VTube-LASER ROMER RDS Performance Recommendations

• Back to VTube-LASER
• See also RDS Versions for ROMER Scanners

About HEXAGON RDS (ROMER Device Software)

HEXAGON RDS (from "ROMER Data Service") is a software system that connects software like VTube-LASER to any HEXAGON measuring device that uses the RDS. See this page for details all the different arms that RDS can connect VTube-LASER to: RDS Versions for ROMER Scanners

NEWER ARMS: Two Cables Per ROMER Arm

The newer ROMER scanners communicate with the computer using: A TCP/IP connection using an Ethernet cable is used to give feedback from the SCANNER. A power cable You will need one open Ethernet port and one open USB port for the ROMER arm connection.

OLDER ARMS: Three Cables Per ROMER Arm

The older ROMER scanners communicate using: A TCP/IP connection using an Ethernet cable is used to give feedback from the SCANNER. A USB cable connection is used to send the ball probe position. A power cable You will need one open Ethernet port and one open USB port for the ROMER arm connection.

Arm Feature Packs or Control Packs

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.

Recommended RDS Computer IP (Network) Setup - REQUIRED FOR LASER SCANNERS ONLY

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.

HEXAGON RDS 6 Section

How to Configure the RDS VERSION 6.2 Control Panel

Comment	Image
Left click on the up arrow in the system tool tray.
Left click on gear.
Click on Connection
Check the instrument type. Check to see that an IP address was served to the Ethernet port connected to the arm. Check the link type. If you have any questions about these settings, please contact [email protected]
Click the RSx button. This button only appears if the laser scanner is switched on and connected.
Change to Advanced mode. This mode lets you edit the settings in this menu.
For the RS5 scanner (not shown here), set all the values like you see here, then "Save As" in step 4 to save the "Scanning profile" - which means you are saving the scanning configuration. For the RS6 or the AS1 scanner, reduce the Point sampling to as low as it can go (50%), then set the Exposure mode to SHINE. Also, do not reduce the angle of incidence value - or RDS will not allow you to scan around the edges of tube shapes.
Change to the Advanced settings menu. Unless you know you want this feature, disable the remote mouse.
Press save.
Press quit.

HEXAGON RDS 5 Section

How to Configure the RDS VERSION 5 Control Panel

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.
Left click on the Control Panel icon in the menu that pops up.
You may also see a menu like this one if you click on the R inside the right click menu. Click on the Control Panel icon in the popup menu.
Select any Control Panel menu with the buttons on the left to show different menus on the right.

Recommended RDS Version 5 Control Panel Setup

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.

HEXAGON RDS 4 Section

How to Enter the RDS VERSION 4 Control Panel

Left click on "Show Hidden Icons" button in the System Tool Tray.
Right click on the measuring center icon.
Left click on the RDS Control Panel in the popup menu.
Select any Control Panel menu with the buttons on the left.

Recommended RDS Version 4 Control Panel Setup

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.

ROMER Ball Probe Support

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.

ROMER Driver Downloads

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.

How to Determine Your Current RDS 4.X Version

Left click on the System Tray icon.
Right click on the measuring center icon.
Left click on About.
The RDS About window will display.

RDS Performance Notes

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.

Other Pages

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