A cutting machine having: a blank holder adapted to receive a foam blank, the blank holder comprising: a first component having a die projection formed on a front surface of the first component; a second component having a cutting surface, an opposite back surface, and an aperture passing from the cutting surface through the second component to the back surface, the aperture corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the external shape of a desired cut foam product; and a third component having an uninterrupted planar cutting surface and an opposite back surface, the third component being releasably securable in a deployed location in the aperture of the second component, so that the cutting surfaces (321, 323) of the second and third components (304, 306) are coplanar and form a peripheral aperture between the second and third components (304, 306), the aperture extending around the entire lateral periphery of the third component; and a cutting blade, wherein at least one of the cutting blade and the blank holder is mounted for movement relative to the other; wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is mounted for movement relative to the other and the third component remains located in the aperture of the second component during said movement, wherein said movement ranges between a first configuration, in which the first and second components (302, 304) are distal to one another, and a second configuration, in which the first and second components (302, 304) are proximal to one another, with the front surface of the first component opposing the back surface of the second component, and in which the die projection of the first component is aligned with the aperture of the second component, so as to press foam material of the foam blank through the aperture to protrude beyond the cutting surfaces (321, 323); wherein the cutting blade is adapted to pass across the cutting surfaces (321, 323) of the second and third components (304, 306) in the second configuration to cut the protruding foam away from the foam blank; characterised in that the die projection has raised or flared edges on a leading edge of the die projection with respect to a blade vector of the cutting blade. a blank holder adapted to receive a foam blank, the blank holder comprising: a first component having a die projection formed on a front surface of the first component; a second component having a cutting surface, an opposite back surface, and an aperture passing from the cutting surface through the second component to the back surface, the aperture corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the external shape of a desired cut foam product; and a third component having an uninterrupted planar cutting surface and an opposite back surface, the third component being releasably securable in a deployed location in the aperture of the second component, so that the cutting surfaces (321, 323) of the second and third components (304, 306) are coplanar and form a peripheral aperture between the second and third components (304, 306), the aperture extending around the entire lateral periphery of the third component; and a first component having a die projection formed on a front surface of the first component; a second component having a cutting surface, an opposite back surface, and an aperture passing from the cutting surface through the second component to the back surface, the aperture corresponding in cross-sectional shape to the external shape of a desired cut foam product; and a third component having an uninterrupted planar cutting surface and an opposite back surface, the third component being releasably securable in a deployed location in the aperture of the second component, so that the cutting surfaces (321, 323) of the second and third components (304, 306) are coplanar and form a peripheral aperture between the second and third components (304, 306), the aperture extending around the entire lateral periphery of the third component; and a cutting blade, wherein at least one of the cutting blade and the blank holder is mounted for movement relative to the other; wherein at least one of the first component and the second component is mounted for movement relative to the other and the third component remains located in the aperture of the second component during said movement, wherein said movement ranges between a first configuration, in which the first and second components (302, 304) are distal to one another, and a second configuration, in which the first and second components (302, 304) are proximal to one another, with the front surface of the first component opposing the back surface of the second component, and in which the die projection of the first component is aligned with the aperture of the second component, so as to press foam material of the foam blank through the aperture to protrude beyond the cutting surfaces (321, 323); wherein the cutting blade is adapted to pass across the cutting surfaces (321, 323) of the second and third components (304, 306) in the second configuration to cut the protruding foam away from the foam blank; characterised in that the die projection has raised or flared edges on a leading edge of the die projection with respect to a blade vector of the cutting blade.