Cutters

Cutters is a term that can refer to any device or tool designed to cut or separate material. The word is used across many fields, from hand tools and machine tools to advanced manufacturing equipment and sailing vessels. Its exact meaning depends on the context.

In hand tools, cutters include wire cutters and diagonal pliers for wires, bolt cutters for metal stock, tile cutters for ceramic tiles, glass cutters for scoring glass, and pizza cutters for food. Many cutters rely on hardened steel, sharp edges, and carefully shaped jaws to make clean cuts.

In machining, cutters are cutting tools mounted on machines such as lathes and milling machines. Milling cutters (end mills, face mills) and turning tools remove material by shearing it away. They may be solid or use indexable inserts, and their performance depends on geometry, material (HSS, carbide), and coatings.

Advanced processes use powered cutters that do not rely on a simple edge. Water-jet cutters use high-pressure water with abrasives to slice materials; laser cutters burn through with a focused beam; plasma cutters use ionized gas to melt metal. These cutters enable fast, precise cuts in complex shapes.

Finally, a cutter is also a historical term for a sailing vessel. A cutter is a small or medium, single-masted ship with a fore-and-aft rig and usually two or more sails. Cutters were widely used for coastal defense, patrol, and cargo work, valued for speed and maneuverability.