This　paper　proposed　an　experimental　method　to　investigate　the　rock　cutting　process　of　TBM　gage　cutters　based　on　the　full-scale　rotary　cutting　machine　(RCM).　The　key　point　of　this　method　is　to　reconstruct　the　RCM　by　inserting　three　wedges　with　angles　of　10　degrees,　20　degrees　and　30　degrees　respectively　into　the　space　between　the　cutter　base　and　cutter　box.　As　a　result,　the　rock　cutting　process　of　gage　cutters　with　tilt　angles　of　10　degrees,　20　degrees　and　30　degrees　can　be　proceed.　Using　this　method,　rock　cutting　experiments　were　conducted　with　penetrations　of　2　mm,　4　mm,　6　mm　and　8　mm　respectively.　The　testing　results　were　analysed　on　the　rock　cutting　force,　rock　debris　dimension,　specific　energy　and　cutting　surface　profile,　and　it　was　found　that:　(1)　the　cutting　forces　and　specific　energy　of　the　gage　cutter　were　lower　than　those　of　the　normal　cutter　respectively;　and　(2)　the　depth　of　the　rock　broken　zone　was　smaller　than　the　cutting　depth.　The　testing　results　can　also　be　used　to　validate　corresponding　numerical　models　and　design　the　layout　of　gage　cutters.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.