh with a driven gear. The driven gear is fixed to a right end of the drive roller  12 . 
     When the conveying mechanism  7  conveys the holding member  10 , the drive roller  12  and the left roller portion of the pinch roller  13  pinch therebetween a left end portion of the holding member  10  and the drive roller  12  and the right roller portion  131  of the pinch roller  13  pinch therebetween a right end portion of the holding member  10 . In response to the Y-axis motor  15  rotating in a forward direction or in a reverse direction, the rotating motion of the Y-axis motor  15  is transmitted to the drive roller  12  via the decelerator  17 . That is, the Y-axis motor  15  drives the drive roller  12 . The holding member  10  is thus conveyed frontward or backward in a conveyance direction in accordance with the rotating direction of the Y-axis motor  15 . 
     The head moving mechanism  8  is configured to move the head  5  in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the holding member  10 , that is, in the X-axis direction. In other words, the moving direction of the head  5  is orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the holding member  10 . The head moving mechanism  8  includes a pair of upper and lower guide rails  21  and  22 , a mount frame  24 , an X-axis motor  25 , a drive gear  27 , a driven gear  29 , and a transmission mechanism  30 . The drive gear  27  and the driven gear  29  constitute a decelerator. The guide rails  21  and  22  are fixed between the inner walls  111  and  112 . The guide rails  21  and  22  are disposed above to the rear of the pinch roller  13 . The guide rails  21  and  22  both extend substantially parallel to the pinch roller  13 , that is, extend in the X-axis direction. The carriage  19  of the head  5  is supported by the guide rails  21  and  22  so as to be movable in the X-axis direction along the guide rails  21  and  22 . 
     The inner wall  111  has opposite surfaces in the right-left direction. The right surface of the inner wall  111  faces the inner wall  112 . The mount frame  24  is fixed to the left surface of the inner wall  111 . The X-axis motor  25  is disposed at a rear portion of the mount frame  24  and faces downward. The drive gear  27  is fixed to an output shaft of the X-axis motor  25 . The X-axis motor  25  may be, for example, a pulse motor. The driven gear  29  is in mesh with the drive gear  27 . The transmission mechanism  30  includes a pair of right and left timing pulleys including a timing pulley  28 , and an endless timing belt looped around the timing pulleys. The timing pulley  28  (e.g., the left timing pulley) is disposed at the mount frame  24  so as to be rotatable together with the driven gear  29 . The other timing pulley (e.g., the right timing pulley) is disposed at the mount frame  14 . The timing belt extends in the X-axis direction and is connected to the carriage  19 . 
     The head moving mechanism  8  is configured to convert rotating motion of the X-axis motor  25  into linear motion in the X-axis direction and transmit the linear motion to the carriage  19 . In response to the X-axis motor  25  rotating in a forward direction or in a reverse direction, the rotating motion of the X-axis motor  25  is transmitted to the timing belt via the drive gear  27 , the driven gear  29 , and the timing pulley  28 . The carriage  19  thus moves leftward or rightward correspondingly. Thus, the head  5 , and more specifically, the attaching portion  32 , moves in the second direction (e.g., the X-axis direction) relative to the holding member  10  by driving of the X-axis motor  25 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a description will be provided on an electrical configuration of the cutting apparatus  1  according to the first, second, and third illustrative embodiments. The cutting apparatus  1  includes a CPU  71 , a ROM  72 , a RAM  73 , and an input/output (“I/O”) interface  75 . The CPU  71  is electrically connected to the ROM  72 , the RAM  73 , and the I/O interface  75 . The CPU  71 , the ROM  72 , and the RAM  73  serve as a controller  2  that mainly controls the cutting apparatus  1 . The ROM  72  stores various programs for operating the cutting apparatus  1 . The programs include, for example, a program for enabling the cutting apparatus  1  to execute main processing. The RAM  73  is configured to temporarily store various programs and data, setting values input using one or more of the operating buttons  52 , and calculation results obtained by the CPU  71  in calculation processing. 
     A flash memory  74 , the operating buttons  52 , the touch screen  53 , a sensor  76 , the sensor  41 , the LCD  51 , and drive circuits  77 ,  78 , and  79  are connected to the I/O interface  75 . The flash memory  74  may be a nonvolatile storage device that stores, for example, various parameters. 
     The sensor  76  is configured to detect a leading end of the holding member  10  set on the platen  3  to output a detection signal. A detection signal output by the sensor  76  is input to the controller  2 . The sensor  41  is configured to output a signal indicating the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction. In the illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  is configured to determine, based on an output of the sensor  41 , the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction (hereinafter, also referred to as the height of the attaching portion  32 ) with reference to the position of the upper surface  26  of the platen  3 . Nevertheless, in other embodiments, for example, another suitable reference may be used for determining the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction. The controller  2  is configured to control the LCD  51  to display one or more images thereon. The LCD  51  is configured to display thereon various instructions. The drive circuits  77 ,  78 , and  79  are configured to drive the Y-axis motor  15 , the X-axis motor  25 , and the Z-axis motor  34 , respectively. The controller  2  is further configured to, based on cutting data, control the Y-axis motor  15 , the X-axis motor  25 , and the Z-axis motor  34  to perform automatic cutting on a workpiece  20  placed on the holding member  10 . The cutting data includes coordinate data used for controlling the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8 . The coordinate data may be represented by a cutting coordinate system defined within the cutting area. The coordinate data includes relative positions of end points (hereinafter, also referred to as constituent points) of each of a plurality of line segments representing a pattern. In the illustrative embodiments, an origin AX of the cutting coordinate system may be defined at a left-rear corner of the rectangular cutting area. The right-left direction and the front-rear direction may be defined as the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, respectively. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 to 11 , a description will be provided on the main processing according to the first illustrative embodiment. In response to receiving a start instruction by a touch-screen operation, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  reads out a certain program from the flash memory  74  to store the read program in the RAM  73  and executes the main processing in accordance with instructions included in the read program. A description will be provided on first, second, and third examples in which, as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , cutting data D 1 , D 2 , and D 3  are respectively obtained. Although the main processing is executed at respective different timings in the first, second, and third examples, they will be described in parallel for the sake of simplicity. Various thresholds used in the main processing may be preassigned in consideration of cutting conditions or may be specified by the user. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , in the main processing, the controller  2  obtains cutting data (e.g., step S 1 ). The cutting data includes one or more pattern data pieces representing one or more particular patterns to be cut in a workpiece  20 . The processing for obtaining cutting data may be appropriately executed according to a known procedure. More specifically, for example, as illustrated in a row A of  FIG. 5 , in the first example, the controller  2  obtains cutting data D 1 . The cutting data D 1  may include, for example, two pattern data pieces each representing a quadrangular pattern Z 1  and a pattern data piece representing a circular pattern Z 2 . In the second example, the controller  2  obtains cutting data D 2 . The cutting data D 2  may include, for example, a pattern data piece representing a V-shaped pattern Z 3 . In the third example, the controller  2  obtains cutting data D 3 . The cutting data D 3  may include, for example, a pattern data piece representing a Z-shaped pattern Z 4 . Subsequent to step S 1 , the controller  2  controls the drive circuits  77  and  78  to drive the Y-axis motor  15  and the X-axis motor  25 , respectively, to control the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8 , thereby moving the attaching portion  32  relative to the holding member  10  to stop at a certain position (e.g., step S 2 ). The controller  2  executes step S 2  in a state where the cutting blade  16  attached to the attaching portion  32  is out of contact with the holding member  10  placed on the platen  3 . In the first illustrative embodiment, the certain position may be an adjusting position in which known adjustment processing for adjusting a facing direction of a blade edge is executed. More specifically, for example, the certain position is included in an adjusting area that may be on a rear side of the border  11  (refer to  FIG. 1 ). 
     Subsequent to step S 2 , the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  by driving the Z-axis motor  34  to move the attaching portion  32  downward toward the platen  3  in the certain position where the attaching portion  32  has been located in step S 2  (e.g., step S 3 ) and obtains a holding position HP (e.g., step S 4 ). The holding position HP may refer to the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth position corresponding to a signal output by the sensor  41  when the cutting blade  16  contacts the holding member  10 . More specifically, the controller  2  counts, as the pressure value, pulses input to the Z-axis motor  34  (i.e., the drive circuit  79 ) while moving the attaching portion  32  in the third direction. The controller  2  obtains, based on a signal output by the sensor  41 , the height of the attaching portion  32  relative to the pressure value. In the first illustrative embodiment, as represented by a legend E 0  in  FIG. 10 , the controller  2  moves the attaching portion  32  toward the platen  3  to obtain, as the holding position HP, the position at which the gradient of the line indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  relative to the pressure value changes. The holding position HP corresponds to the position of the upper surface  18  of the holding member  10  in the fifth direction. In response to detecting the change of the gradient of the line, the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to stop the attaching portion  32  from moving in the third direction. 
     Subsequent to step S 4 , the controller  2  specifies a reference position RP based on the obtained holding position HP (e.g., step S 5 ). In the first illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  assigns a particular position to the reference position RP. The particular position may be shifted in the third direction from the holding position HP obtained in step S 4  by a certain distance less than a thickness (e.g., a dimension in the fifth direction) of the holding member  10 . The thickness of the holding member  10  may be obtained based on output of the sensor  41  or prestored in the flash memory  74 . The thickness of the holding member  10  may be, for example, 4.0 mm. The certain distance used in step S 5  may be prestored in the flash memory  74  or may be specified by the user. The certain distance may be, for example, 1.0 mm. 
     Subsequent to step S 5 , in a state where the cutting blade  16  is in contact with the holding member  10  by execution of step S 3 , the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to adjust the facing direction of the cutting edge of the cutting blade  16  within the adjusting area in the known manner (e.g., step S 6 ). Subsequent to step S 6 , the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the fourth direction (e.g., upward) to stop at the raised position (e.g., step S 7 ). Subsequent to step S 7 , the controller  2  respectively assigns 1 (one) to a variable N and a variable M (e.g., step S 8 ). The variable N is used for counting the number of times of cutting. The variable M is used for sequentially obtaining one or more pattern data pieces included in the cutting data obtained in step S 1  in the order in which one or more patterns represented by the one or more respective pattern data pieces are to be cut in a workpiece  20  (hereinafter, also simply referred to as a cutting order). 
