Expanded metal machine includes a fixed blade, a displaceable blade, displaceable in a vertical and a transverse direction and which has a cutting edge with cutting projections interspaced in the transverse direction. Conveying device for conveying a flat material in a direction of conveyance between the blades. Ram for effecting a periodic vertical movement of displaceable blade, and a transverse displacing device for effecting a transverse displacement of displaceable blade that is synchronized with reciprocating motion. To enable a precise fine adjustment of the cutting gap, fixed blade is held in a fixed one-piece or multiple piece blade holding fixture vertically adjustable by a depth of cut adjusting device for adjusting a vertical depth of cut between the blades. Depth of cut adjusting device has at least two oppositely tapering wedges, displaceable in a coupled manner and having parallel sloped surfaces held in blade holding fixture in a sliding manner.