A cutting machine has a cutting support for material to be cut, with a vertically movable blade bar which bears a blade for cutting the cut material located thereon. A cutting drive is for vertically moving the blade bar. A blade depth adjustment is for vertically adjusting the blade bar relative to a vertically movable drive element of the cutting drive. The blade depth adjustment includes a deflection lever which is pivotably mounted about a horizontal axis on the blade bar. The drive element can be articulated thereon at a first radial distance to the horizontal axis. An adjusting mechanism may act on the deflection lever at a second radial distance to the horizontal axis, for rotating and fixing the deflection lever.