All steel interlocked construction improves reliability by eliminating stresses inherent with welded joints. Clevis mounted "swivel bearings" allows unrestricted movement of cylinders and eliminates oil leakage caused by binding or twisting. Twin precision lead screws are mounted in a heavy duty steel frame to maintain precise backgage alignment. Shock absorbing springs further protect position accuracy and compensate for material impact against the gage surface. The backgage is easily set parallel to the lower knife by micrometer adjusting nuts at the end of the guides. Electronically variable cut length results in fast stroking speeds. Machine cycling is initiated using a convenient footswitch. Quick response-time valves with microprocessor control are key reasons for faster processing and higher productivity. Unique knife removal fixture reduces knife rotation or changing time by 40 percent with less physical effort. Low profile, modern, compact design enables operator to maintain complete control of material whether processing thick or thin, narrow or wide sheets.