Information about RDS performance with VTube-LASER

• Back to VTube-LASER

ROMER RDS (ROMER Device Software) is a software system that interconnects software like VTube-LASER to any HEXAGON measuring device that uses the RDS software.

See this page for details all the different arms that RDS can connect VTube-LASER to: RDS Versions for ROMER Scanners

The newer ROMER scanners communicate with the computer using:

1. A TCP/IP connection using an Ethernet cable is used to give feedback from the SCANNER.
   
   
2. A power cable
   
   

You will need one open Ethernet port and one open USB port for the ROMER arm connection.

The older ROMER scanners communicate using:

1. A TCP/IP connection using an Ethernet cable is used to give feedback from the SCANNER.
   
   
2. A USB cable connection is used to send the ball probe position.
   
   
3. A power cable
   
   

You will need one open Ethernet port and one open USB port for the ROMER arm connection.

7-Series Arm Feature Pack

This is the ROMER Scanning Pack that is attached to the back base of the 7-series arms. It includes ports for power, USB, and Ethernet.

If you are using a laser scanner, then the Ethernet cable must be connected and setup with the proper IP address.

8-Series Arm Control Pack

This is the HEXAGON Absolute Arm Control Pack that is attached to the back base of the 8-series arms. It includes ports for power, USB, and Ethernet.

If you are using a laser scanner, then the Ethernet cable must be connected. These control packs will automatically serve an IP address to your computer.

CP-Series Arm Control Pack

This is the HEXAGON Absolute Arm Control Pack that is attached to the back base of the 8-series arms. It includes ports for power and Ethernet.

There is no USB port in the CP-series of control packs. Only an Ethernet cable must be connected. These control packs will automatically serve an IP address to your computer.

The newer HEXAGON Absolute Arm control packs can automatically serve an IP address to the computer using DHCP.

With RDS version 4, we experienced some cases where the DHCP service from RDS to the arm stops all internet browsing through other NIC ports. The way to overcome this is to discover what IP address the ROMER arm prefers for the computer, then FIX the IP to that address.

On our test computers the ROMER-preferred address is 19.168.178.11.

RDS versions 5 and 6 do not need the IP v4 address to be set. Leave it blank in the Network adapter setup.

For customers with active Software Maintenance Plans, if you need help with this, then please contact us and we will be happy to help you set this up.

Right click on the R icon in the System Tray. If it is not in the menu on the bottom right, then left click on "Show Hidden Icons" button in the System Tool Tray. Then right click on the R icon in that menu.

This is how we recommend that you setup the RSx menu in the RDS Control Panel for VTube-LASER.

Click on the RSx menu button on the left to see these settings.

• Capture mode: Keep button pressed
  
  
• Sound guide: Unchecked (OFF)
  
  
• Point Sampling: 25% (or the lowest available)
  
  
• Behavior when press the left and right buttons: Switch exposure mode
  
  
• Exposure mode: Automatic
  
  

To change any of these settings, you will need to change users from Standard mode to Advanced mode. Click on the Standard user button on the upper right corner, then change to Advanced mode by entering the password. The default password is "Advanced".

If you want to, you can save a custom profile (setup) as something like "VTube-LASER".

It is important to disable the Remote Mouse. Remote Mouse allows the arm to act as a mouse - which we do not recommend unless you know that you want to use the arm as a mouse and you know how it works.

When you make changes, RDS will allow you to save the RDS setup changes with a visible SAVE button on the bottom right corner. Click this button before you exit ("Quit") the Control Panel.

Click the Quit button to close the Control Panel.

Left click on "Show Hidden Icons" button in the System Tool Tray.

This is how we recommend that you setup the RSx menu in the RDS Control Panel for VTube-LASER.

Click on the RSx menu button on the left to see these settings.

• Capture mode: Keep button pressed
  
  
• Sound guide: Unchecked (OFF)
  
  
• Point Sampling: 25% (or the lowest available)
  
  
• Behavior when press the left and right buttons: Switch exposure mode
  
  
• Exposure mode: Automatic
  
  

To change any of these settings, you will need to change users from Standard mode to Advanced mode. Click on the Standard user button on the upper right corner, then change to Advanced mode by entering the password. The default password is "Advanced".

If you want to, you can save a custom profile (setup) as something like "VTube-LASER".

We recommend that you turn the ROMER sound off in General parameters.

All ball probe systems on devices that run through RDS are compatible with VTube-LASER. (VTube-LASER can use the LASER or the ball probe.)

VTube-LASER works well with systems that only have ball probes. A few of our customers prefer to use only ball probes.

• RDS 5 works well and is required for the HEXAGON 8-series arms.
  
  
• RDS 4.2.1 and newer work well for the 7-series arms. Version 4.2.2 and newer has anti-outlier (anti-flyer) algorithms for highly reflective surfaces.
  
  

Download the latest tested ROMER RDS driver from this page: Advanced Tubular ROMER Driver Support Page.

Left click on the System Tray icon.

Right click on the measuring center icon.

Left click on About.

The RDS About window will display.

When idling, the RDS service requires only 1 to 5 percent of the CPU usage.

When scanning, RDS can take up to 20% of the CPU usage.

It is very important that other processes are not causing the CPU usage to rise to 100%. If you have other services that send the CPU over 50%, you may experience less than ideal scanning responses.

You can watch the CPU usage in the Windows Task Manager.

In Windows 10, to display the Task Manager, right click on the task bar at the bottom of the Windows desktop and choose "Task Manager" from the popup menu.