A wire processing machine , comprising: at least one blade configured for at least one of cutting a conductor or at least piercing an insulation layer on the conductor , the at least one blade 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 ; 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 configured for at least one of cutting a conductor or at least piercing an insulation layer on the conductor , the at least one blade 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 ; 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 ; 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 . <EOS>