     Subsequent to step S 8 , the controller  2  executes pressure specification processing for variable M (e.g., step S 9 ). In a case where processing of step S 9  is executed subsequent to step S 8 , the variable N is assigned 1 (one) and the variable M is also assigned 1 (one). As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , in the pressure specification processing for variable M, the controller  2  obtains an Mth pattern data piece in the cutting order among the one or more pattern data pieces included in the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., step S 21 ). More specifically, in the first example, the controller  2  obtains the first pattern data piece representing the pattern Z 1  in the cutting order. In the second example, the controller  2  obtains the pattern data piece representing the pattern Z 3 . In the third example, the controller  2  obtains the pattern data piece representing the pattern Z 4 . Subsequent to step S 21 , the controller  2  determines whether the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece obtained in step S 21  is a closed figure pattern (e.g., step S 22 ). As illustrated in a row C of  FIG. 5 , in the first example, the pattern Z 1  is a quadrangular pattern represented by line segments LS 1  to LS 5  each connecting between adjacent two of constituent points P 1  to P 6  in this order. That is, the pattern Z 1  is a closed figure pattern (e.g., YES in step S 22 ). In such a case, the controller  2  assigns a cutting start point P 1  (refer to the row C of  FIG. 5 ) to a setting position (e.g., step S 27 ). The setting position may refer to a position where the attaching portion  32  is located when the pressure value corresponding to the pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  in the Nth cutting processing is specified and where the attaching portion  32  faces the workpiece  20  held by the holding member  10 . 
     As illustrated in the row C of  FIG. 5 , in the second example, the pattern Z 3  is a V-shaped pattern represented by line segments LS 6  and LS 7  each connecting between adjacent two of constituent points P 11  to P 13  in this order. In the third example, the pattern Z 4  is a Z-shaped pattern represented by line segments LS 8  to LS 10  each connecting between adjacent two of constituent points P 21  to P 24  in this order. That is, neither the pattern Z 3  nor the pattern Z 4  is a closed figure pattern. In such a case, the controller  2  determines that the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece obtained in step S 21  is not a closed figure pattern (e.g., NO in step S 22 ). The controller  2  then obtains the line segment including a cutting start point among the line segments included in the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 23 ). More specifically, for example, the controller  2  obtains the line segment LS 6  including a cutting start point P 11  in the second example and the line segment LS 8  including a cutting start point P 21  in the third example. Subsequent to step S 23 , the controller  2  determines whether a length of the line segment obtained in step S 23  is greater than a threshold (e.g., step S 24 ). In the second example, the controller  2  determines that a length of the line segment obtained in step S 23  (e.g., the line segment LS 6 ) is greater than the threshold (e.g., YES in step S 24 ). In such a case, the controller  2  assigns a setting position to a point P 14  on the line segment LS 6  (e.g., step S 25 ). The point P 14  is apart from the cutting start point P 11  by a certain distance on the line segment LS 6 . The certain distance may be less than the threshold used in step S 24  and greater than a half of the threshold. In the first illustrative embodiment, the certain distance is greater than the half of the threshold used in step S 24 . For example, the certain distance may be 3 mm and the threshold used in step S 24  may be 4 mm. In the third example, the controller  2  determines that a length of the line segment obtained in step S 23  (e.g., the line segment LS 8 ) is less than or equal to the threshold (e.g., NO in step S 24 ). In such a case, the controller  2  assigns a setting position to a point P 25  on the line segment LS 8  (e.g., step S 26 ). The point P 25  is apart from the cutting start point P 21  by a certain degree on the line segment LS 8 . The certain degree may be a value smaller than 1 (one) and larger than 0.5, for example, 0.75. 
     Subsequent to step S 25 , S 26 , or S 27 , the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the holding member  10  and the attaching portion  32  relative to each other to position the holding member  10  and the attaching portion  32  at the setting position assigned in step S 25 , S 26 , or S 27  (e.g., step S 28 ). More specifically, in the first example, the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the attaching portion  32  and the holding member  10  relative to each other to position the cutting blade  16  above the cutting start point P 1 . In the second example, the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the attaching portion  32  and the holding member  10  relative to each other to position the cutting blade  16  above the point P 14 . In the third example, the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the attaching portion  32  and the holding member  10  relative to each other to position the cutting blade  16  above the point P 25 . 
     Subsequent to step S 28 , the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to start to move the attaching portion  32  in the third direction (e.g., downward) in the setting position (e.g., step S 29 ). Subsequent to step S 29 , the controller  2  determines whether the value of the variable N is equal to 1 (one) (e.g., step S 30 ). In a case where the value of the variable N is greater than 1 (one), the controller  2  determines that the value of the variable N is not equal to 1 (one) (e.g., NO in step S 30 ) and the routine proceeds to step S 33 . If the controller  2  determines that the value of the variable N is equal to 1 (one) (e.g., YES in step S 30 ), the controller  2  obtains a thickness of the workpiece  20  and the number of times of cutting (e.g., step S 31 ). Respective values for the thickness of the workpiece  20  and the number of times of cutting may be input by the user or assigned calculated values. In the first illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  obtains the thickness of the workpiece  20  based on change in a ratio of the height of the attaching portion  32  to the pressure value. Further, the controller  2  calculates the number of times of cutting based on the obtained thickness of the workpiece  20 . 
     More specifically, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the controller  2  counts, as the pressure value, pulses input to the Z-axis motor  34  (i.e., the drive circuit  79 ) while moving the attaching portion  32  in the third direction. The controller  2  obtains, based on a signal output by the sensor  41 , the height of the attaching portion  32  relative to the pressure value. The controller  2  determines, based on output of the sensor  41 , whether the gradient of the line indicating the position of the attaching portion  32  relative to the pressure value has changed. In the first illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  moves the attaching portion  32  toward the platen  3  to obtain a position TP at which the gradient of the line indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  relative to the pressure value changes. The controller  2  determines, based on the obtained position TP, a thickness B of the workpiece  20 . The position TP corresponds to the position of the front surface  23  of the workpiece  20  in the fifth direction. The controller  2  determines the holding position HP obtained in step S 4  and the position TP corresponding to the position of the front surface  23  of the workpiece  20 , and then determines the thickness B of the workpiece  20  based on a difference between the position HP and the position TP. In each of the first, second, and third examples, the controller  2  determines 1.6 mm as the thickness B of the workpiece  20 . 
     The number of times of cutting refers to how many times a series of steps included in the cutting processing need to be executed to cut one or more patterns fully in the fifth direction in the workpiece  20  based on the cutting data obtained in step S 1 . In the cutting processing, the controller  2  sequentially reads out coordinate data included in the cutting data and controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to cut one or more patterns in the workpiece  20  using the cutting blade  16 . One-time execution of the cutting processing includes the series of the steps including sequentially reading out all coordinate data included in cutting data and controlling the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  based on all the read coordinate data. That is, in a case where the cutting apparatus  1  cuts all line segments included in each of the one or more patterns indicated by the cutting data once, the number of times of cutting is counted as one time. The controller  2  calculates the number of times of cutting by dividing a difference between the position TP and the platen position PP assigned in step S 5  by a thickness threshold (e.g., a threshold ThL) and rounding the result of the division up to the next whole number. The threshold ThL indicates an upper limit of a thickness of a workpiece  20  that can be cut in one-time execution of the cutting processing. For example, the threshold ThL may be 1 mm. For example, the number of times of cutting is calculated as two times in each of the first, second, and third examples. 
     Subsequent to step S 31 , based on the thickness obtained in step S 31 , the controller  2  specifies a target position for each time of cutting processing to be executed (e.g., step S 32 ). More specifically, for example, the controller  2  assigns, to a target position, for each time of cutting processing to be executed other than the last cutting processing, a particular position obtained by multiplying the threshold Th by the variable N and subtracting the result of the multiplication from the position TP. The controller  2  assigns the reference position RP to a target position for the last cutting processing. Subsequent to step S 32 , the controller  2  executes moving processing (e.g., step S 33 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , in the moving processing, the controller  2  determines, based on the number of pulses input to the Z-axis motor  34 , whether the pressure value is greater than a pressure threshold (hereinafter, referred to as a threshold ThP) (e.g., step S 91 ). The threshold ThP is an upper limit set to the pressure value to avoid an excessive pressure to be applied to the attaching portion  32 . In a case where the pressure value is less than or equal to the threshold ThP, the controller  2  determines that the pressure value is not greater than the threshold ThP (e.g., NO in step S 91 ). Then, the controller  2  determines, based on the signal received from the sensor  41 , whether the attaching portion  32  has reached the target position specified for the variable N in step S 32  (e.g., step S 92 ). If the controller  2  determines that the attaching portion  32  has not reached the target position (e.g., NO in step S 92 ), the routine returns to step S 91 . If the controller  2  determines that the attaching portion  32  has reached the target position specified in step S 32  (e.g., YES in step S 92 ), the routine proceeds to step S 93 . 
     In each of the first, second, and third examples, in a case where the gradient of a line indicating the position of the attaching portion  32  relative to the pressure value changes is represented by a legend E 1  in  FIG. 10 , the controller  2  determines that the pressure value is greater than the threshold ThP (e.g., YES in step S 91 ) before determining that the attaching portion  32  has reached the target position. In such a case, the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to stop the attaching portion  32  from moving in the third direction (e.g., downward) (e.g., step S 93 ). Subsequent to step S 93 , the controller  2  obtains a comparison height (e.g., step S 94 ). In the first illustrative embodiment, the comparison height obtained in step S 94  may be the height of the attaching portion  32  located when the movement of the attaching portion  32  in the third direction is stopped in step S 93 . In each of the first, second, and third examples represented by the legend E 1  in  FIG. 10 , the controller  2  stores, in the RAM  73 , a position MP as a comparison height of the first cutting processing. Subsequent to step S 94 , the controller  2  determines whether a value indicating the preceding comparison height (e.g., N-1th cutting processing) is greater than a value indicating the current comparison height (e.g., Nth cutting processing) (e.g., step S 95 ). In a case where the value indicating the preceding comparison height is greater than the value indicating the current comparison height, this refers to that the workpiece  20  has not been cut further in its thickness direction in the Nth cutting processing. In a case where the variable N is equal to 1 (one), the controller  2  assigns, to the preceding comparison height, for example, the position TP obtained in step S 31 . In this case, the value indicating the position TP that is the preceding comparison height is greater than the value indicating of the position MP that is the current comparison height (e.g., YES in step S 95 ). In such a case, subsequent step S 95 , the controller  2  determines whether a difference between the preceding comparison height and the current comparison height is greater than a threshold (e.g., step S 96 ). The difference between the preceding comparison height and the current comparison height represents a depth (e.g., a thickness) of a cut to be newly made into the workpiece  20  in the Nth cutting processing. The threshold used in step S 96  is specified to detect, as an error, a case where the difference between the preceding comparison height and the current comparison height is unusually smaller than the threshold Th. For example, the threshold used in step S 96  is assigned a value of one-tenth to half of the threshold Th. The routine may skip step S 96  in a case where the reference position is assigned to the target position. In a case where the difference between the position TP and the position MP is greater than the threshold, the controller  2  determines that the difference between the preceding comparison height and the current comparison height is greater than the threshold (e.g., YES in step S 96 ). In such a case, the moving processing ends and the routine returns to the pressure specification processing for variable M of  FIG. 7 . 
