Connecting Romer Digitizers

 

RevWorks is completely compatible with the entire family of Romer articulated arm digitizers. Before connecting a Romer digitizer, the device must be properly secured for use. There are a variety of mechanisms available for securing your Romer arms for work. For specific instructions on how to properly mount your Romer device and attach probes, refer to your Romer hardware documentation.

The cabling for USB and serial interface versions of Romer arms are identical except for the actual port connector. So the procedures below apply to devices using either communications protocol. Some older Romer devices may have cables and connectors that are different than described in this procedure. Refer to your Romer manuals for explicit instructions on how to connect Romer devices to your computer.

Before connecting a Rome digitizer for the first time, please make sure that RevWorks and WinRDS 3.0 or later have been properly installed before connecting your digitizer.

First-Time Connection of Romer USB Digitizers

If you are using a Romer device with a USB interface you must install WinRDS before you connect the digitizer for the first time. The first time you connect the device to the USB port the Found New Hardware Wizard automatically starts. Follow the instructions presented, making sure that you choose to let the Wizard automatically find and install the proper USB drivers. Once you have finished the wizard, the Romer USB interface is installed and ready to use with RevWorks. You do not need to install any additional drivers to make use of Romer digitizers that use serial device communications.

To Connect a Romer Digitizer

1. Mount your Romer digitizer to the work surface or support tripod.

2. Attach the desired probe tip.

3. Using the custom cable that combines power supply and communications cables that came with the digitizer, connect the round combination adapter present on one end of the cable to the Romer controller box.

	Note: When connecting the power/communications cable, make sure to line up the red dots on the ends of the connector to the corresponding red dots on the receptacle located on the device controller.
	Note: For all late model Romer devices, the controller box is an integral component of the digitizer base. On older models, the controller box may be a separate component.

4. Connect the USB/serial connector on the other end of the combination cable to the appropriate communications port on the back of your computer.

Note: If using serial communications, make note of the communications port to which you connect your digitizer. You may need it when you configure the digitizer in RevWorks.

5. Connect the power cable to the remaining round power receptacle on the combination cable.

6. Attach the Romer hardware key to the parallel port of your computer if you are using WinRDS version 2.3.4 or earlier.

Your Romer digitizer is now ready to configure.

	Warning: You must have Romer’s WinRDS software loaded on your computer for RevWorks to be able to communicate with the arm.
	Note: WinRDS version 3.0 or later is required for USB communications.
	Note: WinRDS version 2.3.4 and earlier require a Romer hardware key in order to use RevWorks. Later versions do not require a hardware key unless you wish to use specific software provided by Romer.