Was just driving along a busy street, approaching a light that was turning green for me and a survey crew had just crossed the street, the I-man had a total station instrument (don't know the make-model, was yellow and green) slung over his shoulder on the tripod well past horizontal, bouncing along: almost drove into a parked car.....:-(
Not my problem, not my problem...........
Some say there is virtually no problem from doing this. Others say it is disastrous. Probably depends on the quality of the equipment to begin with.
we always had classes of instruments we could carry on tripod, automatic level-yes, transit-yes, T2-no, total station-no, robot-OMG no. lol
Like I say, I don't know what it was; looked like a higher end total station but not a robot.
And yeah, I've heard the arguments both ways, but crossing a busy street....how much time would you lose to put it in the box?
Oh well, just don't want my guys doing it.............
Yeah, I'm curious to know exactly what is so disastrous from carrying the instrument this way. I always put the gun back in the box before moving setups just to be safe, but it would be interesting to know what harm it can do.
The weight of the instrument will put leverage on the (precision) bearings.
I was taught to release the motion clamps when it was in the box. Same reason I suppose.
> Yeah, I'm curious to know exactly what is so disastrous from carrying the instrument this way.
Apart from the stresses on the internal workings of the instrument, there is the fact that all that weight is attached to the tripod by a single anodized aluminum bolt less that 3/8" in diameter, plus the fact that $30k worth of instrument is exposed to contact with everything on the street- trees, poles, sign posts, building walls, people, etc., etc.
I recently chided my PC for carrying the instrument, out of the case, from the door of the truck to the tripod about 30 feet away. Carry the instrument in the box to the tripod. There should be no steps taken between boxed gun and secured tripod.
ONCE UPON A TIME I worked for a boss who stated that carrying the TS on the tripod over the shoulder was "grounds for instant dismissal". And I believed he meant it. At my next job they had the very same make and model of instrument (Leica 1010). All the employees there, and the boss, too, thought nothing of carrying it over their shoulder on the tripod. I got a fair amount of ribbing for insisting on putting it in the box. And, of course, under those circumstances, I had insufficient authority to insist that my rodman do so. Until one day when he dropped in on the pavement. After that I got less ribbing, but I others would still carry it over the shoulder.
Results
Any idea who employs the crew? Any chance you have a survey in the area in the near future and could compare your work to theirs? How about other work products?
If they are known for always being a little off from your results, you can either keep it in your pocket for the day in court or reach out to the PLS and give him/her a depressing heart attack. If you do choose the latter, provide alcohol...
> Carry the instrument in the box to the tripod. There should be no steps taken between boxed gun and secured tripod.
I hear that, Norman. When I think of all the times I've tripped (and fallen!) over something that was* or wasn't there, I'm glad the gun is in the box when I carry it. Stuff happens!
*Latest culprit was a tiny laurel hedge stob about 1" high hiding under a dandelion leaf. Just missed knocking my teeth out on some extruded curb.
Amen. And even if no single catastrophe occurs, the instrument suffers death by a thousand cuts, with all the unnecessary jarring throwing it out of adjustment. It is always my goal to treat the instrument in such a way that when I send it in for yearly calibation, they tell me that it needed very little adjustment.
I find it sadly humorous that the owner of the gun (and the company) will usually be found saying "Take a little more time and take care of the gun", while the field crew will be the ones claiming they "save time" by treating the instrument like crap. Where do they get these ideas...
When I put someone in charge of my instrument, they are informed that over the shoulder on the tripod transport is prohibited at any time or place.
It is grounds for termination.
Most Tribrach has an aluminum or stainless plate spring tension that cushions the instrument from vibration and impact. The bottom of the three level adjustment screws are seated to this plate and it is attached to the body of the tribrach by a single centered adjusting nut.
When this plate is sprung or warped in shape, the accuracy of the instrument is greatly affected because it allows movement while motion screws are locked.
The shock from carrying over the shoulder puts the most stress on this plate assembly because the direction of the force is perpendicular to the alignment of the assembly.
I've seen people that could carry this way and never have any problem because they could transport most anything with the greatest of care.
Others would have the instrument so out of adjustment after one carry across an open area because they treat everything like a stick of firewood.
Just imagine the up and down forces from the weight of the instrument as your instrument man hopped along thru the forest over creek and dale.
Mine travels firmly packaged into a backpack between any setups or it don't go anywhere.
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pretty sure I know, engineers doing probably engineering stuff, so............
I watched a guy move his Trimble robot the other day. He put his shoulder under the tripod head and held the legs so the instrument stayed nearly upright. I think that takes care of the strain on the bearings, but heaven help him if he stumbles.
shudder........
Nothing on a tripod while walking or in truck (tribrach/prism).
Unless in a grassy situation, setting legs firmly in the ground also jolts the instrument if on a tripod. No good.
Where I work, total stations are NEVER to be carried on the tripod over the shoulder. I have gently picked one up and moved it a few feet while holding the instrument/tripod vertical, but that's it- and if the ground is bumpy I won't even do that. Just WAY too much risk for such a small hassle.
Automatic levels... yes, I do carry them over the shoulder on the tripod but I still try to keep it at least 45 degrees to the vertical if I can.
The tool is more important than the man
The tool is more important than the man.
*sigh*
I can't deny, or even resent it.
It just makes me feel so damn old.
I've got a permanent groove in my shoulder from packing transits.
I hate change.
Have I ever mentioned that?
🙂
Don
For those wondering why not to carry over the shoulder..because they cost half your salary and they are made as light and as cheap as possible and thus are 50% plastics and injection molded stuff. They have motors and plastic gears and such. NOTHING like what was built in the old days. Swiss stuff included. The advanced capabilities make you think they are built better, but I bet they would amaze you how simple they are if you took them apart and looked inside. Someone please correct me.
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[sarcasm]oh, so if you told them about the issue they would not realize they should have a heart attack...[/sarcasm]
There was someone here who chimed in about doing exactly this in an earlier thread (last year sometime) and I think he was saying that he suffers ongoing nerve damage in the shoulder because of doing this over many years with the tripod head digging into his shoulder.
Not good for the instrument and not good for you.
This isn't the 70's and we don't use transits. Put the MF in the GD box and use both shoulder straps and tote it properly!