     In a case where the value indicating the preceding comparison height is less than or equal to the value indicating the current comparison height obtained in step S 94  (e.g., NO in step S 95 ) or in a case where the difference between the preceding comparison height and the current comparison height is less than or equal to the threshold (e.g., NO in step S 96 ), the controller  2  provides notification of an error (e.g., step S 97 ). More specifically, for example, the controller  2  controls the LCD  51  to display thereon an error message indicating such that “Cutting has failed.” Subsequent to step S 97 , the controller  2  discontinues the cutting processing being executed based on the cutting data obtained in step S 1  and controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the fourth direction (e.g., upward) to stop at the raised position (e.g., step S 98 ). In response to the completion of step S 98 , the main processing ends. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in the pressure specification processing for variable M, subsequent to step S 33 , the controller  2  specifies a stop position SP between the holding position HP obtained in step S 4  and the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when a distal end of the cutting blade  16  held by the attaching portion  32  reaches the upper surface  26  of the platen  3  (e.g., the platen position PP). The platen position PP is stored in, for example, the flash memory  74 . In the first illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  assigns, to the stop position SP, a particular position shifted in the third direction from the holding position HP by a certain distance (e.g., 2.3 mm). Subsequent to step S 25 , the controller  2  obtains a stiffness of the workpiece  20  (e.g., step S 36 ). The stiffness of the workpiece  20  may be input by the user or determined according to, for example, the type of the workpiece  20 . In the first illustrative embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the controller  2  obtains the stiffness of the workpiece  20  based on the gradient (e.g., a ratio) of the line indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  relative to the pressure value in a period T. The period T refers to a particular period during which the cutting blade  16  penetrates the workpiece  20  in a period from the instant when the controller  2  starts to move the attaching portion  32  in the third direction in step S 29  to the instant when the controller  2  stops the attaching portion  32  from moving in the third direction in step S 93 . More specifically, for example, the controller  2  obtains the stiffness of the workpiece  20  based on a relationship among the ratio of the height of the attaching portion  32  to the pressure value, the ratio of the height of the attaching portion  32  to the pressure value stored in the flash memory  74 , and stiffness. Subsequent to step S 36 , the controller  2  assigns, to a reference pressure value, the pressure value corresponding to the pressure to be applied when the cutting processing is executed, based on the pressure value achieved when the controller  2  stops the attaching portion  32  from moving in the third direction in step S 93  (e.g., step S 37 ). In the first illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  assigns, to the reference pressure value, the pressure value achieved when the controller  2  stops the attaching portion  32  from moving in the third direction in step S 93 . 
     Subsequent to step S 37 , the controller  2  specifies a target range ARN and an adjustment range PRN both used in the cutting processing with respect to the variable N (e.g., step S 38 ). The target range ARN defines a range of target positions of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction during execution of the cutting processing. The adjustment range PRN is specified according to the target range ARN. In the first illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  specifies the target range ARN based on the height of the attaching portion  32  located when stopping the attaching portion  32  from moving in the third direction in step S 93 , that is, based on the comparison height obtained in step S 94 . The adjustment range PRN has a range within which the pressure value is changeable. In processing for changing the pressure value, the pressure value may be changed within the adjustment range PRN to position the attaching portion  32  within the target range ARN in the fifth direction. The adjustment range PRN includes the reference pressure value assigned in step S 37 . That is, the target range ARN and the adjustment range PRN according to the target range ARN are specified for each time N of cutting processing. More specifically, for example, the controller  2  specifies the target range ARN and the adjustment range PRN for the first cutting processing as described below. The controller  2  assigns, to an upper limit of the target range AR 1 , a value indicating a particular height obtained by subtracting a certain value (e.g., 0.10 mm) from the comparison height. The controller  2  assigns, to a lower limit of the target range AR 1 , a value indicating a particular height obtained by subtracting a certain value (e.g., 0.15 mm) from the comparison height. That is, the controller  2  assigns, to the target range AR 1 , a range whose upper limit is lower than the comparison height. The controller  2  assigns, to a lower limit of the adjustment range PR 1 , a value obtained by subtracting a certain value (e.g., 24 pulses) from the reference pressure value. The controller  2  assigns, to an upper limit of the adjustment range PR 1 , a value obtained by adding a certain value (e.g., 4 pulses) to the reference pressure value. A difference between the lower limit of the adjustment range PR 1  and the reference pressure value (e.g., 24 pulses) is greater than a difference between the upper limit of the adjustment range PR 1  and the reference pressure value (e.g., 4 pulses). 
     Subsequent to step S 38 , the controller  2  specifies a decrease amount and an increase amount of the pressure value used in processing for positioning the attaching portion  32  at a particular position within the target range ARN in the fifth direction (e.g., step S 39 ). In a case where the attaching portion  32  is located out of the target range ARN, for example, at a position shifted in the third direction from the target range ARN, the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value corresponding to pressure lower than the current pressure. More specifically, for example, the controller  2  changes the pressure value to a value obtained by subtracting a decrease amount according to the stiffness obtained in step S 36  from the current pressure value. As the workpiece  20  has a higher stiffness, the controller  2  assigns a greater value to the decrease amount. In a case where the attaching portion  32  is located out of the target range ARN, for example, at a position shifted in the fourth direction from the target range ARN, the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value corresponding to pressure higher than the current pressure. More specifically, for example, the controller  2  changes the pressure value to a value obtained by adding an increase amount according to the stiffness obtained in step S 36  to the current pressure value. As the workpiece  20  has a higher stiffness, the controller  2  assigns a greater value to the increase amount. A relationship between the stiffness of the workpiece  20 , the decrease amount, and the increase amount is stored in, for example, the flash memory  74 . Referring to the flash memory  74 , the controller  2  assigns appropriate values to the decrease amount and the increase amount, respectively, according to the stiffness of the workpiece  20  obtained in step S 36 . 
     Subsequent to step S 39 , the controller  2  determines whether the setting position coincides with the cutting start point (e.g., step S 40 ). In the first example, the cutting start point is assigned to the setting position. The controller  2  thus determines that the setting position coincides with the cutting start point (e.g., YES in step S 40 ). In such a case, the pressure specification processing for variable M ends and the routine returns to the main processing of  FIG. 6 . In the second and third examples, the cutting start point is not assigned to the setting position. The controller  2  thus determines that the setting position does not coincide with the cutting start point (e.g., NO in step S 40 ). In such a case, the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the fourth direction (e.g., upward) to stop at the raised position (e.g., step S 41 ). Subsequent to step S 41 , the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the holding member  10  and the attaching portion  32  relative to each other to position the cutting blade  16  above the cutting start point of the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 42 ). More specifically, in the second example, the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the attaching portion  32  and the holding member  10  relative to each other to position the cutting blade  16  above the cutting start point P 11 . In the third example, the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the attaching portion  32  and the holding member  10  relative to each other to position the cutting blade  16  above the cutting start point P 21 . Subsequent to step S 42 , the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the third direction (e.g., downward) until the attaching portion  32  reaches a particular position at which the pressure corresponding to the pressure value assigned in step S 37  is applied to the attaching portion  32  (e.g., step S 43 ). Subsequent to step S 43 , the pressure specification processing for variable M ends and the routine returns to the main processing of  FIG. 6 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , subsequent to step S 9 , the controller  2  executes cutting control processing (e.g., step S 10 ). The cutting control processing will be described on, for example, a case where a pattern Z 1  is cut in the workpiece  20  in the first example. As illustrated in  FIG. 9A , in the cutting control processing, the controller  2  starts cutting processing based on the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 51 ). In the first illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  controls the pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  by maintaining the state of the Z-axis motor  34  that has been stopped. The controller  2  sequentially reads out the coordinate data included in the Mth pattern data piece and controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to cut the pattern Z 1  in the workpiece  20  using the cutting blade  16 . Based on all the read coordinate data included in the Mth pattern data piece, the cutting processing continues on the workpiece  20  until the attaching portion  32  reaches a position corresponding to the last constituent point of the Mth pattern data piece with respect to the workpiece  20 . 
     Subsequent to step S 51 , the controller  2  obtains, based on the signal received from the sensor  41  during the cutting processing, the height of the attaching portion  32  (e.g., step S 52 ). Subsequent to step S 52 , the controller  2  determines whether an orientation correction is to be executed (e.g., step S 53 ). In the line segments constituting the pattern Z 1  represented by the Mth pattern data piece, two line segments meeting at a point form smaller and larger angles, respectively, on opposite sides thereof. In a case where an angle measure of the smaller angle is equal to or smaller than a certain angle, the controller  2  executes the orientation correction. In the orientation correction, the controller  2  changes, at a joining point of the two line segments that form the smaller angle having the certain angle or smaller, a direction in which the cutting blade  16  faces. That is, in a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  (more specifically, the cutting blade  16 ) relative to the workpiece  20  comes coincident with a position corresponding to the joining point of the two line segments that form the smaller angle having the certain angle or smaller, the controller  2  determines that the orientation correction is to be executed. Any suitable value may be assigned to the certain angle. In one example, the certain angle may be 90 degrees. That is, in the first illustrative embodiment, in a case where a smaller angle formed by two line segments meeting at a point is a right angle or an acute angle, the controller  2  executes the orientation correction. In  FIG. 11 , a legend C 1  represents execution or nonexecution of the orientation correction in the cutting processing in the first example. The controller  2  does not execute the orientation correction while the cutting blade  16  cuts respective portions of the pattern Z 1  corresponding to the line segments LS 1 , LS 2 , LS 3 , LS 4 , and LS 5  in the workpiece  20  (e.g., “OFF”). The controller  2  executes the orientation correction when the cutting blade  16  is located at each position of the pattern Z 1  corresponding to one of the constituent points P 2 , P 3 , P 4 , and P 5  (e.g., “ON”). 
     In a case where the cutting blade  16  is cutting a portion of the pattern Z 1  corresponding to the line segment LS 1  in the workpiece  20  and has not reached a position of the pattern Z 1  corresponding to the constituent point P 2 , the controller  2  determines that the orientation correction is not to be executed (e.g., NO in step S 53 ). In such a case, the controller  2  determines whether the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained in step S 52  is lower than the stop position SP assigned in step S 35  (e.g., step S 54 ). If the controller  2  determines that the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained in step S 52  is lower than the stop position SP (e.g., YES in step S 54 ), the controller  2  stops controlling the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to stop the cutting processing (e.g., step S 74 ). The controller  2  increments a stop count by one. The stop count may refer to the number of times the cutting processing is stopped by execution of step S 74  in the cutting processing being executed based on the Mth pattern data piece. The stop count is set to each pattern data piece. An initial value of the stop count may be 0 (zero). Subsequent to step S 74 , the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the fourth direction (e.g., upward) to stop at the raised position (e.g., step S 75 ). Subsequent to step S 75 , the controller  2  determines whether the stop count in the cutting processing being executed based on the Mth pattern data piece is equal to a certain count (e.g., step S 76 ). If the controller  2  determines that the stop count is equal to the certain count (e.g., YES in step S 76 ), the routine proceeds to step S 65 . 
