Abstract: An apparatus strips the surface of an element made of an electric-conducting material covered with a protective or insulating element such as a film, a sheath or similar. The apparatus includes a cutting device made of an electric-conducting material, a mechanism for applying and moving the cutting device on the protective and/or insulating element, and a detecting device made of an electric-conducting material. The cutting and detecting devices are placed side-by-side and at short distance from one another, while being electrically insulated from each other and simultaneously moved by the applying and moving mechanism of the devices on the protective and/or insulating element. The detecting device is shaped as a cutting device. A circuit applies a potential difference to the devices and detects a current conduction generated by a micro-contact between the cutting and detecting devices.