PURPOSE: To provide an engraving machine with a detecting device for the reference plane of a workpiece and its engraving method by which contact between a conductive body formed on the surface of a printed wiring substrate or a wiring substrate and a cutter can be detected through electric continuity, and engraving work can be carried out on the basis of a contact position between the cutter and the above surface or conductive body.

CONSTITUTION: An engraving machine in which an engraving cutter 1 held by a cutter holder 2 is lowered to be brought into contact with a workpiece 3 for cutting a workpiece 3 is composed of a vertical adjusting means 4 for carrying out the ascending and descending adjustment of the engraving cutter; a contact detecting means 5 for detecting contact between a conductive body formed on the workpiece surface or in the workpiece and the cutter 1; and a control means 6 for controlling a fixed engraving motion on a detection signal sent from the contact detecting means 5.