     If the controller  2  determines that the stop count is less than the certain count (e.g., NO in step S 76 ), the controller  2  determines whether the Mth pattern data piece includes the next constituent point (e.g., step S 77 ). The next constituent point is an end point of the line segment to be cut subsequent to the line segment being currently cut. In a case where, for example, the cutting blade  16  is cutting a portion of the pattern Z 1  corresponding to the line segment LS 5 , the Mth pattern data piece representing the pattern Z 1  includes no more constituent point, that is, the pattern data piece representing the pattern Z 1  does not include the next constituent point. Thus, the controller  2  determines that the Mth pattern data piece does not include the next constituent point (e.g., NO in step S 77 ). In such a case, the routine proceeds to step S 66 . In a case where the cutting blade  16  is cutting a portion of the pattern Z 1  corresponding to the line segment LS 1 , the Mth pattern data piece representing the pattern Z 1  includes the next constituent point that may be the end point of the line segment LS 2  to be cut subsequent to the line segment LS 1 . Thus, the controller  2  determines that the Mth pattern data piece includes the next constituent point (e.g., YES in step S 77 ). In such a case, the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the attaching portion  32  and the holding member  10  relative to each other to position the cutting blade  16  above the constituent point P 2  that may be a start point of the line segment LS 2  to be cut subsequent to the line segment LS 1  (e.g., step S 78 ). Subsequent to step S 78 , the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the third direction (e.g., downward) until the attaching portion  32  reaches a particular position at which the pressure corresponding to the pressure value assigned in step S 37  is applied to the attaching portion  32  (e.g., step S 79 ). Subsequent to step S 79 , the controller  2  restarts to continue the cutting processing based on the Mth pattern data piece starting from the constituent point P 2  (e.g., step S 80 ) and then the routine returns to step S 52 . 
     In a case where the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained in step S 52  is higher than or equal to the stop position SP (e.g., NO in step S 54 ) and the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained in step S 52  is out of the target range ARN (e.g., NO in step S 55 ), the controller  2  changes the assigned pressure value to another value and executes processing for applying, to the attaching portion, by the pressure changer  32 , pressure corresponding to the newly assigned pressure value (e.g., appropriate steps of steps S 55  to S 60 ). More specifically, for example, the controller  2  determines whether the value indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained in step S 52  is smaller than the lower limit of the target range ARN (e.g., step S 55 ) or determines whether the value indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained in step S 52  is greater than the upper limit of the target range ARN (e.g., step S 58 ). In  FIG. 11 , a legend C 2  represents chronological change of the height of the attaching portion  32  in a case where the variable N is assigned 1 (one) and a legend C 3  represents chronological change of the pressure value in a case where the variable N is assigned 1 (one). A legend C 4  represents chronological change of the height of the attaching portion  32  in a case where the variable N is assigned 2, and a legend C 5  represents chronological change of the pressure value in a case where the variable N is assigned 2. As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the value indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained at timing T 1  is greater than an upper limit of a target range AR 1  (e.g., NO in step S 55  and YES in step S 58 ). In such a case, the controller  2  determines whether a value obtained by adding the increase amount assigned in step S 39  to the current pressure value is within an adjustment range PR 1  assigned in step S 38  (e.g., step S 59 ). In a case where the increase amount is added to the pressure value at timing T 1 , the pressure value is out of the adjustment range PR 1  (e.g., NO in step S 59 ). In such a case, the controller  2  does not change the current pressure value and determines whether the cutting processing based on the Mth pattern data piece is to be ended (e.g., step S 61 ). At timing T 1 , the position of the attaching portion  32  (more specifically, the cutting blade  16 ) relative to the workpiece  20  does not coincide with a position corresponding to the constituent point P 6  that may be a cutting end point of the pattern Z 1 . Thus, the controller  2  determines that the cutting processing based on the Mth pattern data piece is not to be ended (e.g., NO in step S 61 ) and the routine returns to step S 52 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , at timing T 2 , where the position of the attaching portion  32  (more specifically, the cutting blade  16 ) relative to the workpiece  20  coincides with a position corresponding to the constituent point P 2 . Thus, the controller  2  determines that the orientation correction is to be executed (e.g., YES in step S 53 ), thereby executing the orientation correction (e.g., step S 87 ). The orientation correction may be executed appropriately in accordance with a known procedure. For example, as illustrated in the row C of  FIG. 5 , the controller  2  moves the attaching portion  32  and the holding member  10  relative to each other so that a rotation axis of the cutting blade  16  moves relative to the workpiece  20  from the constituent point P 2  to a particular position above a point P 8  that is on an extension line of the line segment LS 1 . The controller  2  then moves the attaching portion  32  and the holding member  10  relative to each other so that the rotation axis of the cutting blade  16  arcs relative to the workpiece  20  from the particular position above the point P 8  to a further particular position above a point P 9  that is on the line segment LS 2 , thereby allowing the cutting edge of the cutting blade  16  to face to a direction in which the line segment LS 2  corresponding to a portion of the pattern Z 1  to be cut next extends. The orientation correction may be executed appropriately in accordance with another known procedure. For example, the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to decrease the pressure being applied to the attaching portion  32  to position the distal end of the cutting blade  16  on or adjacent to the front surface  23  of the workpiece  20 . Then, the controller  2  rotates the cutting blade  16  in the attaching portion  32  to allow the cutting edge of the cutting blade  16  to face to the direction in which the line segment LS 2  corresponding to a portion of the pattern Z 1  to be cut next extends. Subsequent to step S 87 , the routine returns to step S 52 . 
     In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 3  (refer to  FIG. 11 ), the controller  2  determines that the value indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  is smaller than the lower limit of the target range AR 1  (e.g., YES in step S 55 ). In such a case, the controller  2  determines whether a value obtained by subtracting the decrease amount assigned in step S 39  from the current pressure value is within the adjustment range PR 1  assigned in step S 38  (e.g., step S 56 ). The controller  2  determines that the value obtained by subtracting the increase amount assigned in step S 39  from the pressure value achieved at timing T 3  is within the adjustment range PR 1  (e.g., YES in step S 56 ) and changes the pressure value to another value obtained by subtracting, from the current pressure value, a particular reduction amount according to the stiffness obtained in step S 36 . The controller  2  then controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  based on the newly assigned pressure value (e.g., step S 57 ) and the routine returns to step S 52  (e.g., NO in step S 61 ). 
     In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 4  (refer to  FIG. 11 ), the controller  2  determines that the value indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  is smaller than the lower limit of the target range AR 1  (e.g., YES in step S 55 ) and determines that a value obtained by subtracting a particular decrease amount assigned in step S 39  from the current pressure value is out of the adjustment range PR 1  (e.g., NO in step S 56 ). Subsequent to step S 56 , the routine returns to step S 52  (e.g., NO in step S 61 ). 
     In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 5  (refer to  FIG. 11 ), the controller  2  determines that the value indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  is greater than the upper limit of the target range AR 1  (e.g., NO in step S 55  and YES in step S 58 ) and determines that a value obtained by adding a particular increase amount assigned in step S 39  to the pressure value achieved at timing T 4  is within the adjustment range PR 1  (e.g., YES in step S 59 ). In this case, the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value obtained by adding, to the current pressure value, an increase amount according to the stiffness obtained in step S 36  and controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  based on the newly assigned pressure value (e.g., step S 60 ). Subsequent to step S 60 , the routine returns to step S 52  (e.g., NO in stet S 61 ). 
     In a case where the attaching portion  32  has reached, relative to the workpiece  20 , a position corresponding to the cutting end point P 6  of the pattern Z 1 , the controller  2  determines that the cutting processing based on the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., the first pattern data piece) is to be ended (e.g., YES in step S 61 ). In such a case, the controller  2  obtains, based on the signal received from the sensor  41 , the height of the attaching portion  32  located at the position corresponding to the cutting end point P 6  (e.g., step S 62 ). Subsequent to step S 62 , the controller  2  stops controlling the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to end the cutting processing based on the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 63 ). Subsequent to step S 63 , the controller  2  determines whether the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained in step S 62  is lower than the reference position RP assigned in step S 5  (e.g., step S 64 ). If the controller  2  determines that the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained in step S 62  is lower than the reference position RP (e.g., YES in step S 64 ), the controller  2  assigns a value “ON” to a cutting completion setting for the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 65 ). An appropriate value is assigned to the cutting completion setting for each pattern data piece included in the cutting data obtained in step S 1 . An initial value of the cutting completion setting may be “OFF”. 
     In a case where the height of the attaching portion  32  obtained in step S 62  is higher than or equal to the reference position RP (e.g., NO in step S 64 ) or subsequent to step S 65 , the controller  2  determines whether the Mth pattern data piece is the last one in the cutting order among the one or more pattern data pieces included in the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., step S 66 ). In the first example, the Mth pattern data piece is the first pattern data piece. Thus, the controller  2  determines that the Mth pattern data piece is not the last pattern data piece in the cutting order (e.g., NO in step S 66 ). In such a case, the controller  2  increments the value of the valuable M by one (e.g., step S 81 ) and obtains the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 82 ). Subsequent to step S 82 , the controller  2  determines whether the value “ON” is assigned to the cutting completion setting for the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 83 ). If the controller  2  determines that the value “ON” is assigned to the cutting completion setting for the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., YES in step S 83 ), the routine returns to step S 66 . In the first example, the Mth pattern data piece obtained in step S 82  is the second pattern data piece in the cutting order. Thus, the controller  2  determines that the value “ON” is not assigned to the cutting completion setting for the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., NO in step S 83 ). In such a case, the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the fourth direction (e.g., upward) to stop at the raised position (e.g., step S 84 ). Subsequent to step S 84 , the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the holding member  10  and the attaching portion  32  relative to each other to position the cutting blade  16  above a cutting start point of the Mth (e.g., the second) pattern data piece obtained in step S 82  (e.g., step S 85 ). Subsequent to step S 85 , the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the third direction (e.g., downward) until the attaching portion  32  reaches a particular position at which the pressure corresponding to the pressure value assigned in step S 37  is applied to the attaching portion  32  (e.g., step S 86 ) and then the routine returns to step S 51 . Thereafter, in the first example, the second pattern Z 1  and the third pattern Z 2  are cut in the workpiece  20  in this order by the above described procedure. 
