裁断(さいだん)機(き)

さいだんき
noun
cutting machine; paper cutter; trimmer
tool
1. cutting machine; paper cutter
A machine for cutting paper, cloth, or similar material cleanly and to a fixed size. It is common in offices, print shops, and tailoring.
裁断(さいだん)機(き)で紙(かみ)を切(き)る。
I cut paper with a cutting machine.
この裁断(さいだん)機(き)は厚(あつ)い布(ぬの)も切(き)れる。
This cutting machine can cut thick cloth too.
To scan the book myself, I cut off the spine with a paper cutter.

Composed of 裁断(さいだん) (cutting to size) + 機(き) (machine). Used for machines that cut paper, fabric, or sheet material.

Usage

  • 裁断(さいだん)機(き)で切(き)る: to cut with a cutting machine
  • 紙(かみ)裁断(さいだん)機(き): paper cutter

Widely associated with 自炊(じすい) — scanning one's own books into digital form — where a 裁断(さいだん)機(き) is used to slice off the binding before pages are fed through a scanner.