Patent ID: 7316174

Claim:
A cutting machine, comprising: a first chuck table that moves in an X-axis direction along a first guide rail, and a second chuck table that moves in the X-axis direction along a second guide rail and is provided in parallel with said first guide rail while keeping a predetermined interval so as not to interfere with said first chuck table, said first chuck table and said second chuck table being allowed to index-rotate while holding plate-shaped materials each to be cut in a first direction and in a second direction; and a first cutting unit including a first cutting blade rotatable about a first rotating axis, and a second cutting unit including a second cutting blade rotatable about a second rotating axis, both to cut said plate-shaped materials held by said first and second chuck tables, wherein: said first rotating axis is positioned in a Y-axis direction that intersects with the X-axis direction at right angles, and said first cutting unit is configured to be able to index-move along a third guide rail provided in the Y-axis direction, so that said first cutting unit cuts said plate-shaped material held on said first chuck table in one of the first direction and the second direction as said first chuck table moves in the X-axis direction, and by crossing over said first guide rail, cuts said plate-shaped material held on said second chuck table in one of the first direction and the second direction as the second chuck table moves in the X-axis direction; and said second rotating axis is positioned in the Y-axis direction that intersects with the X-axis direction at right angles, and said second cutting unit is configured to be able to index-move along a fourth guide rail provided in the Y-axis direction, so that said first chuck table, which has been rotated by 90°, is positioned at a cutting position of said second cutting unit, and in association with movements of said first chuck table in the X-axis direction, said second cutting unit cuts said plate-shaped material held on said first chuck table in the other of the first direction and the second direction, and that said second chuck table, which has been rotated by 90°, is positioned at a cutting position of said second cutting unit, and in association with movements of said second chuck table in the X-axis direction, said second cutting unit cuts said plate-shaped material held on said second chuck table in the other of the first direction and the second direction.