A wire processing machine, comprising: at least one blade (56, 60) configured for at least one of cutting a conductor or at least piercing an insulation layer on the conductor, the at least one blade (56, 60) comprises a cutting blade and a stripping blade; at least one gripper assembly including: a generator that is configured to radiate a field toward the conductor, a detector that is configured to detect at least some of the field propagated along the conductor, and at least one gripper configured to at least temporarily grasp a portion of a wire including the conductor during a wire processing operation, and a processor configured to provide an output that is indicative of the propagated field detected by the detector, the processor being configured to determine when a decrease in the field propagated along the conductor and detected by the detector indicates contact between the conductor and the at least one blade (56, 60); wherein the output is indicative of desired contact between the conductor and the cutting blade when the conductor is intentionally cut by the cutting blade; and wherein the output is indicative of undesired contact between the conductor and the stripping blade when the conductor is contacted by the stripping blade; characterized in that the at least one gripper operates as at least one of the generator and the detector. at least one blade (56, 60) configured for at least one of cutting a conductor or at least piercing an insulation layer on the conductor, the at least one blade (56, 60) comprises a cutting blade and a stripping blade; at least one gripper assembly including: a generator that is configured to radiate a field toward the conductor, a detector that is configured to detect at least some of the field propagated along the conductor, and at least one gripper configured to at least temporarily grasp a portion of a wire including the conductor during a wire processing operation, and a processor configured to provide an output that is indicative of the propagated field detected by the detector, the processor being configured to determine when a decrease in the field propagated along the conductor and detected by the detector indicates contact between the conductor and the at least one blade (56, 60); wherein the output is indicative of desired contact between the conductor and the cutting blade when the conductor is intentionally cut by the cutting blade; and wherein the output is indicative of undesired contact between the conductor and the stripping blade when the conductor is contacted by the stripping blade; characterized in that the at least one gripper operates as at least one of the generator and the detector. a generator that is configured to radiate a field toward the conductor, a detector that is configured to detect at least some of the field propagated along the conductor, and at least one gripper configured to at least temporarily grasp a portion of a wire including the conductor during a wire processing operation, and a processor configured to provide an output that is indicative of the propagated field detected by the detector, the processor being configured to determine when a decrease in the field propagated along the conductor and detected by the detector indicates contact between the conductor and the at least one blade (56, 60); wherein the output is indicative of desired contact between the conductor and the cutting blade when the conductor is intentionally cut by the cutting blade; and wherein the output is indicative of undesired contact between the conductor and the stripping blade when the conductor is contacted by the stripping blade; characterized in that the at least one gripper operates as at least one of the generator and the detector.