A method of operating a part cleaning machine, the method comprising: removably attaching a part to a part holder; selecting a first one of a plurality of tools for performing a desired cleaning operation; transferring the selected first one of the plurality of tools from a tool holder to a tool chuck; positioning the selected first one of the plurality of tools in a pre-defined tool cleaning position by moving a chuck holder along at least one of a Y axis and a Z axis on a tool positioning plane; positioning the part in a pre-defined part cleaning position by at least one of moving a cradle along an X axis, rotating the cradle about a first cradle axis, or rotating the part holder about a second cradle axis; and performing the desired cleaning operation on the part with the selected first one of the plurality of tools, with the part in the pre-defined part cleaning position and the selected first one of the plurality of tools in the pre-defined tool cleaning position wherein transferring the selected first one of the plurality of tools from the tool holder to the tool chuck includes: moving the chuck holder along at least one of the Y axis and the Z axis on the tool positioning plane into a pre-defined first tool transfer position; moving the tool holder along the X axis and toward the chuck holder until the tool chuck engages the selected first one of the plurality of tools, whereby the selected first one of the plurality of tools is automatically released from the tool holder; actuating a locking mechanism on the tool chuck to secure the selected first one of the plurality of tools to the tool chuck; and moving the tool holder along the X axis and away from the chuck holder. removably attaching a part to a part holder; selecting a first one of a plurality of tools for performing a desired cleaning operation; transferring the selected first one of the plurality of tools from a tool holder to a tool chuck; positioning the selected first one of the plurality of tools in a pre-defined tool cleaning position by moving a chuck holder along at least one of a Y axis and a Z axis on a tool positioning plane; positioning the part in a pre-defined part cleaning position by at least one of moving a cradle along an X axis, rotating the cradle about a first cradle axis, or rotating the part holder about a second cradle axis; and performing the desired cleaning operation on the part with the selected first one of the plurality of tools, with the part in the pre-defined part cleaning position and the selected first one of the plurality of tools in the pre-defined tool cleaning position wherein transferring the selected first one of the plurality of tools from the tool holder to the tool chuck includes: moving the chuck holder along at least one of the Y axis and the Z axis on the tool positioning plane into a pre-defined first tool transfer position; moving the tool holder along the X axis and toward the chuck holder until the tool chuck engages the selected first one of the plurality of tools, whereby the selected first one of the plurality of tools is automatically released from the tool holder; actuating a locking mechanism on the tool chuck to secure the selected first one of the plurality of tools to the tool chuck; and moving the tool holder along the X axis and away from the chuck holder. moving the chuck holder along at least one of the Y axis and the Z axis on the tool positioning plane into a pre-defined first tool transfer position; moving the tool holder along the X axis and toward the chuck holder until the tool chuck engages the selected first one of the plurality of tools, whereby the selected first one of the plurality of tools is automatically released from the tool holder; actuating a locking mechanism on the tool chuck to secure the selected first one of the plurality of tools to the tool chuck; and moving the tool holder along the X axis and away from the chuck holder.