I know we can mount miniature prisms, but is there a such thing as a robot compatible sticker target?
We use the targets sold by Bernsten and they are fine, but our Topcon PS doesn't lock on them. (But it tracked the window across the street the other day...)
Am I doing something wrong? Or is that just how it works?
dmyhill,
I can only answer for the ATR (Automatic Target Recognition) on the Leica instruments. I think it may be the size of the tape target that you are using and also the angle at which the line of sight is orientated to the tape target. Leica specs the large 60 mm x 60 mm target to be to work with the ATR at maximum of 175 ft. That is when the target is static. I would not use smaller tape targets for automated pointing The tape target is not for tracking a moving target. It may at close range. The other issue is the angle between the line of sight and the surface of the target. I do not think the ATR would work if this is more than 30° from directly perpendicular to the target.
I would also look at the specifications of you reflectorless EDM. If the plus or minus of the reflectorless is acceptable and if you know you spot size at the distances you are shooting you could use say plain white surface target with a spot or cross hair marked on the surface and do resections if you are using these to establish the orientation of the instrument. I would measure at least three targets in each resection to provide some residuals.
I have worked thru this issue myself. It was explained to me that the so called "Tape" targets do not support ATR. If you look at a Tape target you will see a kind of rainbow of colour. When the instrument see's it, it doesn't see a unique target, it see's several. If you have your Leica gun set to shoot a Tape target, you shouldn't be able to do it unless its set to manual site mode. Which means you have to do the centering yourself.
Plus, you don't want to shoot tape targets from extreme angles. Generally you want to be head on within a few degrees. I have been doing sub mm layout and have seen +/- 3mm errors using them.
Hope that helps!