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Buying my first robotic total station – Trimble S5 or Spectra Focus 35 or…?
jmorgan replied 1 year, 10 months ago 24 Members · 53 Replies
I’m currently using Survey Pro but I’m not a big fan. Nevertheless, I was recently told by a little birdie that there may be some functionality improvements coming with Survey Pro / Trimble.
In the meantime, if you aren’t willing to go to Access, that you will just have to restrict yourself to S6’s with the tracklight.
I have only used Trimble robotics, but I loved them.
I agree with others- the reflectorless is iffy. I wouldn??t use it for much more than tying trees to a traverse for a sketch (or in moments of desperation).
The active prism does work very well, but of course there will occasionally be times where you take 20 topo shots and realize you were locked on to a stop sign. I admit an occasional glance at the data collector is an easy fix to this problem though ????
When we first got our I never turned the track light on. Then we hired someone that had worked with them before and she turned on the tracklight. I now leave it on all the time but it wouldn’t be that bad without it.
Hello I have decided to buy Trimble s5 gun, as I understand active prism is only useful when working in constructions sites that have and others prisms in order not to confuse the instrument. What I have not understand is the track lights. What is this?
I want only the new robot for single topos and small buildings layout. My thought is not to have a second crew.S5 for sure. I did not like the vision option. The tracking lights worked better for me.
Also had a ATX360 prism, worked well for topographic and location work. For traverse work we ran standard prisms.
When using my Focus in town it would chase cars or lock onto windows probably 5-6 times a day. You should be able to find a used S6, with DC and MT1000 for about that same price. Try your local Trimble dealer, I got used 1″ S6 for under $11,000.
Good luck!
@johnymal The track lights will tell you when you are locked onto the prism and helps you guide the robot back to you if it loses lock. I hear there is a green light and red light, depending on which side of you the robot is pointing, but I’m color blind and only see a flashing light. I always used the track light as I am a Survey Pro guy.
@k-huerth if you don??t buy the active prism option how total station ion behaves? I mean how you will rotate the instrument in order to find you?or it done it automatically somehow?
also another question that I have is why Leica has no active prisms? Maybe because their tracking is so good that their TS does not loose the prisms?
As I read in other posts trimble units without active prism loose the control as the instrument locks on traffic lights plates and glasses. This is true?- Posted by: @kjac
I’m finally going to make the long-overdue leap into the robotic world of total stations. I’ve primarily used Topcon manual TS and have never had any issues with accuracy or longevity, but from reading around this forum it appears that Topcon robotics is hit or miss. I think I have narrowed it down to either the Trimble s5 (or possibly a used s5/s6) or a new Spectra Focus 35 ($15-$17k). I’m completely new to robotics, but currently, I run Survey Pro and typically work on either small-medium construction projects, topo highways and sometimes traversing deep into the woods.
As I understand from reading around this forum, robots don’t work as well when there are a lot of reflective surfaces or heavy brush. The Trimble S-series looks great with its Active prism technology, but the Focus 35 is much more appealing price-wise. I considered buying used, but I’ve seen the way many field crews treat their equipment and with all these delicate and sensitive parts I just don’t think it’s worth the risk to save a few thousand. I’m tempted to pull the trigger on the Focus 35, but the passive prism tech has me worried and also I just can’t find that many people talking about it compared to the Trimble S-series. Can anyone advise this robot newbie?
The passive prism works decent on the Leica 1203+ I use all day most days, but the ATR is designed to work that way. It is one less thing to worry about breaking or failing (the Trimble active prism is extremely expensive and the Sokkia RC unit with the ix-503 I used to use failed within a year causing me to not know why I couldn’t get a lock once I went beyond 30m.
I used the Trimble s5 a couple of days (just to try it out), Leica 1203+ the past year or so, Sokkia ix-503 for a year and half I think before that and Sokkia SRX on and off before that (before I was a party chief).