     In the first example, in a case where the cutting control processing is executed on the third pattern data piece, the controller  2  determines, in step S 66 , that the Mth pattern data piece is the last one in the cutting order among the one or more pattern data pieces included in the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., YES in step S 66 ). In such a case, the controller  2  determines whether the value of the variable N is equal to the number of times of cutting obtained in step S 31  (e.g., step S 67 ). If, in the first example, the value of the variable N is assigned 1 (one), the controller  2  determines that the value of the variable N is not equal to the number of times of cutting obtained in step S 31  (e.g., NO in step S 67 ). In such a case, the controller  2  determines whether the value “ON” is assigned to the cutting completion setting for all of the one or more pattern data pieces included in the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., step S 68 ). In a case where the value “OFF” is assigned to the cutting completion setting for at least one of the one or more pattern data pieces included in the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., NO in step S 68 ), the controller  2  executes a cutting edge adjustment (e.g., step S 69 ). More specifically, for example, in the cutting edge adjustment, the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the fourth direction (e.g., upward) and then executes the same or similar processing to steps S 2 , S 3 , S 6 , and S 7 . Subsequent to step S 69 , the controller  2  assigns 1 (one) to the value of the variable M and increments the value of the valuable N by one (e.g., step S 70 ). Subsequent to step S 70 , the controller  2  obtains the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 71 ). Subsequent to step S 71 , the controller  2  determines whether the value “ON” is assigned to the cutting completion setting for the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 72 ). If the controller  2  determines that the value “ON” is assigned to the cutting completion setting for the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., YES in step S 72 ), the controller  2  increments the value of the valuable M by one and the routine returns to step S 71 . In the first example, the value “OFF” is assigned to the cutting completion setting for the first pattern data piece (e.g., NO in step S 72 ). In such a case, the routine proceeds to step S 9  in  FIG. 6 . The controller  2  executes the pressure specification processing for variable M in the second cutting processing (e.g., step S 9 ). 
     In a case where the gradient of a line indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  relative to the pressure value change where the variable N is assigned  2  is represented by a legend E 2  in  FIG. 10 , the controller  2  determines, in step S 95  of  FIG. 8 , that a position LP is lower than the position MP (e.g., YES in step S 95 ), and in step S 96 , that a difference D between the preceding comparison height and the current comparison height is greater than the threshold (refer to  FIG. 11 ) (e.g., YES in step S 96 ). The position LP may be the current comparison height. The position MP may be the preceding comparison height. In step S 38  of  FIG. 7 , the controller  2  specifies a target range AR 2  and an adjustment range PR 2 . The target range AR 2  defines the upper and lower limits for the height of the attaching portion  32  lower than those defined by the target range AR 1 . The adjustment range PR 2  defines the upper and lower limits for the pressure value greater than those defined by the adjustment range PR 1 . In step S 67  of  FIG. 9B , the controller  2  determines that the value of the variable N is equal to the number of times of cutting obtained in step S 31  (e.g., YES in step S 67 ). In a case where the value of the variable N is equal to the number of times of cutting obtained in step S 31  (e.g., YES in step S 67 ) or in a case where the value “ON” is assigned to the cutting completion setting for all of the one or more pattern data pieces included in the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., YES in step S 68 ), the cutting control processing ends and the routine returns to the main processing of  FIG. 6 . In each of the second and third examples, the controller  2  executes the cutting control processing in a similar manner to the first example. As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , subsequent to step S 10 , the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the fourth direction (e.g., upward) to stop at the raised position (e.g., step S 11 ). In response to the completion of step S 11 , the main processing ends. 
     Hereinafter, a description will be provided on main processing according to the second illustrative embodiment. The main processing according to the second illustrative embodiment includes the same steps as the main processing according to the first illustrative embodiment except that the moving processing of  FIG. 12  includes steps different from the steps included in the moving processing of  FIG. 8  according to the first illustrative embodiment. In the main processing according to the second illustrative embodiment, in step S 33  of  FIG. 7 , the controller  2  executes the moving processing of  FIG. 12 . In  FIG. 12 , common steps have the same step numbers as those of the first illustrative embodiment. The moving processing according to the second illustrative embodiment further includes steps S 121 , S 122 , and S 123  and skips step S 94 , which are different from the moving process according to the first illustrative embodiment. Hereinafter, steps S 121 , S 122 , and S 123  that are not included in the moving processing of the first illustrative embodiment will be described, and a description for the steps similar to the steps included in the moving processing of the first illustrative embodiment will be omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the controller  2  determines whether the current pressure value is equal to the pressure value assigned in step S 37  executed last time (e.g., the last assigned pressure value) (e.g., step S 121 ). If the controller  2  determines that the current pressure value is not equal to the last assigned pressure value (e.g., NO in step S 121 ), the routine proceeds to step S 91 . If the controller  2  determines that the current pressure value is equal to the last assigned pressure value (e.g., YES in step S 121 ), the controller  2  obtains, as the comparison height, the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when the pressure value corresponding to the pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  reaches the last assigned pressure value (e.g., step S 122 ) and then the routine proceeds to step S 92 . If the controller  2  determines that the attaching portion  32  has not reached the target position (e.g., NO in step S 92 ), the routine returns to step S 121 . Subsequent to step S 93 , the controller  2  obtains, as the current pressure value, the pressure value achieved when the controller  2  stops the attaching portion  32  from moving in the third direction in step S 93  and stores the obtained value in the RAM  73  (e.g., step S 123 ). 
     Subsequent to step S 123 , the controller  2  determines whether the value indicating the preceding comparison height obtained in step S 122  is greater than the value indicating the current comparison height (e.g., step S 95 ). In a case where a relationship between the height of the attaching portion  32  and the pressure value in the preceding cutting processing is represented by the legend E 1  in  FIG. 10  and a relationship between the height of the attaching portion  32  and the pressure value in the current cutting processing is represented by the legend E 2  in  FIG. 10 , the value indicating the current comparison height relative to the preceding pressure value ThP is smaller than the value indicating the preceding comparison height the preceding pressure value ThP (e.g., YES in step S 95 ). In such a case, subsequent to step S 95 , the controller  2  determines whether a difference between the current comparison height obtained in step S 122  and the preceding comparison height is greater than the threshold (e.g., step S 96 ). In each of the cases represented by the legends E 1  and E 2 , respectively, the controller  2  determines that the difference between the current comparison height at the preceding pressure value ThP and the preceding comparison height is greater than the threshold (e.g., YES in step S 96 ). In such a case, the moving processing ends. In a case where the relationship between the height of the attaching portion  32  and the pressure value in the preceding cutting processing is represented by the legend E 1  in  FIG. 10  and the relationship between the height of the attaching portion  32  and the pressure value in the current cutting processing is represented by the legend E 3  in  FIG. 10 , the value indicating the current comparison height relative to the preceding pressure value ThP is greater than or equal to the value indicating the preceding comparison height relative to the preceding pressure value ThP (e.g., NO in step S 95 ). In such a case, the controller  2  provides notification an error (e.g., step S 97 ) and executes discontinuation processing (e.g., step S 98 ). In the second illustrative embodiment, in a case where the current pressure value is smaller than the last assigned pressure value, the controller  2  does not obtain a comparison height. Thus, in a case where the current pressure value is smaller than the last assigned pressure value, the controller  2  may skip steps S 95  to S 98 . 
     Hereinafter, a description will be provided on main processing according to the third illustrative embodiment. For example, in a case where cutting is performed on a workpiece  82  having a releasable sheet  81  to be used for creating, for example, a sticker or a label, without using the holding member  10 , the main processing of the third illustrative embodiment is executed. The workpiece  82  has a thickness less than the threshold ThL used in the first and second illustrative embodiments. Thus, the cutting apparatus  1  cuts the workpiece  82  fully in the fifth direction by one-time execution of the cutting processing. The main processing according to the third illustrative embodiment includes the same steps as the main processing according to the first illustrative embodiment except that the main processing according to the third illustrative embodiment includes pressure specification and cutting control processing of  FIGS. 13A and 13B  instead of steps S 9  and S 10  of  FIG. 6 . In  FIGS. 13A and 13B , common steps have the same step numbers as those of the first illustrative embodiment. Hereinafter, the pressure specification and cutting control processing that is not included in the main processing of the first illustrative embodiment will be described, and description for the steps similar to the steps included in the main processing of the first illustrative embodiment will be omitted. The main processing according to the third illustrative embodiment starts in response to the controller  2  receiving a start instruction after receiving information specifying the type of the workpiece  82  through a user input. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 13A , in the pressure specification and cutting control processing, the controller  2  controls the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the attaching portion  32  and the workpiece  82  relative to each other to position the cutting blade  16  above a cutting start point of an Mth pattern data piece included in the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., step S 100 ) and starts to move the attaching portion  32  in the third direction (e.g., downward) by controlling the up-down drive mechanism  33  (e.g., step S 29 ). Subsequent to step S 29 , the controller  2  determines, based on the signal received from the sensor  41 , whether the attaching portion  32  has reached the target position AP (e.g., step S 101 ). The target position AP refers to the position of the attaching portion  32  that is located when the distal end of the cutting blade  16  is in contact with an upper surface  83  of the releasable sheet  81 . For example, the controller  2  determines, based on the position at which the gradient of the line indicating the height of the attaching portion  32  relative to the pressure value changes, whether the attaching portion  32  has reached the target position AP. If the controller  2  determines that the attaching portion  32  has not reached the target position AP (e.g., NO in step S 101 ), the routine returns to step S 101 . If the controller  2  determines that the attaching portion  32  has reached the target position AP (e.g., YES in step S 101 ), the controller  2  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to stop the attaching portion  32  from moving in the third direction (e.g., downward) (e.g., step S 93 ). Subsequent to step S 93 , the controller  2  specifies a stop position SP (e.g., step S 35 ). In the third illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  assigns, to the stop position SP, a particular position obtained by adding a certain height to the platen position PP. The certain height may be less than a thickness of the releasable sheet  81  and greater than a one-tenth of the thickness of the releasable sheet  81 . For example, the certain height may be 0.1 mm. 
     In the third illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  assigns, to the reference pressure value, the pressure value achieved when the controller  2  stops the attaching portion  32  from moving in the third direction in step S 93  (e.g., step S 37 ). Subsequent to step S 37 , the controller  2  specifies, based on the target position, a target range AR and an adjustment range PR according to the target range AR (e.g., step S 102 ). More specifically, for example, the controller  2  assigns, to an upper limit of the target range AR, the position of the upper surface  83  of the releasable sheet  81 . The controller  2  assigns, to a lower limit of the target range AR, a particular position CP obtained by dividing a distance between the stop position SP assigned in step S 35  and the target position AP by 2 and subtracting the result of the division from the target position AP. The position CP is located between the target position AP and the stop position SP. The controller  2  assigns, to an upper limit of the adjustment range PR, a value obtained by adding a certain value (e.g., 4 pulses) to the reference pressure value assigned in step S 37 . The controller  2  assigns, to a lower limit of the adjustment range PR, a value obtained by subtracting a certain value (e.g., 4 pulses) from the reference pressure value assigned in step S 37 . A difference between the upper limit and the lower limit of the adjustment range PR (e.g., 8 pulses) is smaller than a difference between the upper limit and the lower limit of the adjustment range PR according to the first illustrative embodiment (e.g., 28 pulses). Subsequent to step S 102 , the controller  2  specifies a first decrease amount, a second decrease amount, and an increase amount (e.g., step S 103 ). The second decrease amount is less than the first decrease amount. The first decrease amount may be, for example, 3 pulses. The second decrease amount may be, for example, 1 pulse. In the third illustrative embodiment, the increase amount and the second decrease amount may be equal to each other. 
