Abstract: A cutting system for slab goods is disclosed. The system has three stations operating under computer interface control. In a first station, slab goods, such as synthetic shoe bottom materials and the like, are sequentially loaded for purposes of measurement. At the measuring station, the material is loaded on a slab-by-slab basis, and for each slab of material, a series of measurements are made to determine the largest permissible rectangle for that irregular piece of material. The dimensions are fed to a marker-making system, which, in real time, determines the average of usable material taken from the measurements of all the stacked slabs. A cutting marker is then generated by the marker-making system. The slabs are then moved into the cutting area, utilizing a belt drive upon which the slabs rest in the measurement station. Cutting commences at the cutting station, utilizing a cutting tool mounted on a carriage which traverses that station. A variable hold-down system accommodates different size slabs.