A punching machine, comprising: a die cut mechanism for punching a sheet into a predetermined shape to form a product from the sheet; a separating mechanism for sequentially conveying the sheet punched by the die cut mechanism one by one along a conveying path, separating the sheet into the product and a scrap during the conveyance, and removing the scrap from the conveying path; the separating mechanism including first and second conveying units for conveying the sheet along the conveying path, the second conveying unit being disposed at a predetermined interval from a downstream end of the first conveying unit; characterized in that the punching machine further comprises: a control unit for controlling the separating mechanism; and an input unit for receiving input from an operator, wherein the separating mechanism further includes: at least one movable guide disposed between the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit so as to separate the product and the scrap and guide the scrap out of the conveying path; and a guide drive unit for moving the at least one movable guide in a vertical direction between a retreating position where the at least one movable guide retreats upward from the conveying path and a protruding position where the at least one movable guide protrudes into the conveying path, the input unit including a setting section for setting a contact start point (C 1, C 2, C 3) on the sheet where the at least one movable guide is started to come in contact with the sheet and a contact end point (D 1, D 2, D 3) on the sheet where the at least one movable guide is started to separate from the sheet, the input unit further transmitting the information set by the setting section to the control unit, the separating mechanism being controlled by the control unit based on at least the information set by the setting section so that the at least one movable guide moves from the retreating position to the protruding position to contact with the contact start point (C 1, C 2, C 3) on the sheet, and then moves from the protruding position to the retreating position to separate from the contact end point (D 1, D 2, D 3) on the sheet, while the sheet is conveyed from the first conveying unit to the second conveying unit. a die cut mechanism for punching a sheet into a predetermined shape to form a product from the sheet; a separating mechanism for sequentially conveying the sheet punched by the die cut mechanism one by one along a conveying path, separating the sheet into the product and a scrap during the conveyance, and removing the scrap from the conveying path; the separating mechanism including first and second conveying units for conveying the sheet along the conveying path, the second conveying unit being disposed at a predetermined interval from a downstream end of the first conveying unit; a control unit for controlling the separating mechanism; and an input unit for receiving input from an operator, at least one movable guide disposed between the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit so as to separate the product and the scrap and guide the scrap out of the conveying path; and a guide drive unit for moving the at least one movable guide in a vertical direction between a retreating position where the at least one movable guide retreats upward from the conveying path and a protruding position where the at least one movable guide protrudes into the conveying path, the input unit including a setting section for setting a contact start point (C 1, C 2, C 3) on the sheet where the at least one movable guide is started to come in contact with the sheet and a contact end point (D 1, D 2, D 3) on the sheet where the at least one movable guide is started to separate from the sheet, the input unit further transmitting the information set by the setting section to the control unit, the separating mechanism being controlled by the control unit based on at least the information set by the setting section so that the at least one movable guide moves from the retreating position to the protruding position to contact with the contact start point (C 1, C 2, C 3) on the sheet, and then moves from the protruding position to the retreating position to separate from the contact end point (D 1, D 2, D 3) on the sheet, while the sheet is conveyed from the first conveying unit to the second conveying unit.