Patent ID: 8381623

Claim:
An illuminated cutting system for cutting sheet material, comprising: a base configured to receive the sheet material; a material guide coupled to the base, the material guide selectively rotatable between a material loading orientation and a cutting orientation, the material guide located above the sheet material and configured to hold the sheet material against the base when in the cutting orientation, the material guide including a blade opening having an illuminated surface, wherein in the cutting orientation, the illuminated surface is substantially perpendicular to the sheet material, with the illuminated surface including an edge indicative of a cut line disposed proximate the sheet material and proximate a path of travel of a cutting mechanism blade across the sheet material; an illuminating assembly in optical communication with the material guide and electrically coupled to a power source, the illuminating assembly including a light source positioned to transmit light through a portion of the material guide and illuminate the illuminated surface; and a cutting mechanism guide coupled to at least one of the base and the material guide, wherein the sheet material is alignable in relation to the illuminated surface for cutting in the illuminated cutting system, and wherein at least a portion of the material guide comprises a light guide including a reflective surface, the reflective surface configured to direct light emanating from the illuminating assembly to the illuminated surface.