     Subsequent to step S 103 , the controller  2  starts the cutting processing by controlling the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to respectively move the workpiece  82  and the attaching portion  32  relative to each other based on the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., step S 104 ). Subsequent to step S 104 , the controller  2  obtains, based on the signal received from the sensor  41 , the height of the attaching portion  32  (e.g., step S 52 ). In  FIG. 14 , a legend C 6  represents chronological change of the height of the attaching portion  32  and a legend C 7  represents chronological change of the pressure value. In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 11  (e.g., step S 52 ), the current height of the attaching portion  32  is higher than the stop position SP (e.g., NO in step S 54 ) and is within the target range AR (e.g., NO in step S 55  and NO in step S 58 ). In a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  (more specifically, the cutting blade  16 ) relative to the workpiece  82  does not coincide with a position corresponding to a cutting end point and thus the controller  2  determines that the cutting processing is not to be ended (e.g., NO in step S 108 ), the routine returns to step S 52 . 
     In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 12  (e.g., step S 52 ), the controller  2  determines that the current height of the attaching portion  32  is higher than the stop position SP (e.g., NO in step S 54 ) and that the value indicating the current height of the attaching portion  32  is smaller than the lower limit of the target range AR (e.g., YES in step S 55 ). In such a case, the controller  2  determines that a value obtained by subtracting the second decrease amount assigned in step S 103  from the pressure value at timing T 12  is within the adjustment range PR (e.g., YES in step S 56 ). Subsequent to step S 56 , the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value obtained by subtracting the second decrease amount from the current pressure value and controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  based on the newly assigned pressure value (e.g., step S 105 ). Subsequent to step S 105 , the routine returns to step S 52  (e.g., NO in stet S 108 ). In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 13  (e.g., step S 52 ), the controller  2  determines that the current height of the attaching portion  32  is higher than the stop position SP (e.g., NO in step S 54 ) and that the value indicating the current height of the attaching portion  32  is smaller than the lower limit of the target range AR (e.g., YES in step S 55 ). In such a case, the controller  2  determines that a value obtained by subtracting the second decrease amount assigned in step S 103  from the pressure value at timing T 13  is out of the adjustment range PR (e.g., NO in step S 56 ) and the routine returns to step S 52  (e.g., NO in step S 108 ). 
     In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 14  (e.g., step S 52 ), the controller  2  determines that the current height of the attaching portion  32  is higher than the stop position SP (e.g., NO in step S 54 ) and that the value indicating the current height of the attaching portion  32  is greater than the upper limit of the target range AR (e.g., NO in step S 55  and YES in step S 58 ). In such a case, the controller  2  determines that a value obtained by adding the increase amount assigned in step S 103  to the pressure value at timing T 14  is within the adjustment range PR (e.g., YES in step S 59 ). Subsequent to step S 59 , the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value obtained by adding the increase amount to the current pressure value and controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  based on the newly assigned pressure value (e.g., step S 60 ). Subsequent to step S 60 , the routine returns to step S 52  (e.g., NO in stet S 108 ). In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 15  (e.g., step S 52 ), the controller  2  determines that the current height of the attaching portion  32  is higher than the stop position SP (e.g., NO in step S 54 ) and that the value indicating the current height of the attaching portion  32  is greater than the upper limit of the target range AR (e.g., NO in step S 55  and YES in step S 58 ). In such a case, the controller  2  determines that a value obtained by adding the increase amount assigned in step S 103  to the pressure value at timing T 15  is out of the adjustment range PR (e.g., NO in step S 59 ) and the routine returns to step S 52  (e.g., NO in step S 108 ). 
     In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 16  (e.g., step S 52 ), the controller  2  determines that the current height of the attaching portion  32  is lower than the stop position SP (e.g., YES in step S 54 ). Subsequent to step S 54 , the controller  2  assigns, to the pressure value, another value obtained by subtracting the first decrease mount from the current pressure value (e.g. in step S 106 ). Subsequent to step S 106 , the controller  2  shifts the adjustment range PR (e.g., step S 107 ). More specifically, for example, the controller  2  shifts the current adjustment range PR in the third direction by the second decrease amount. Subsequent to step S 107 , the routine returns to step S 52 . In a case where the attaching portion  32  has reached, relative to the workpiece  82 , a position corresponding to the cutting end point and thus the controller  2  determines that the cutting processing based on the cutting data is to be ended (e.g., YES in step S 108 ), the controller  2  stops controlling the conveying mechanism  7  and the head moving mechanism  8  to end the cutting processing based on the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., step S 109 ). Thus, the pressure specification and cutting control processing ends and the routine returns to the main processing of  FIG. 6 . In a case where the controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 17  (e.g., step S 52 ), the controller  2  executes the same processing as the case where controller  2  obtains the height of the attaching portion  32  at timing T 16 . 
     In the cutting apparatus  1  according to the first, second and third illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  obtains the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction during execution of the cutting processing. In a case where the obtained position of the attaching portion  32  is out of the target range ARN, the pressure changer  31  changes the pressure applied to the attaching portion  32 . Thus, as compared with a case where a constant pressure is applied to the attaching portion  32  by the pressure changer  31  during execution of the cutting processing irrespective of the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction during executing of the cutting processing, in the cutting apparatus  1 , the position of the cutting edge of the cutting blade  16  relative to a workpiece may be adjusted appropriately. 
     According to the first, second, and third illustrative embodiments, in a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the third direction from the target range ARN (e.g., YES in step S 55 ), the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  changes the pressure value to another value corresponding to the pressure lower than the current pressure (e.g., step S 57 ). In a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is shifted in the third direction from the target range ARN, the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value corresponding to the pressure lower than the current pressure. This may thus reduce likelihood that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is shifted further in the third direction from the target range ARN, thereby increasing likelihood that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is within the target range ARN. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  obtains the stiffness of the workpiece  20  (e.g., step S 36 ) and changes the pressure value to another value obtained by subtracting a decrease amount according to the stiffness obtained in step S 36  from the current pressure value (e.g., step S 39  or S 57 ). Thus, as compared with a case where the decrease amount is specified without consideration of the stiffness of the workpiece  20 , in the cutting apparatus  1 , the position of the cutting edge of the cutting blade  16  relative to a workpiece may be adjusted appropriately. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, as the stiffness obtained in step S 36  is higher, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  assigns a greater value to the decrease amount (e.g., step S 39  or S 57 ). Taking the stiffness of the workpiece  20  into consideration may thus reduce likelihood that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is shifted further in the third direction from the target range ARN, thereby increasing likelihood that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is within the target range ARN. 
     According to the first, second, and third illustrative embodiments, in a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the fourth direction (e.g., upward) from the target range ARN (e.g., YES in step S 58 ), the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  changes the pressure value to another value corresponding to the pressure higher than the current pressure (e.g., step S 60 ). In a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is shifted in the fourth direction from the target range ARN, the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value corresponding to the pressure higher than the current pressure. This may thus reduce likelihood that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is shifted further in the fourth direction from the target range ARN, thereby increasing likelihood that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is within the target range ARN. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  obtains the stiffness of the workpiece  20  (e.g., step S 36 ). More specifically, for example, the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value obtained by adding the increase amount according to the stiffness obtained in step S 36  to the current pressure value (e.g., step S 39  or S 60 ). Thus, as compared with a case where the increase amount is specified without consideration of the stiffness of the workpiece  20 , in the cutting apparatus  1 , the position of the cutting edge of the cutting blade  16  relative to a workpiece may be adjusted appropriately. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, as the stiffness obtained in step S 36  is higher, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  assigns a greater value to the increase amount (e.g., step S 39  or S 60 ). Taking the stiffness of the workpiece  20  into consideration may thus reduce likelihood that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is shifted further in the fourth direction from the target range ARN, thereby increasing likelihood that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is within the target range ARN. 
     According to the first, second, and third illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  changes the pressure value to another value within the adjustment range PRN specified according to the target range ARN (e.g., steps S 56  and S 57  or steps S 59  and S 60 ). Such a control may thus reduce or prevent the pressure value from being changed to a value out of the adjustment range PRN. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  obtains the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when the cutting blade  16  held by the attaching portion  32  reaches the upper surface of the holding member  10  holding the workpiece  20  (e.g., step S 4 ). The controller  2  specifies a stop position SP between the position obtained in step S 4  and the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when the cutting blade  16  held by the attaching portion  32  reaches the upper surface  26  of the platen  3  (e.g., step S 35 ). In a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the third direction from the stop position SP, the controller  2  stops the cutting processing (e.g., step S 74 ). Such a control may thus reduce or prevent the cutting blade  16  held by the attaching portion  32  from reaching the platen  3 . In other words, such a control may reduce or prevent the cutting blade  16  from penetrating the holding member  10 . 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, in a case where the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  stops the cutting processing in step S 74 , the controller  2  restarts to continue the cutting processing stating from the line segment corresponding to a portion of the pattern to be cut next in the cutting order among the line segments constituting the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., step S 80 ). Such a control may thus reduce likelihood that the cutting processing ends while one or more line segments have not been used for cutting among the ling segments included in the cutting data due to the stop of the cutting processing in step S 74 . In other words, such a control may thus reduce likelihood that the cutting processing ends while one or more portions of the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece remain uncut due to the stop of the cutting processing in step S 74 . 
     According to the third illustrative embodiment, the controller  2  specifies a stop position SP shifted in the third direction from the target range AR and shifted in the fourth direction from the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when the cutting blade  16  held by the attaching portion  32  reaches the upper surface  26  of the platen  3  (e.g., step S 35 ). In a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the third direction from the stop position SP (e.g., YES in step S 54 ), the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value obtained by subtracting the first decrease amount from the current pressure value (e.g., step S 106 ). In a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the fourth direction from the stop position SP (e.g., NO in step S 54 ) and is shifted in third direction from the target range AR (e.g., YES in step S 55 ), the controller  2  changes the pressure value to another value by subtracting the second decrease amount from the current pressure value (e.g., step S 105 ). The second decrease amount is smaller than the first decrease amount. Thus, according to the third illustrative embodiment, as compared with a case where a constant value is applied to the attaching portion  32  by the pressure changer  31  during execution of the cutting processing irrespective of the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction during executing of the cutting processing, in the cutting apparatus  1 , the position of the cutting edge of the cutting blade  16  relative to a workpiece may be adjusted appropriately and a likelihood that the cutting blade  16  held by the attaching portion  32  reaches the platen  3  may be reduced. 
