Abstract: A digitally controlled machine for bending, forming, folding or coiling a bar conventionally includes a frame, and a rotary bending tool for producing bends in different planes. A bar is moved along an axis and is brought through a bending snout associated with the frame, and then through a bending tool which is movable relative to the axis by a motor-driven turner. The bending tool is received by a standard conical tool support, and the turner is combined with means for automatically clamping and unclamping the jaws of a gripper associated with the turner. The jaws of the gripper are automatically unclamped when the turner reaches the end of its axial stroke, away from the bending station, and are automatically clamped when the turner begins its axial movement in the opposite direction, toward the bending station.