Dutch Hill DH-1000 Tripod for Robotics?

I wouldn't buy composite legs for a robot. I had a set of Dutch hills and my trimble s6 lost its mind on them, the instrument would just shake.?ÿ

Google will get you some discussions.?ÿ Try:

site:surveyorconnect.com dutch hill robot

I haven't used Dutch Hills lately, but I did have a couple different DHs with the composite heads and round leg components back in the '90s. They would literally make a moaning sound, like a tuning fork, in a moderate wind. This was before instruments with internal compensators, which I'm sure wouldn't have liked that. Then one day the head broke suddenly and the instrument hit the pavement.?ÿ There was some mishandling going on there so I don't blame that all on the tripod, but it played a part.

I'd probably be willing to go with these DH-1000 tripods for levelling, but I can't see any compelling reason to put my robot on one. For one thing, that composite head would easily get scratched and then you would never get the instrument to stay level.

Composite tripods such as?ÿ the Trimax are nearly as thermally expansive as aluminum. Durable and reliable, but not the very highest precision.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ

I prefer the Leica GST120-9 tripods. Reasonably light, very stable, high quality, not super expensive. The wood has very low thermal expansion.?ÿ?ÿ

@mark-mayer

Does nobody else make a wood tripod??ÿ I saw a wood topcon tripod once but even that seemed like an oddity.?ÿ Not sure if nobody tries to compete with them on wood tripods or if they're just miles better than the others.

@bstrand

Miles better. There are plenty of wood tripods, but not all woods are created equal. Other wood tripods I have used are crazy heavy and swell up like a sprained ankle when wet.

@jon-collins

that is because of the magnetic drives. ?ÿThere is no vibratory compensation with composite.

Leica utilitizes mechanical drives and perform exceptionally on the CF-1000.

Posted by: @mark-mayer

Trimax are nearly as thermally expansive as aluminum

I definitely didn't know that.?ÿ We've used those at places I've worked in the past, believing them to be the most sturdy, and assumed to be the best.

Good to know.?ÿ Thanks

@jph

Trimax are good tripods, but be aware that they will drift in direct sun. You will find that if you check your backsight about 20 minutes after setup you will be "off". Reset zero at that time, and you will be good for hours after that.?ÿ ?ÿ

@mark-mayer

Both my tripods in my truck are wood. The ancient set that is used for a backsight or GPS are Leica I think.

The main ones I can't remember. Maybe Seco but I think it was something else similar. They have the clamps and screws which I tighten both (I read I should tighten both with the ultrasonic motors on my Sokkia robot which I'm finally done using.?ÿ

I probably don't need to now with the old Leica robot but I feel better tightening both.?ÿ

?ÿ

The old ones swell up when wet. The newer ones are coated in something and don't have that issue.?ÿ

Posted by: @350rocketmike

The old ones swell up when wet.

?ÿApply furniture wax to them to reduce that problem. But never sand them down. Bring them inside over night or weekends to dry out if swelling becomes a problem.?ÿ?ÿ

I use the GT2000s. They're still lighter than the Trimax.?ÿ