     According to the third illustrative embodiment, in a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the third direction from the stop position SP after the pressure value is changed within the adjustment range PR specified according to the target range AR, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  shifts the current adjustment range PR by the second decrease amount (e.g., step S 107 ). In the cutting apparatus  1 , the adjustment range PR may be thus specified based on the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52 . In some embodiments, in a case where a workpiece  82  having a releasable sheet  81  to be used for creating, for example, a sticker or a label is cut without using the holding member  10  by one-time execution of the cutting processing, the cutting apparatus  1  may control the height of the attaching portion  32  precisely so that the distal end of the cutting blade  16  is kept located between the upper surface  83  and a lower surface of the releasable sheet  81 . The cutting apparatus  1  may preferably be configured to, while controlling the height of the attaching portion  32  so that the distal end of the cutting blade  16  does not reach the platen position PP, avoid stopping the execution of the cutting process in progress or ending the cutting process in progress. According to the third illustrative embodiment, the adjustment range PR may be shifted stepwise. Thus, as compared with a case where a constant adjustment range PR is used, in the cutting apparatus  1 , a state where the distal end of the cutting blade  16  sticks in the releasable sheet  81  may be maintained readily while stopping or ending of the cutting process in progress may be avoided or prevented. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, in a case where, in the line segments constituting the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece, two line segments meeting at a point form a smaller angle having the certain angle or smaller, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  executes the orientation correction (e.g., step S 87 ). In the orientation correction, the controller  2  changes, at an intersection of the two line segments that form the angle having the certain angle or smaller, a direction in which the cutting blade  16  faces. During execution of the orientation correction, the controller  2  does not change the pressure value in a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is within the target range ARN (e.g., YES in step S 53 ). In general, while the orientation correction is executed, the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is more likely to be unstable than while a line segment is being cut. Nevertheless, according to the cutting apparatus  1 , the above control may reduce or prevent the third-direction pressure to be applied to the attaching portion  32  from being changed based on the unstable position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction. In some orientation correction, the height of the attaching portion  32  or the third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  may be changed during execution of the orientation correction. Nevertheless, according to the cutting apparatus  1 , the third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  is not changed based on the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction during the orientation correction, thereby reducing or preventing the orientation correction from being executed in an inappropriate manner. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  controls the up-down drive mechanism  33  to move the attaching portion  32  in the third direction (e.g., step S 29 ). The controller  2  determines, while controlling the up-down drive mechanism  33 , whether the pressure value corresponding to the third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  by the pressure changer  31  has reached the pressure threshold ThP (e.g., step S 91 ). Then, the controller  2  determines, while controlling the up-down drive mechanism  33 , whether the attaching portion  32  has reached the target position in the fifth direction (e.g., step S 92 ). In a case where the controller  2  determines that the attaching portion  32  has reached the target position in the fifth direction (e.g., YES in step S 92 ) before determining, in step S 91 , that the pressure value has reached the pressure threshold ThP, the controller  2  stops controlling the up-down drive mechanism  33  (e.g., step S 93 ). The controller  2  assigns, to the reference pressure value, the pressure value corresponding to the pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  when the attaching portion  32  is located at the target position in the fifth direction (e.g., step S 37 ). In a case where, before determining, in step S 92 , that the attaching portion  32  has reached the target position in the fifth direction, the controller  2  determines, in step S 91 , that the pressure value has reached the threshold ThP (e.g., YES in step S 91 ), the controller  2  stops controlling the up-down drive mechanism  33  (e.g., step S 93 ) and assigns, to the reference pressure value, the pressure value when the attaching portion  32  reaches the position by its movement in the third direction where the pressure value is smaller than or equal to the threshold ThP (e.g., step S 37 ). The controller  2  specifies the target range ARN based on the height of the attaching portion  32  located when stopping controlling the up-down drive mechanism  33  (e.g., step S 38 ). Thus, in the cutting apparatus  1 , the target range ARN may be specified based on the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when the pressure value is assigned in step S 37 . 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, if the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  determines that the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece is not a closed figure pattern (e.g., NO in step S 22 ), the controller  2  assigns, to a particular position different from the cutting start point, a setting position on a line segment among the line segments constituting the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., steps S 25  and S 26 ). If the controller  2  determines that the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece is not a closed figure pattern (e.g., NO in step S 22 ), the controller  2  moves the attaching portion  32  in the third direction in the specified setting position (e.g., steps S 28  and S 29 ). If the controller  2  determines that the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece is a closed figure pattern (e.g., YES in step S 22 ), the controller  2  moves the attaching portion  32  in the third direction in the cutting start point (e.g., steps S 27 , S 28 , and S 29 ). In general, a depth of a cut to be made may be unstable in the vicinity of the cutting start point. Nevertheless, according to the cutting apparatus  1 , in a case where the cutting processing is executed two or more times based on the Mth pattern data piece, a pressure value to be used when a pattern is cut in the workpiece  20  may be specified appropriately according to the shape of the figure represented by the Mth pattern data piece. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  assigns, to a particular position, a setting position on a line segment including a cutting start point among the line segments constituting the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., steps S 25  and S 26 ). Thus, in the cutting apparatus  1 , a distance that the attaching portion  32  moves from the setting position to the cutting start point may be relatively short. Consequently, a time elapsed from when the pressure value is specified at the setting position to when cutting processing starts may be shortened, thereby completing the cutting processing in a relatively short time. The controller  2  assigns a setting position to a particular position away from the cutting start position by a distance according to the line segment including the cutting start point among the line segments constituting the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece (e.g., steps S 25  and S 26 ). If a setting position is specified in a random position, a condition for setting the pressure value needs to be changed every time. Nevertheless, in the cutting apparatus  1 , the controller  2  may specify the pressure value with respect to each pattern under the same condition. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  obtains the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when the cutting blade  16  held by the attaching portion  32  reaches the upper surface  18  of the holding member  10  holding the workpiece  20  (e.g., step S 4 ). The controller  2  obtains the number of times of cutting based on the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., step S 31 ). The controller  2  determines whether the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 62  is shifted in the third direction from the reference position RP obtained in step S 32  (e.g., step S 64 ). If the controller  2  determines that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is shifted in the third direction from the reference position RP (e.g., YES in step S 64 ), the controller  2  ends the cutting processing based on the cutting data (e.g., steps S 65  and S 68 ) even when the controller  2  determines that the cutting processing has not been executed the number of times of cutting obtained in step S 31  (e.g., NO in step S 67 ). That is, if the controller  2  determines, when completing the cutting processing based on the cutting data, that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is shifted in the third direction from the reference position RP (e.g., YES in step S 64 ), the controller  2  ends the cutting processing based on the cutting data (e.g., steps S 65  and S 68 ). If the controller  2  determines that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is not shifted in the third direction from the reference position RP (e.g., NO in step S 64 ), the controller  2  executes the cutting processing again (e.g., step S 70 ). Thus, based on the height of the attaching portion  32  when ending the cutting processing at the cutting end point of the cutting data, the controller  2  may determine whether the cutting processing is to be executed another time. Consequently, such a control may reduce or prevent excessive cutting of the holding member  10  caused by execution of unnecessary additional cutting processing although the workpiece  20  has been cut fully in the fifth direction by the previous cutting processing. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  determines whether the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the third direction from the reference position RP at the cutting end point in the cutting processing every time the cutting processing is executed until the number of times of cutting obtained in step S 31  is achieved (e.g., steps S 62  and S 64 ). Such a control may thus end the cutting processing in a case where the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the third direction from the reference position RP at the cutting end point. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, in a case where the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece is a closed figure pattern, the cutting end point is assigned to a particular position on the line segment that has been cut in the same cutting processing. Thus, as compared with a case where the cutting end point coincides with the cutting start point, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  may obtain the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction with stable accuracy. In addition, as compared with a case where the cutting end point coincides with the cutting start point, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  may appropriately determine whether to end the cutting processing being executed based on the cutting data. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  assigns, to a reference position RP, a particular position shifted in the third direction from the holding position HP obtained in step S 4  and shifted in the fourth direction from the position of the upper surface  26  of the platen  3 . Thus, in a case where the cutting apparatus  1  cuts a workpiece  20  so that the cutting blade  16  penetrates the workpiece  20 , such a control may end the cutting processing. In a case where the cutting apparatus  1  cuts the workpiece  20  so that the cutting blade  16  does not penetrates the workpiece  20 , such a control may reduce a likelihood to end the cutting processing. 
     According to the first and second illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  obtains the number of times of cutting to be executed based on the cutting data obtained in step S 1  (e.g., step S 31 ). The controller  2  obtains the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction under a certain condition every time the cutting processing is executed (e.g., step S 94 ). The controller  2  determines, based on a comparison between the preceding position (e.g., the preceding comparison height) and the current position (e.g., the current comparison height) of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction, whether the cutting processing is to be discontinued (e.g., step S 95  and S 96 ). The preceding position of the attaching portion  32  is obtained in the preceding cutting processing. The current position of the attaching portion  32  is obtained in the current cutting processing. In a case where the controller  2  determines, based on the determination results of steps S 95  and S 96 , that the cutting processing is to be discontinued, the controller  2  discontinues the cutting processing (e.g., step S 98 ). Thus, in a case where the cutting apparatus  1  cuts a pattern in the workpiece  20  by repeating the cutting processing based on the same cutting data, the controller  2  may discontinue the cutting processing based on the result of comparison between the preceding position and the current position. Consequently, in the cutting apparatus  1 , such a control may reduce or prevent repeating of the cutting processing in a state where the cutting processing is not executed appropriately. 
     In the first illustrative embodiment, the certain condition may be that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is obtained when the controller  2  stops moving the attaching portion  32  in the third direction (e.g. S 94 ). In a case where the current position is shifted in the fourth direction from the preceding position or in a case where a difference between the preceding position and the current position is greater than the threshold, the controller  2  determines that the cutting processing is be discontinued (e.g., steps S 95  and S 96 ). In ordinary cases, the cutting depth is increased in the third direction from the position (e.g., the depth) of the cut made in the preceding cutting processing, and thus, the current position should be shifted in the third direction from the preceding position. Therefore, in a case where the current position is shifted in the fourth direction from the preceding position, some abnormality may have occurred. According to the cutting apparatus  1 , the controller  2  may determine, based on the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when the controller  2  specifies the pressure value, whether the cutting processing is to be discontinued. Consequently, the cutting apparatus  1  may discontinue the cutting processing in a case where there is a possibility that some positional abnormality of the attaching portion  32  has occurred in the fifth direction when the Nth cutting processing based on the cutting data obtained in step S 1  ends. 
     In the second illustrative embodiment, the certain condition may be that the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction is obtained at another certain timing (e.g., step S 122 ). The certain timing may be the time at which, while the attaching portion  32  is moved in the third direction, the pressure value corresponding to the pressure applied to the attaching portion  32  achieves the pressure value that achieved when the attaching portion  32  is stopped in the preceding processing. In a case where the current position is shifted in the fourth direction from the preceding position or in a case where a difference between the preceding position and the current position is greater than the threshold, the controller  2  determines that the cutting processing is be discontinued (e.g., steps S 95  and S 96 ). Consequently, in the cutting apparatus  1 , the controller  2  may determine whether the cutting processing is to be discontinued, based on the result of comparison between the preceding position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction and the current position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction when the pressure changer  31  applies, to the attaching portion, the pressure corresponding to the pressure value that is the same as that used in the preceding cutting processing. Consequently, the cutting apparatus  1  may discontinue the cutting processing in a case where there is a possibility that some positional abnormality of the attaching portion  32  has occurred in the fifth direction. 
