Cuttern

Cuttern is a term used to describe a modular cutting tool system designed to perform precision material separation across a range of craft and manufacturing contexts. It encompasses handheld and benchtop devices that support interchangeable blade modules for straight, angled, and contour cuts, enabling rapid reconfiguration for different materials such as fabric, plastic sheets, wood, and thin metal foils.

Design and operation: A Cuttern system typically comprises a handle, a blade carriage, an adjustable base, and a blade cassette that can be swapped without tools. Blades include scoring blades, utility blades, fine-tooth saw blades, and hot-wire cutting elements for foam. Drive methods vary from manual cranking to electric or pneumatic actuation, with safety interlocks and dust or debris containment in industrial variants.

History and usage: The term emerged in maker and design communities to describe the concept of a single tool serving multiple cutting tasks. It is used by hobbyists, designers, and some small manufacturers who value modularity and reduced tool inventory. In professional settings, similar concepts are marketed under product lines with different branding.

Variants and scope: Subsystems are sometimes labeled as Cuttern-Textile, Cuttern-Sheet, or Cuttern-Fiber, reflecting primary material families. Accessories may include ruler guides, laser alignment, and vacuum supports.