Abstract: A compound curvature workpiece is secured in a fixture and scanned to detect position variations by an optical camera carried by a manipulator head. The manipulator head is driven in the X, and Y direction and includes an annular piston for movement in the Z direction. The manipulator head has a spherical bearing adjacent the workpiece which cooperates with .alpha., and .beta. angle drives to position the camera or tools perpendicular to the workpiece. Position variations detected by the scan camera are utilized to provide accurate coordinates for a tool, such as a drill, which is substitute for the camera after scanning is complete.The present invention relates to the field of machine tool assemblies, and more particularly, to the manipulation of tools for operating on workpieces having compound curvature surfaces, such as aircraft structures.