Heated cutter for plastics materials

A cutting apparatus for cutting soft materials such as plastic sheets, said cutting apparatus comprising at least one cutting means, a heated part, and a cooled part, the heated part and the cooled part being separated from each other by a heat insulator, means for continuously operating the cutting means at a predetermined temperature so that the plastic to be cut will be at its transition temperature from solid to liquid, the heated part comprising a heating plate of a high thermal conductivity;

• and the cooled part comprising a cooling plate of a high termal conductivity, the heating plate comprising edge portions which extend beyond the cutting means, means disposed adjacent the edge portions of the heating plate for heating the edge portions of the heating plate, the cooling plate comprising edge portions which extend beyond the cutting means and means disposed adjacent the edge portions of the cooling plate for cooling the edge portions of the cooling plate, said heated part being connected to said cutting means by heat conductive means, said cooling part being disposed between said heated part and a ram, adapted to actuate said cutting part, to protect said ram from heat.