A coated abrasive article maker apparatus comprising: a first web path comprising an abrasive particle transfer roll and a production tool, the production tool comprising a carrier member having a dispensing surface and a back surface opposite the dispensing surface, wherein the dispensing surface of the carrier member comprises a precisely-replicated web or tooling comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein that are complementary in shape and size to the size of abrasive particles to be coated, wherein, on a respective basis, each of the cavities extends into the carrier member from a first opening at the dispensing surface to a second end proximate the back surface, wherein the second end is smaller than the first opening, the first web path being configured to guide the production tool through the coated abrasive article maker apparatus such that it wraps a portion of an outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll; a second web path for a resin coated backing, the resin coated backing comprising a resin layer, the second web path configured to guide the resin coated backing through the coated abrasive article maker apparatus with the resin layer positioned facing the dispensing surface and the production tool positioned between the resin coated backing and the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll; and an abrasive particle feeder, positioned prior to the abrasive particle transfer roll in the direction of travel of the production tool along the first web path, the abrasive particle feeder configured to dispense abrasive particles onto the dispensing surface and into the plurality of cavities such that the abrasive particles are removably disposed within the cavities of the production tool; and wherein the coated abrasive article maker apparatus is configured to transfer abrasive particles from the plurality of cavities to the resin layer of the resin coated backing when the production tool is positioned between the resin coated backing and the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll. a first web path comprising an abrasive particle transfer roll and a production tool, the production tool comprising a carrier member having a dispensing surface and a back surface opposite the dispensing surface, wherein the dispensing surface of the carrier member comprises a precisely-replicated web or tooling comprising a plurality of cavities formed therein that are complementary in shape and size to the size of abrasive particles to be coated, wherein, on a respective basis, each of the cavities extends into the carrier member from a first opening at the dispensing surface to a second end proximate the back surface, wherein the second end is smaller than the first opening, the first web path being configured to guide the production tool through the coated abrasive article maker apparatus such that it wraps a portion of an outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll; a second web path for a resin coated backing, the resin coated backing comprising a resin layer, the second web path configured to guide the resin coated backing through the coated abrasive article maker apparatus with the resin layer positioned facing the dispensing surface and the production tool positioned between the resin coated backing and the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll; and an abrasive particle feeder, positioned prior to the abrasive particle transfer roll in the direction of travel of the production tool along the first web path, the abrasive particle feeder configured to dispense abrasive particles onto the dispensing surface and into the plurality of cavities such that the abrasive particles are removably disposed within the cavities of the production tool; and wherein the coated abrasive article maker apparatus is configured to transfer abrasive particles from the plurality of cavities to the resin layer of the resin coated backing when the production tool is positioned between the resin coated backing and the outer circumference of the abrasive particle transfer roll.