Abstract: A cutting apparatus for cutting a material, such as leather, having a drum, a plurality of rollers, a cutter and a pair of belts. The drum includes a drum surfaces and rotates about an axis. The cutter has a cutting edge that is in contact with the drum surface and is oriented generally perpendicular to the axis. The rollers are arranged generally parallel to the axis and support the belts for rotation thereon. Each of the belts is disposed on an opposite side of the cutting edge and is positioned such that a portion of each belt extends about a corresponding portion of the drum surface forward of the cutting edge. The portion of the belts and the portion of the drum surface are positioned to frictionally co-engage the material and drive the material into contact with the cutting edge.