Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting machine, in particular a tread cutting machine, having at least one cutting blade (8) linearly traversable on a blade carriage (1) for achieving a feed movement and rotationally driven by a motor (2), the motor (2) for the drive of the cutting blade (8) being arranged outside the blade carriage (1), and a torque-transmission means, which comprises a means for transmitting tensile forces, being provided between the motor (2) and the cutting blade (8), and that part of the torque-transmission means which is traversable with the blade carriage (1) having a markedly lower mass than the motor (2). In this case, the motor (2) is provided with a device which is designed as a closed-loop control or an open-loop control and is intended for keeping the rotational speed of the cutting blade (8) at least approximately constant during a feed movement of the cutting blade (8).