RMP24 Probe System from Renishaw plc - compact tool setting for tight CNC spaces

Reviewed: ad hoc news Accessory & Components desk. Edited and checked on 2026-06-24, 08:27. Details in the imprint.

The RMP24 Probe System sits in a CNC spindle like a stubby metal pencil, clicking softly whenever it kisses the tool tip to check length and breakage. On a crowded machining center, that tiny probe can be the difference between smooth production and a scrapped part.

What the RMP24 actually is

Renishaw positions the RMP24 Probe System as a compact, spindle-mounted, radio-transmission touch probe for tool setting and broken-tool detection on CNC machine tools. The cylindrical body is only 24 mm in diameter, so it fits where larger probes simply do not. The official product page describes it as the smallest frequency-hopping radio spindle probe in the range.

The system pairs the probe with a radio interface, using Renishaw’s 2.4 GHz frequency-hopping spread-spectrum (FHSS) protocol to resist interference from other wireless devices in the shop. This allows reliable tool measurement in enclosed machines or where optical line-of-sight is impossible.

Designed for cramped CNC machines

Where the RMP24 stands out is size and weight. At roughly 76 mm long with the shank and only 24 mm wide, it targets small vertical machining centers and 5-axis machines with tight working envelopes. That compact profile reduces the risk of collisions with fixtures and workpieces during probing moves.

Operators often feel this immediately: there is more clearance around vices and trunnions, and fewer heart-stopping moments when the probe sweeps close to a clamp. Renishaw product manager Phil Yates has highlighted in application notes that smaller probes give programmers more freedom to probe close to the workpiece edge without redesigning fixtures.

How it works in daily use

In practice, the RMP24 is called up via macros in the CNC control, then the spindle brings the probe close to the tool tip. A gentle touch triggers an internal strain gauge, sending position data back over the radio link to calculate tool length and diameter. Renishaw’s probing solutions brochure outlines these measurement cycles for most major controls.

On shops that previously measured tools manually with feeler gauges or slips, the difference is immediate. Setup technician Maria Lopez from a Spanish aerospace supplier, quoted in a Renishaw case study, describes how automatic tool setting with radio probes cut her setup time “from an hour to a coffee break”.

Strengths, but also trade-offs

Compared with larger models like the RMP600, the RMP24 offers less stylus reach and a smaller measuring range, so it is not the choice for deep bores or very large tools. It is clearly optimized for compact machines where space and weight matter more than reach.

The radio interface and FHSS protocol add resilience but also cost and integration complexity compared with simple manual setting. Shops with only a single, open-front VMC may still prefer cheaper optical or wired probes if space is not an issue.

Where the system is available

The RMP24 Probe System is distributed globally via Renishaw subsidiaries and machine-tool dealers, with key markets in Europe, North America and Asia. It is typically sold as a package that includes the probe, radio interface, and installation kit, with pricing negotiated project by project rather than via a public list.

In Germany and wider Europe, the probe is available through Renishaw’s local sales offices and integration partners, often bundled into turnkey automation projects. Many machine builders also offer the RMP24 as a factory-fit option on compact machining centers.

Why it matters for Renishaw

For Renishaw, compact wireless probes like the RMP24 support its broader strategy of enabling more automated, lights-out machining with in-process control. Probing products form a core part of Manufacturing Technologies revenue, which reached hundreds of millions of pounds in recent financial years according to company reports.

Renishaw shares (ISIN GB0007365546) are listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker RSW, giving investors direct exposure to demand for machine-tool metrology as factories digitize and seek higher precision.

This article was AI-assisted and editorially reviewed. Product information without guarantee; prices and availability may change at short notice. No investment advice, no buy or sell recommendation. Stock-market transactions involve risks up to total loss.