This is the permanent number that PC-DMIS assigns to a tip when it is loaded into memory.

This field displays the rotation of the tip in the vertical (A) and horizontal (B) direction

This field displays the probe type (BALL, DISK, TAPER, SHANK, OPTICAL).

These values describe the location of the tip. This location is in relation to the bottom of the Z rail.

These values describe the direction of the probe tip. This vector goes from the center of the probe tip towards the Z rail.

These values describe the diameter of the tip and the thickness of SHANK and DISK probes. PC-DMIS defines these values when the probe is loaded. (To change a field see "Edit Tool".)

These boxes indicate the most recent date and time the probe tip was calibrated. If a new tip is created without being calibrated, PC-DMIS will display "NEW" for the date and time values. If an old probe tip is loaded and the date and time information is unavailable, PC-DMIS will display "UNKNOWN" for the values. Only probe tips that are actually calibrated have their time and date values updated.

Only one tip may be edited at a time.

An asterisk (*) to the left of the tip identifies any noncalibrated tips.

### Active Tip List

PC-DMIS allows you to store data describing a large number of probe tips. This data includes the probe tip's ID, rotation, type, location, direction, diameter and thickness, date and time of calibration, and any noncalibrated tips. These are all stored inside the Active Tip List.

Active Tip List

There can be as many as 32767 probe tips stored. This number may be limited by the amount of disk space available on your system.

PC-DMIS describes a probe according to the following criteria:

| 1. TIP ID# 2. Tip Rotation 3. Tip Type 4. X,Y,Z Location 5. I,J,K Direction

6. Diameter and Thickness

7. Date and Time

* (asterisk) - Noncalibrated Tip

Tip List Description

Adding Tips to the List

You can define new tips, adding them to the list, by using the Add Angles button. See the "Add Angles" topic.

Editing Tip Data

1. Highlight the desired active tip in the Active Tip List.

2. Press the Edit button.

An Edit dialog box will appear, allowing you to change the displayed values.

Note: noncalibrated tips have an asterisk before their Tip ID # in the Active Tip List.

Setting the Calibration Order

The calibration order is determined by the order in which the tips are chosen from the list box.

To set the calibration order:

1. Select the User Defined option in the Measure Probe dialog box (See the "Measure" topic).

2. Hold down the CTRL key.

3. With your left mouse button, select the tips from the Active Tip List for calibration. A number representing the index of the tip measurement order appears next to each Tip ID as it is selected.

If no tips are chosen, PC-DMIS will ask you if you want to measure all tips.

Selecting a Tip to Use

You can define a specific probe tip to use in your part program in these ways:

- Typing TIP in the Edit window's Command mode and pressing TAB.

- Selecting the probe tip from the list on the Settings toolbar.

The Edit window command line for a sample tip would read:
TIP/T1A0B0, SHANKIJK=0, 0, 1, ANGLE=0

Until PC-DMIS encounters another TIP command in the program flow, it will use that tip.