Abstract: The contour cutting machine comprises an endless circulating bandknife (22) which is guided around bandknife pulleys (30-34). To allow adjustment of the cutting strand (23) in the Y-direction, the bandknife (22) forms two loops (28,36) merging into each other, one (36) of these two loops serving for length compensation. The bandknife pulley (30) arranged at the transition from the second loop (36) to the first loop (28) guides the bandknife (22) therearound at a looping angle of substantially 270° so that all of the bandknife pulleys (30-34) are contacted by the same surface of the bandknife (22). The bandknife (22) will always be bent in one direction only. By thus avoiding alternating bending directions, the lifespan of the bandknife (22) is lengthened.