     While the disclosure has been described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, these are merely examples, and various changes, arrangements and modifications may be applied therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. The cutting apparatus  1  may have another suitable configuration. The cutting apparatus  1  may be configured to execute another processing such as drawing illustrations in addition to the cutting processing using the cutting blade  16 . As long as the cutting apparatus  1  moves the attaching portion  32  and the holding member  10  relative to each other in the first and second directions, the cutting apparatus  1  may be configured to, while fixing the position of the holding member  10 , move the attaching portion  32  in the first and second directions relative to the holding member  10 . The definitions of the first direction, the second direction, the third direction, the fourth direction, and the fifth directions may be changed appropriately. The holding member  10  may be another suitable member other than a mat as long as the holding member  10  can hold a workpiece  20 . The holding member  10  may be, for example, a tray. The sensor  41  may be disposed at another suitable position or may have another suitable configuration as long as the sensor  41  is configured to detect the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction. The sensor  41  may be, for example, an encoder that detects a travel amount of a slit provided in the attaching portion  32  or a sensor that detects the strength and direction of a magnetic field generated by a magnet disposed at the attaching portion  32 . Another suitable output of the sensor  41  may be used for determining the position of the attaching portion  32  in the fifth direction. The pressure changer may be an urging member other than a torsion spring as long as the pressure changer is configured to change magnitude of pressure acting toward the platen applied to the attaching portion  32 . The pressure changer may be, for example, an air cylinder configured to apply a third-direction pressure to the attaching portion  32 . 
     The main processing of  FIG. 6  may be executed by a processor such as a microcomputer, an application specific integrated circuit (“ASIC”), and a field programmable gate array (“FPGA”) instead of the controller  2 . The cutting processing disclosed in the illustrative embodiments may be executed by a plurality of processors. The flash memory  74  storing the program for executing the cutting processing may be, for example, another non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as an HDD, SDD, or a hybrid of HDD and SSD. Any non-transitory computer-readable storage medium may be adopted as long as storing information irrespective of a period for storing information. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium might not necessarily include a transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a signal). The program for executing the main processing may be downloaded from a server connected to a network (i.e., transmitted to the cutting apparatus  1  as signals) and stored in the flash memory  74  of the cutting apparatus  1 . In such a case, the program may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium such as an HDD of the server. In the main processing according to the illustrative embodiments, the controller  2  might not necessarily execute the steps in the above-described order and may skip one or more of the steps. The main processing may include one or more other steps. The scope of the disclosure includes a case where, for example, an operating system (“OS”) running on the cutting apparatus  1  executes part or all of actual processing based on an instruction provided by the controller  2  of the cutting apparatus  1  and the functions of the above-described illustrative embodiments are realized. 
     Another suitable position may be assigned to the certain position at which the attaching portion  32  is positioned in step S 2 . The certain position may preferably be defined in an area in which a workpiece  20  is not placed, and more specifically, for example, in an area other than the cutting area defined inside of the border  11  of the holding member  10 . In a case where the cutting apparatus  1  can determine a location where a workpiece  20  is placed on the holding member  10 , the cutting apparatus  1  may determine the certain position used in step S 2  based on the location of the workpiece  20 . In such a case, the certain position used in step S 2  may be defined within the cutting area. The processing of obtaining the cutting position may be executed in a period from step S 3  and step S 7  but not overlapping the adjustment of the facing direction of the cutting blade  16 . The routine may skip step S 6  when necessary. 
     Another suitable value may be assigned to the pressure value. In a case where a pressure sensor is provided at the attaching portion  32  or the cutting blade  16 , a pressure sensor value may be assigned to the pressure value. The pressure value may be changed by another suitable method. In one example, a constant value may be assigned to at least one of the decrease amounts and the increase amount for the pressure value regardless of the stiffness of a workpiece. In another example, a different value may be assigned to at least one of the decrease amounts and the increase amount for the pressure value depending on one or more of the number of times of cutting to be executed, the reference pressure value, the thickness of the workpiece, the type of the workpiece, or the type of the cutting blade  16 . The routine may skip either of a series of steps S 55 , S 56 , and S 57  or a series of steps S 58  and S 59  in  FIG. 9A . The routine may skip either of a series of steps S 55 , S 56 , and S 105  or a series of steps S 58  and S 59  in  FIG. 13B . The adjustment range PRN might not necessarily be specified. The pressure value may be changed to another value out of the adjustment range PRN. The pressure value may be changed to another pressure value based on the position of the attaching portion  32  during the orientation correction. The controller  2  may adopt a different procedure for specifying the reference position, the target position, and the stop position, according to the type, material, or thickness of the holding member. For example, the stop position might not necessarily be changed depending on the type of the holding member. That is, the stop position may be a constant position. The reference position may be the same as the holding position. The controller  2  may adopt another suitable processing for specifying the holding position or may skip such processing. In the third illustrative embodiment, the first decrease amount, the second decrease amount, and the increase amount may be specified according to the stiffness of the workpiece. In the moving processing of  FIGS. 8 and 12 , the controller may skip step S 91  and stop the attaching portion from moving in the third direction based on the determination made in step S 92  (e.g., step S 93 ). 
     If the controller determines, in step S 54  of  FIG. 9A , that the attaching portion is shifted in the third direction from the stop position, the controller may execute another suitable processing in the subsequent step. For example, the controller determines, in step S 54  of  FIG. 9A , that the attaching portion is shifted in the third direction from the stop position, the controller may end the cutting processing. In such a case, in one example, the controller might not necessarily restart to continue the cutting processing. In another example, the controller may restart to continue the cutting processing stating from the constituent point specified by the user based on an instruction to restart the cutting processing input by the user. The routine may skip steps S 54 , S 74  to S 80  appropriately. In a case where the controller stops the cutting processing, the controller may assign the value “ON” to the cutting completion setting regardless of the number of times the cutting processing has been stopped. The controller may skip the processing for changing the value of the cutting completion setting. In such a case, the controller may skip a series of steps S 65 , S 68  to S 73  and step S 83  appropriately. 
     In the third illustrative embodiment, the second decrease amount may be greater than or equal to the first decrease amount. The routine may skip step S 107 . In the third illustrative embodiment, in a case the position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is lower than (e.g., shifted in the third direction from) the stop position SP, the controller may stop the cutting processing. The controller may adopt another suitable processing for specifying the pressure value. For example, the controller may determine, while controlling the second moving mechanism, whether the attaching portion has reached the target position without determining whether the pressure value corresponding to the third-direction pressure applied to the attaching portion by the pressure changer has reached the pressure threshold. 
     In the third illustrative embodiment, the controller may adopt another suitable processing for changing the adjustment range or skip the processing for changing the adjustment range. The controller may specify an upper limit and a lower limit within which the adjustment range is allowed to be shifted and shift the adjustment range between the specified upper and lower limits. In a case where the adjustment range cannot be shifted between the specified upper and lower limits, the controller may stop or discontinue the cutting processing. In a case where, after the adjustment range is shifted (e.g., step S 107 ), the position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction is included within a certain range in a certain time period, the controller may shift the adjustment range to be closer to the adjustment range used when the cutting processing starts (e.g., a default range). The certain range is defined further from the stop position SP in the third direction. Examples of the certain time period include a cutting time (e.g., 50 ms), a period in which the predetermined number of constituent points are cut (e.g., 10 times), and a period in which the predetermined number of orientation corrections are performed (e.g., 5 times). Examples of the certain range includes a range from the stop position SP to the position CP that may be the lower limit of the target range AR. In such a case, for example, in a case where, in the pressure specification and cutting control processing of  FIGS. 13A and 13B , the position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the fourth direction from the stop position SP (e.g., NO in step S 54 ) and is shifted in third direction from the position CP that is the lower limit of the target range AR (e.g., YES in step S 55 ), the controller may execute the following processing between steps S 55  and S 56 . The controller may count up a variable (e.g., a cutting time) according to the certain time period. In a case where an initial value of the variable is 0 (zero) and the position of the attaching portion in the fifth direction obtained in step S 52  is shifted in the third direction from the stop position SP (e.g., YES in step S 54 ) or is shifted in the fourth direction from the position CP that is the lower limit of the target range (e.g., NO in step S 55 ), the controller may assign 0 (zero) to the variable. After stating count-up of the variable according to the certain time period, in a case where the controller has shifted the adjustment range in step S 107  and determines, based on the value of the variable, that the certain time period has elapsed, the controller may shift the adjustment range to be closer to the default range within an allowable range. More specifically, for example, the controller  2  may shift the current adjustment range PR in the fourth direction by the second decrease amount. In such a case, the controller of the cutting apparatus may shift the adjustment range to be closer to the default range according to the position of the attaching portion located in the fifth direction after shifting the adjustment range (e.g., step S 107 ). 
     In the pressure specification processing of  FIG. 7 , in one example, the controller might not necessarily specify the setting position according to the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece. In another example, the controller may specify the setting position using another suitable procedure different from the procedure of  FIG. 7 . Regardless of whether the pattern represented by the Mth pattern data piece is a closed figure pattern, the controller may specify the setting position using the same procedure. The controller may specify the setting position at any position on the line segment including a cutting start point or at a particular position away from the cutting start point on the line segment. The controller may set the setting position under the same rule regardless of a length of the line segment including the cutting start point or may set the setting position on a line segment including a point other than the cutting start point. 
     The controller may skip the processing for obtaining the number of times of cutting to be executed. The controller may skip step S 64  in which the controller determines whether the attaching portion is shifted in the third direction from the reference position in the fifth direction every time the cutting processing of the Nth time is completed. In such a case, in response to the number of times of the cutting processing that has been executed reaching the number of times of cutting obtained in step S 31  (e.g., step S 67 ), the controller may end the cutting processing on the cutting data obtained in step S 1 . In a case where the cutting data obtained in step S 1  includes a plurality of pattern data pieces, one-time execution of the cutting processing may be applied on a basis of pattern data piece. The controller might not necessarily execute the cutting edge adjustment every time one-time execution of the cutting processing is completed. The controller may determine, in each of the cutting processing, whether the attaching portion is shifted in the third direction from the reference position at any one or more points, and may end the cutting processing based on the determination result. The cutting end point may coincide with the cutting start point. 
     Any suitable condition may be adopted as the certain condition for obtaining the comparison positions in step S 94  of  FIG. 8  and in step S 122  of  FIG. 12 . The controller may skip the processing for obtaining the comparison positions. The routine may skip a series of steps S 94  to S 98  in  FIGS. 8 and 12 . The controller may determine, based on the result of the comparison between the preceding position and the current position using another comparison procedure, whether the cutting processing is to be discontinued.