To adapt a punch press to cut work blanks, a cutting mechanism having a freely rotating cutting wheel (72) is provided to a first support of the punch press while a corresponding die (62) having a groove for mating with the cutting wheel is provided to a second support of the punch press. To operate, the cutting wheel (72) is moved toward the die a given distance such that the cutting edge of the cutting wheel (72) slidably mates with the cutting edge (74a, 78a) of the groove of the die to effect cutting of the workpiece. By synchronously rotating both the cutting wheel (72) and the die (62) to different orientations while maintaining their respective cutting edges aligned and in sliding contact with each other, and by moving a worksheet relative to the cutter wheel (72) and die (62), a multidirectional path may be effected on the worksheet.