Abstract: A system which broadly comprises: (a) an NC machine having at least one machining tool; (b) a smart image acquisition device that measures at least one characteristic of the machining tool to generate acquired data from the measured machining tool; (c) optionally a machining tool program that uses the acquired data to control the operational use of the measured machining tool by the NC machine or to determine the operational condition of the measured machining tool or the NC machine. Also disclosed is a method which broadly comprises the following steps: (a) providing a machining tool from an NC machining operation; (b) measuring at least one characteristic of the machining tool with a smart image acquisition device to generate acquired data from the measured machining tool; (c) optionally using the acquired data to control the operational use of the measured machining tool by the NC machining operation or to determine the operational condition of measured machining tool or NC machine.