@lukenz?ÿ
I do regularly shoot 2 faces and I get similarl results to yours. Vertical is always worse but typically 10-12" at the most (using a grz4 360 prism).?ÿ
The Trimble using the mt1000 active prism in semi active mode was close to the same or slightly worse, until it started to get worse and then I got 30" between faces the other day so I decided to use the Leica again for a few days and run the calibration on the s5 this weekend.?ÿ
The sokkia ix always had worse splits horizontal and especially vertical even after being serviced and then collimation adjustments done.?ÿ
With Lecia check and adjust process, the standard process is shoot the prism at near horizontal on both faces a couple of times and then have to sight angle only to a target +/- 27 degrees off horizontal. See https://blog.hexagongeosystems.com/quick-and-simple-user-calibration-of-your-leica-total-station/
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Not sure what you are doing if not doing the vertical angle one also?
There's a couple of options for calibrations on most Leicas.?ÿ
The combined adjustment covers l, t, i, c and ATR and uses just a horizontal target.
The tilting axis adjustment covers a and uses a high-angle target.
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1485224/Leica-Ts13.html?page=51#manual
Field calibration is actually quite simple on Leica instruments taking no more than 15 minutes once it is acclimatized.?ÿ I have MS50 to bug me monthly, but I also make it a habit of running the routine if the instrument has been shipped or I'm working on a project with tight tolerances.?ÿ I first run through the L, T, I, C, ATR correction using a GPH1 (it is easier to sight).?ÿ I then run the tilting axis check ('a').?ÿ You do not need to have a prism or high target for this routine.?ÿ The requirement is at least 27 degrees of tilt either way from horizontal, I just make sure to set the instrument up low enough that a I can the ground through the scope.?ÿ I usually target several specs in concrete.?ÿ I run at least 3 measurement groups for each routine.?ÿ
The Leica 1203+ is still harassing me because I did all the adjustments except tilting axis because I'm never set up anywhere it can be done. I have to specifically search out something I can sight.?ÿ
The Trimble routine definitely takes less time because of this not being part of it, but maybe doesn't accomplish as much.?ÿ
Seems like Trimble s series in general don't value accuracy as much as Leica, since they build a robot that's basically useless without the active prism which is inherently less accurate to begin with.?ÿ
As John Putnam noted, you can shoot steeply down as well as up, and I don't think a minimum distance is mentioned. I've heard of people putting a dime on the ground a few metres away and shooting some fine detail on it.
I've also wondered if there is any problem (for a steep uphill sight) of using a diagonal eyepiece to ease the contortions? You are still using the same crosshairs so I would think it was still valid.
Leica says >20m for the tilting axis.?ÿ
https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1485224/Leica-Ts13.html?page=53#manual
Though I suspect using minuscule targets and ensuring good repeatability mean that??s a fairly loose requirement.
The trunnion axis collimation is just adjusting for how far off horizontal the gun turns when looking high or low from 90 degrees. The only requirement for distance is the quality of sighting a target. You can be set up anywhere and effectively do the trunnion axis collimation as long as you are precise in your sighting of a target. Like others have said, something on the ground works just as well as setting up near a building and sighting high.
If you do not sight things with a high or low zenith angle then not doing this collimation will have minimal effect on the angles you collect.
The targets I'm using are usually smaller that the cross hairs.?ÿ At 20 m out you need ~ 10 m difference in height which can be done on a 2 story building if you can find well defined targets.
I'm running a 2" Geomax Zoom90 (basically a Lecia TS15/TS13) and of course the dealer says it should be sent back for calibration/service once a year. I've worked for places that do just that and places that only send the gun into the dealer if it gets dropped.
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I'm the only user who baby's it and lucky if it get a full day of work a week. My question is do they really need to go back each year??ÿ Particularly interested in other Lecia/Geomax users experience.
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Also for Lecia/Geomax users how often do you go though the check and adjust routine??ÿ Also where do you find something tall enough to point at for vertical angle?
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I've always put it off thinking the dealer calibration ought to be the best and if my pointing is not perfect with the check and adjust routine then I could put it out more? Typical my left/right face horizontal angles are within a couple seconds but the vertical split is often ~8" which always seems to have been that way.
Id take it back only if the field calibration shows angular differences of more than 15" between 2 calibrations. My 1" zoom 90 didn't see the dealer since we purchased it and it still works well after 5 years giving us consistent results.
The Leica 1203+ is still harassing me because I did all the adjustments except tilting axis because I'm never set up anywhere it can be done. I have to specifically search out something I can sight.?ÿ
The Trimble routine definitely takes less time because of this not being part of it, but maybe doesn't accomplish as much.?ÿ
Seems like Trimble s series in general don't value accuracy as much as Leica, since they build a robot that's basically useless without the active prism which is inherently less accurate to begin with.?ÿ
I do the tilting axis this way: try to find a tiny piece of quartz, or other dot small enough that you can center?ÿ the cross hair on, about 5'-6' away from the instrument. Focus and center on it and press the button. It works pretty well. I had to transfer control on tall structures at around 30 deg angle?ÿ so I needed to figure out a way to calibrate the tilting axis beforehand.
The Leica 1203+ is still harassing me because I did all the adjustments except tilting axis because I'm never set up anywhere it can be done. I have to specifically search out something I can sight.?ÿ
The Trimble routine definitely takes less time because of this not being part of it, but maybe doesn't accomplish as much.?ÿ
Seems like Trimble s series in general don't value accuracy as much as Leica, since they build a robot that's basically useless without the active prism which is inherently less accurate to begin with.?ÿ
I do the tilting axis this way: try to find a tiny piece of quartz, or other dot small enough that you can center?ÿ the cross hair on, about 5'-6' away from the instrument. Focus and center on it and press the button. It works pretty well. I had to transfer control on tall structures at around 30 deg angle?ÿ so I needed to figure out a way to calibrate the tilting axis beforehand.
That sounds like a great solution for me. I find small quartz rock lying around quite often in some areas around here. I should know this but what robot are you doing this with? I still have both the Trimble s5 and Leica 1203+ in the truck. Trying to switch over to permanently using the s5 because our company is switching over to all Trimble (no idea why?) But the Leica is definitely still the better robot. The only upside to the Trimble is using it with the r10-1 on VRS network, not having to transfer coordinates into a different data collector.
Edit: sorry I see your using a zoom 90. I wish I had asked my boss for one of those. Would have been a slight upgrade from the TCRP1203+ and worked well with Fieldgenius and the Panasonic tablet.?ÿ
Rather pleased with all the helpful responses. Great to hear what everyone else is doing so to all who chipped in thanks a bunch. Gives me as a solo operation (and more at the perfectionist end of spectrum) some comfort about my current approach!
