Dealing with an RDS head

[[Me...]]

This forum has been such a big help to me.
I'd like to ask for your take on this one thing. That is the RDS head.
How do you deal with it rotating around your part?
I've got a couple of parts where I'd like more control over stylus change.
The last feature was checked at 0/90 and the next feature will also be checked at 0/90.
So it heads for the tool rack at 0/90, rotates to tool change, comes out and rotates back to the 0/90 to measure.
I'm sure this is possible but can I place in a motion to have the probe down before going to the rack then move away from the rack then do the 0/90 for the next feature?
Thanks in advance.

[[Te...]]

You could probably use move points (CMM position without probing). You can change the active stylus (rotations) for each of the move points I believe. Sometime a better solution is to add a swivel position to the program where all the rotations take place at a known location on the CMM.

Swivel Positition and end park.JPG

[[To...]]

Here's something I like to do. In the approach parameters of each holder position, I put 999 in the Z field for both Before and After change. So, the RDS will go all the way up to the Z limit and then move to the holder. Then, it will index to A90 B0. Go down to the holder, drop off the tool. Pick up the next tool, then go all the way to Z limit. So, if you forget about what angle it's in when it goes back, no worries as it won't hit anything when it indexes to A90 B0. A little extra travel but pretty much error proof. Oh gosh. I hope nobody proves me wrong....LOL

[[Te...]]

Good way to do the Z, just remember to adjust the approach direction for longer stylus systems (100 mm or longer)

[[Me...]]

Ted, I do use that but if my last measurement is in any configuration other than 0/0 it's going to go to the change position in that rotated position. I also do use the swivel position and the CNC park position for all my programs. The MK icon particularly.
Where did you get that attachment from? Maybe it's in one of the booklets I've got.
Tom, I don't go all the way up but I do have the approach parameters, (before/after) set back far enough that they clear all positions with all probes.
Another fluke this does is that if I'm using a swivel position and there is a tool change in the program,provided that the swivel position is in a different than the park position, the head dives to the swivel position then goes to the rack to change for the 1st probe.
So probe #2 is in the head at the park position.
The park position is 200mm back and 200mm above the part.
The swivel position is 50mm above the part and center.
Start the program.
The head dives down to the swivel position,(scary).
Then lifts up to change to probe #1.
this is normal??

[[Te...]]

That attachment is from the Fast Start Guide we created to give customers at training.

[[To...]]

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Yes, that is true. Or, use the lower tier of the probe rack for the longer probes. I think the combination of both Z and approach direction is not a bad idea overall. Approach direction by itself, can bring your stylus too far into the working area.