cuttable

Cuttable is an adjective used to describe materials, components, or designs that can be cut using standard cutting operations. It is commonly used in manufacturing, crafts, textiles, and materials science to indicate suitability for cutting with tools such as scissors, rotary blades, dies, laser cutters, or waterjets. The term does not specify the tool or process, only that the material is capable of being separated or shaped by cutting.

Cuttability depends on material properties (hardness, toughness, brittleness), thickness, moisture content, and edge quality requirements, as well as cutting method and tooling. For example, fabrics described as cuttable are suitable for manual scissors or machine cutters; vinyl sheets labeled cuttable are intended for plotter or laser-cutting; wood and plastics require appropriate blades and feed speeds to minimize chipping or burning.

In product design and manufacturing, describing a material as cuttable helps planners assess feasibility, choose cutting processes, estimate waste, and select finishing steps. In crafts and DIY, cuttable materials and media include textiles, vinyl, paper, cardboard, foam board, and thin plastics.

Note that cuttability is not a universal standard and may vary with equipment, tolerances, and quality requirements. When precision is critical, manufacturers provide cutting recommendations such as blade type, cutting speed, and may specify compatible tools.

In summary, cuttable denotes the ability of a material or design to be cut without prohibitive difficulty, enabling planning for fabrication, assembly, and finishing.