Wire separating method and system

A method of separating wires (102) from a wire bundle (104) includes positioning a cable (106) with a wire bundle at a wire separating area (110), positioning a gas nozzle (140) at the wire separating area, and directing gas flow at the wire bundle to separate the wires from the wire bundle. A wire separating system (100) is used to separate wires and including a cable holder (112) having a fixture (130) holding a cable with a wire bundle extending into a wire separating area. The system includes a gas nozzle at the wire separating area that directs gas flow into the wire separating area at the wire bundle. The gas flow separates individual wires from the wire bundle. A wire gripper (150) is provided at the wire separating area. The wire gripper grasps the separated wire from the wire bundle.