Abstract: A tool for gripping ophthalmic lenses including a vacuum gripper, a shaft associated with said vacuum gripper, the shaft having two ends and being slidably attached at one end thereof to a support structure, a resilient member which biases the vacuum gripper in a direction away from said support structure and a locking member which locks the shaft in a desired position during a lens gripping operation. Another embodiment of the present invention includes a lens hold down mechanism for holding lenses in a lens tray. Another embodiment of the present invention includes an electronic communications scheme for a robotic manufacturing operation. Another embodiment of the present invention includes an ophthalmic lens manufacturing cell layout wherein ophthalmic edging machines have an opening that faces away from a robotic arm. Another embodiment of the present invention includes an arrangement for holding an ophthalmic edging machine within an ophthalmic manufacturing cell.