I.e. Leica TCRA1101 PLUS
Can the red measuring prismless laser be used also to project points onto surfaces for layout / stakeout??ÿ I.e. points on a vertical wall, ceiling, floor etc without using a prismpole.
- In other words, can the red laser dot be left on as turning angles distances manually and also robotically via the motors??ÿ Or is the red dot only used when measuring then turns off, but not vice versa for projecting points onto surfaces?
Can MicroSurvey FieldGenius possibly do this also?
I can do this with a Leica Disto S910, but obviously not robotically, just manually.?ÿ So I guess wondering if a robotic total station such as TPS1100 Series can do what a Leica 3D Disto can do for laser point layout.
Can it do this:
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Thank you!
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Does anyone know if this robotic can at least be controlled via MicroSurvey FieldGenius to move to the projected point with a POLE height of ZERO with the red LASER toggled on?
Basically, without using a prism/pole??ÿ Just need points located in 3D space (on walls, ceilings, floors) via red laser point.?ÿ Thanks!
FieldGenius has (or at least had in the past) an MEP module included with the Premium version that will do what you want, if I understand you correctly. There is a video at
which illustrates some of the workflow. The video is showing MicroSurvey Layout but FieldGenius has the same module available.
It has been a while since I used FieldGenius, and can't recall ever connecting to a TPS1100, however if it supports robotic operation and has a reflector-less capability then I don't see why it wouldn't work.
I would only use it for points at a wall. Ceiling and floor are dangerous because of the angle of the beam to the surface. The spot will divergence quickly once you're a few meters from the instrument.
Points on floor : prism pole
Points on ceiling : set point on floor and transfer with a Leica lino p5 or other
Points on ceiling : set point on floor and transfer with a Leica lino p5 or other
Or you can use a prism pole upside down with a bubble attached next to the prism - once you get used to the fact that the bubble moves "in reverse".
Before somebody comments on my last post and says just hold the prism to the ceiling, holding the rod upside down means that the prism is near ht. of instrument rather than trying to read on a very steep sight - my experience is that, even allowing for the plumbing up of the pole, the result is more accurate, especially if you are trying to locate ceiling beams or joints
prism to the ceiling, holding the rod upside down
Is that a two-man (person) operation, with someone up on a ladder helping maneuver the point of the rod up there?
2 person only in respect of having one on the target and one on the instrument. Surveyor on rod can usually put the point just where it needs to be - if necessary we use extension rod(s) on the pole to increase the length. Generally it is much easier to position the pole point when the weight of the prism is down at head height, rather than stuck a couple of metres above your head (when you also can't see the exact point you are on because the prism gets in the way).
@chris-mills okay, got it, I think. ?ÿSo you are locating existing points on the ceiling, not laying out proposed points that then need to be marked out on the ceiling. ?ÿRight?
Correct. But the same would apply if you were marking out points (say hangers for pipework) - a marker pen attached to the point of rod, keep rod down say 6" off the ceiling. Move to correct position, level up rod and gently raise whilst instrument checks you don't move off line. Should give you position better than 1" and the hangar will have slotted holes in any case.
Generally, for tall ceilings, I would have expected a scaffold tower to be available if things were being fixed, so a second person could stand on that and mark the ceiling.
The original post seemed to be suggesting that you would sit with the red dot on the ceiling whilst others worked to it - that would tie the instrument up for quite a while and the dot would switch off if no measurements were being taken.
With fieldgenius the turn to function only worked if settings were configured for manual use. Then when you staked a point you could toggle "auto turn" unlike access and magnet where you can turn to whenever you feel like it.?ÿ
No experience with the 1100 but the 1200+ I shot a pretty severe vertical angle once and it checked within like 4mm. Also I don't think the laser times out by itself.?ÿ
Btw my latest solution for the Trimble s series reflectorless is if I need lots of reflector less shots I take the Leica 1200 and run it manually with Trimble access. Then I'm using the software they want plus I get accurate reflectorless and a laser dot that's visible in daylight.?ÿ
To the original question, on an 1100 with reflectorless capabilities you can toggle the red pointing laser on manually.?ÿ It is done in in the illumination menu.?ÿ Before you do anything critical, you should make sure the laser is properly aligned.?ÿ This operation can be found in the user's manual.
Thank you John!!! Also thank you to everyone that helped!?ÿ Very much appreciated!?ÿ ; )
With fieldgenius the turn to function only worked if settings were configured for manual use. Then when you staked a point you could toggle "auto turn" unlike access and magnet where you can turn to whenever you feel like it.?ÿ
No experience with the 1100 but the 1200+ I shot a pretty severe vertical angle once and it checked within like 4mm. Also I don't think the laser times out by itself.?ÿ
The MEP module is quite different from regular stakeout, as the video I linked to earlier shows. Again, it has been a while and I haven't used FieldGenius in ~4 years or so, but I remember wondering why nobody seemed to be aware that those (MEP) features even existed. The iterative process of finding the surface worked quite well from my recollection, but as others have noted it may not be the best accuracy depending on the angle of the beam if you're measuring reflector-less directly to the surface. If the red laser pointer is aligned well with the EDM, perhaps it is still reliable? Never used it in actual applications.
Check this out!!!! ?????ÿ
11:04 in.
With fieldgenius the turn to function only worked if settings were configured for manual use. Then when you staked a point you could toggle "auto turn" unlike access and magnet where you can turn to whenever you feel like it.?ÿ
Can you point me where this "TURN TO FUNCTION" & "AUTO TURN" is please??ÿ This seems to be what I am looking for.?ÿ i.e. select a point or consecutive points and the robotic would turn automatically to them with the laser pointer on.
Hope this isn't a MEP AUTO-LOCATION only feature.
Thanks!
I don't have the tablet with me, and haven't used this feature in ages because if I remember correctly, you had to change some setting to manual and then the auto turn would show up in the initial screen when you went to stake out a point. Not sure if this can also be incorporated with a staking list or not. I always just picked points off the screen to stake out with field genius. When I'm home tomorrow I can check it out and see if I can figure it out without a robot to connect to (only have the Trimble with me now). Hopefully that will be more helpful.?ÿ
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@350rocketmike?ÿ
Thanks Mike!?ÿ Please don't go out of your way!?ÿ Just whenever.
I may have just stumbled across something that may work by digging around.?ÿ Stake Surface.?ÿ Have to make a TIN surface out of my points, then it let me select points and TURN TO with the laser on robotically.
This may be it from the manual.?ÿ I'll have to try tomorrow.?ÿ Thank you Mike for the help.?ÿ There isn't really any info out there except for yours! ; )
https://s3.microsurvey.com/fieldgenius/FieldGenius11/FieldGenius.pdf
