Abstract: The slicing machine has a mounting table carrying the workpiece to be sliced by the cutting blade. The mounting table is supported on an elastically deformable measuring plate of which the deformation is measured by a measuring transducer in a position as near as possible to the plane of the cutting blade wherein the cutting force is acting. The measuring transducer has very high sensitivity in order to detect deformations in the order of fractions of a .mu.m and is thus able to properly detect the value of the cutting force. The measuring system is spaced from the cutting blade and workpiece and does not hinder manipulation and accurate fine adjustment of the workpiece. On the other hand the accuracy of the measurement does not depend on the manner in which the workpiece is mounted. Preferably deflection of the cutting blade from its plane under the influence of the cutting force is also detected and an optimum control and supervision of the cutting process may be effected based on both measurements.