Tooling sensing and calibration apparatus and method

A method to verify that proper tooling has been installed in a cable preparation apparatus prior to running the cable preparation apparatus with a cable inserted therein, the method comprising:

• inserting a reference device between braid cutting wheels and insulation cutting blades of the cable preparation device;
• moving the braid cutting wheels inward toward the reference device until the braid cutting wheels engage the reference device;
• monitoring the current needed to move the braid cutting wheels to determine when the braid cutting wheels engage the reference device;
• moving the insulation cutting blades inward toward the reference device until the insulation cutting blades engage the reference device;
• monitoring the current needed to move the insulation cutting blades to determine when the insulation cutting blades engage the reference device;
• collecting data to determine when the blades engage the reference device;
• and
• comparing the collected data of the blades to an expected range of data of the reference device to verify that the proper tooling has been installed in the cable preparation apparatus.