Hi everyone,
Got a question for the construction and engineering surveyors out there, has anyone got any experience with Trimble machine control systems? I am wondering whether the control box in the cabin has a touch screen or if it's operated solely by the keypad, all the videos on you tube only show the operators using the keypad.
We've been hiring Topcon machine control for our grader and are pretty happy with its performance, but now we're looking to purchase a system and I have no experience with the Trimble gear. I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I haven't really seen anything in particular in the Trimble gear that would sway me away from Topcon machine control.
Decision isn't up to me though, the engineer has the final say, but would be nice to get some opinions and comparisons from people out there which have had to use both systems. Cheers.
The Trimble displays in the cabs are driven by keys, no touchscreen. I have used both and as always it depends. Our field guys like the Trimble systems. I manage 21 machines and 20 base/rover combos. We do heavy industrial, retail, distribution, and residential sitework. The area we live in has lots of terrain so we do lots of slope work and the Trimble system is the only one we have gotten consistent results grading slopes. On "flat" land like pads, parking lots, and roads they all work really well. We have very few ponds that fail as-builts due to volume defiencies and when we do it was due to the field guys just not performing. I had a hard time with the Topcon systems building ponds and slopes correctly and the explanation I have been told is the dual mast technology Trimble uses which they have patented. Others are claiming to have it like Leica, but it is different. It is a really long explanation that a Trimble rep could get you up to speed on. It has to do with some companies using slope sensors or differential recievers on each side of the blade compared to the way the Trimble systems positioning works. They are a really solid system that will work the pants off the others doing pond and slope work. But as with all their products, you gotta pay to play!
Pretty much the same experience here. We use several Trimble systems, and tried Topcon. I agree that on open fairly level sites Topcon would probably be fine. I am in west Ky., and we have a lot of cut/fill situations that the dual mast seems to be the better system. You get what you pay for.
I worked for a Trimble machine control dealer and what Steve says is true but I would still check out the differences and see what fits your company best. I always would check who your dealer would be and how responsive and knowledgeable are they.
Thad
Steve,
Was the Topcon system a dual antenna, on a single mast?
Just to make it clear. Topcon has a single mast single GPS antenna system, along with a single mast, dual GPS antenna system.
I agree that the single mast, single antenna system will have problems on a steep slope. This system is assuming the dozer is moving in a forward direction. If the dozer slides parallel to the forward direction, then the blade is NOT moving in the projected direction. This is corrected with the dual antenna system.
For dozers applications, the Trimble system appears to be the most rugged out there. It looks rock solid.
For the experienced users, In hard rock applications, which components are most likely to fail: The control box, the gnss receivers, the mounts, cabling, etc. Anyway, it impresses me that the equipment can take such a beating and keep going, rock is hard.
Sorry about the late reply, been playing daddy day care all weekend and only just got an opportunity to check this. Thank you all for your input, it's much appreciated. We've been quoted for single mast for both the Topcon and Trimble systems, would this affect the performance of the Trimble at all?
We won't be doing too many steep slopes, just a few steep road batters here and there, and maybe the odd cell at a garbage tip every so often. The vast majority of the work will be boxing out for pavements and constructing pavements with and without super elevation.
In that case it would come down to service. I would definitely use Topcon or Trimble from demos I have done with other brands.
