A cutting machine, particularly for leather and similar materials, comprising a cutting area provided with one or more cutting heads and with an area for unloading the cut parts, the areas being arranged along a conveyor belt, material detection means being provided in order to detect the position of the material before cutting it, the machine further comprising a detection area, arranged upstream of the cutting area, the material detection means being arranged in the detection area in order to detect the position of references provided on the material to be cut.