Method for marking or cutting a material along predetermined paths

A plotting or cutting apparatus for plotting or cutting along predetermined paths on material with a tool wherein the apparatus comprises:

• a. a working surface on which the material is disposed and including a predetermined working zone;
• b. a first control circuit for co controlling the movement of the tool in two directions within the predetermined working zone;
• c. a second control circuit for intermittently advancing the material through the working zone from an upstream end of the working zone to a downstream end of the working zone;
• wherein the second control circuit advances the material for a distance that is less than the length of the working zone as measured in the direction of the advance of the material and the first control circuit controls the travel of the tool while the material is advancing so that the tool travels along at least a part of one or more paths located in a portion of the material which is in the working zone prior to advancing the material an d which remains in the working zone after advancing the material and wherein the first control circuit constrains the operation of the tool to a working window having a length in the direction of the advance of the material, which length is less than the length of the working zone and wherein the working window shifts toward the upstream end of the working zone, after at least a portion of the paths lying within the working window have been traveled, so that the working window is positioned to cover at least each path or path portion that has not vet been traveled within the working zone.