I’m still blown away by the Leica’s ability to keep a lock and predict when I walk past large objects that block it’s line of sight, especially after reading so many people saying they lose lock past small trees. The s5 is definitely better when you get into thick bush.
I had major issues with the Sokkia ix (RC unit failure, 2 motor failures, calibration going off way faster than anything else), but it’s upsides were the magnet Field software, once I learned it I liked it better than anything else for the work I do.
If you prefer access get the Trimble, if you prefer Carlson get a Leica. I wouldn’t wish a lower end Sokkia model on my worst enemy, however the topcon gt-503 we had on loan for a couple months (for the last Sokkia ultrasonic motor replacement) was actually not terrible but towards the end it started to occasionally freeze up and stop tracking, just like the Sokkia was doing regularly. Nothing solved that except a restart of the robot. Even when working properly though I didn’t find it any better than the old Leica robot, despite the active tracking.
As I understand it, Trimble with the active prism tracks the best, Leica with ATR (automatic target recognition) works pretty good, Trimble without an active prism can be problematic. I only used the Trimble sx12 for a few hours one day (it does not have an active prism as an option) and it seemed to lose lock much more easily than the old Leica does, but I haven’t used it extensively enough. That machine only goes to specific jobs as it’s like $70,000.
@norman-oklahoma
Would vision not be the better option for a solo worker trying to get lock in the bush? I’m supposed to be getting a new Trimble robot eventually and the Leica 1203+ will be our office backup robot. It sounded like the boss wanted to try out vision (through my eyes). Trying to get a lock in the bush by myself is the only really frustrating time for me using the old Leica robot.
I can say for sue that I am confused. If Trimble has no active prism it will loose easily the prism. So in that case how fast is it to located again?
if I spent much more time if I am some meters away ifthe instrument in order to try to locate it is better to stay to the manual one old stuff ????.As I see for small surveying does not worth it so much..
It all depends on the conditions you’re working under. I personally can’t see spending the $$ on a Trimble robot and not getting the active prism. It’s the biggest upside to the s series, otherwise I’d prefer keeping the Leica robot.
- Posted by: @johnymal
I understand active prism is only useful when working in constructions sites that have and others prisms in order not to confuse the instrument.
That’s not real. It is true for the part of it that identifies the individual prism from others that might be present. But the real beauty of the active prism is the tracking of the diode as opposed to passive tracking of a prism. The active tracking snaps to the target and holds on like no passive tracking can hope to. If that diode is in the field of view it will be tracked, and you can’t run fast enough to shake it off.
The Trimble will also track a passive prism but it not nearly as well. Plenty good enough to run control and boundary ties – stationary target - but doing topo with the Trimble with a passive target will be frustrating. It will constantly lose lock on the prism and lock onto reflective road signs and passing taillights. If you can’t afford the Activetrack prism I wouldn’t bother with the Trimble S family.
- Posted by: @350rocketmike
Would vision not be the better option for a solo worker trying to get lock in the bush?
I say no. You use the tracklight to get the instrument looking in your general direction than initiate a prism search. The search will be brief if the path from instrument to target is clear. Even if that hole is no bigger that a portion of the prism. And with the Trimble’s diode tracking the search will hardly be necessary.
Using the video you are just going to be looking at brush on a 5 inch screen. Good luck with that. The video may have its uses but this isn’t it.
Thanks for the asnwers as I see and some videos in youtube active prism is really necessarity.
But active prism is a function that must be enabled in instrument? Or just buying extra the MT1000 prism?
Trimble at360 prism what is it?
So the passive 360 prism where we use it if instrument loose the tracking all the time if you work in center of a city with enough lights and windows?
I used an S6 without active prism for many years. It worked great usually but did lock onto other objects from time to time. You get used to it and if you pay attention to the DC screen and track lights you can avoid bad shots most of the time. That being said, the MT1000 is way better. In addition to what others have said, the MT1000 also let’s you use GPS search if you’re working in state plane. That allows for very fast target acquisition when you lose lock, even if the gun is facing the opposite direction.
Gregg
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