It is common practice to cover a structure with sheet material for purposes of decoration, protection or reinforcement of the structure. A typical example of a decorative application is wallpaper applied to a wall or similar surface, in order to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance or a particular desired design. Another typical application utilizing sheet material relates to the construction and design of models, such as scale replicas of airplanes, boats, automobiles or other structures. Such models are usually constructed of a series of spaced apart ribs carved from balsa wood sheets that collectively define a contour such as a camber along a wing or the general shape of the body of the model. A sheet material is applied upon the network of ribs thereby forming a generally smooth continuous surface of the model as defined by the underlying balsa wood structure. The sheet material is preferably comprised of a thin film which serves to define a three dimensional shape and protect the balsa wood structure from exhaust or moisture, as well as to reinforce the balsa wood structure.
In such applications, it is highly desirable to cut the sheet material during application in a smooth, straight line. It is also usually highly desirable to cut the sheet material during application at a predetermined uniform distance from a border or edge. A uniform cut likely improves adherence of the sheet material to the structure to which it is applied, and is generally a prized aesthetic characteristic.