Mine is the Leica MS60 Multistation. It is a beast not only in measurement but also in weight! Using it in a normal survey day is not a good idea at least for me. It is an overkill to use it in detailing work.
BergerJ, post: 317205, member: 9830 wrote: In your opinion, which is the best robotic total station ?
The following factors should be taken into account:
- Reliability
- Accuracy
- On-board software
- Cost / operating cost
What do you think ?
Why would you want on board with robotics? How the hell are you gonna run it?
I love my Trimble VX. It's essentially an S8 that can scan 15 pts/second. I've only scanned two things.
If the Leica TS15 is on your radar, then it would be wise to look into the GeoMax Zoom90 / Carlson CR+. This gun is identical in every way to the Leica TS15 except that it runs with Carlson SurvCE or MS FieldGenius, and the cost is about 30% lower. We have great success with these!
USSurveySupply_8668778783, post: 434410, member: 10942 wrote: You can see all of SurvCE's supported hardware here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ywdeKxoFk6EhOXT5JgarqPJ3ZLlhTTMJMudxtM8NVK8/pub?output=html .
The CR series total station is the same as the Zoom80 just with Carlson stickers and support, although it has been superseded by the Zoom90 (Carlson equivalent = CR+). These instruments don't use an active target or quick-lock function, although you can use the SurvCE GPS search. Rather they use a function called Scout360 for searching (most will know this by it's Leica moniker, which we will leave unsaid here), and Track360 for tracking. For searching you select a search direction in SurvCE (counter or clockwise) and the instrument turns while emitting a vertical laser array. Once a signal is returned from a reflective prism, the robot stops turning and switches to a horizontal laser array that searches up/down to find the center of the prism. This process is very quick and a complete 360 turn and lock takes less than ten seconds. If this description isn't clear enough I'm sure you can find a video on Youtube. For tracking, the robot follows the prism well and if you walk behind a tree or other obstruction the instrument continues turning at the same rate for a few degrees and will often pick up the prism on the other side. In the instances where it does lose you it returns back to where it last had sight of the prism and you can just search forward to regain lock (very easy in SurvCE - just tap the prism icon).
Also, as far as false lock and incorrect targets, these robots have been known to grab a taillight or window reflection from time to time, but we don't experience this problem very often and it seems that only a few of our customers ever have a problem with this. However, if it is a problem on a certain jobsite you can keep the guide lights on for quality assurance.
All in all, the Carlson/Geomax robot is incredibly easy to use and quick to set up. Just bond your collector to the Bluetooth handle one time and you are ready to go.
What does it mean if the item on your list is grayed out?
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hlbennettpls, post: 434478, member: 10049 wrote: What does it mean if the item on your list is grayed out?
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Grayed out means not supported.
USSurveySupply_8668778783, post: 434561, member: 10942 wrote: Grayed out means not supported.
If that's the case it says my 8003 Topcon robot isn't supported but I use it every day on a Surveyor II w/version 5?! 😮
I liked Topcon for years due to local dealer support, switched to Trimble when he did. Spent 5 years in hard rock tunnels, drill & blast, TBMs etc., and the Leica 1200s won me over. Durable and accurate, great on-board third party software. Three shifts worked these instruments to death, and they came back for more.
I have had Leica and Trimble robots. Still have Trimble S6. My preference is Trimble, hands down, not even close. My opinion only.
Frank Willis, post: 434598, member: 472 wrote: I have had Leica and Trimble robots. Still have Trimble S6. My preference is Trimble, hands down, not even close. My opinion only.
Is that because of the software or hardware?
I've used both extensively - GPS and robots. It would be a hard choice for me if / when I am buying my own gear again.
The things I keep coming back to are -
Leica
+Total stations seem to have no problem with holding orientation. I have experienced backsight drift with an S6, particularly associated with temperature changes. Also had this feedback from others. 99% sure this is not a tribrach / tripod stability issue.
+Captivate/Viva software has very powerful measure to line and check road functions. They are much more intuitive for me than the equivalents in Access. The user interface is much more customisable as well.
+Filter learn (new in Captivate) is great on sites with multiple prisms setup. Good alternative to active target as far as it goes.Still can't filter out a moving prism though (eg machine control prisms or another surveyor).
Trimble
+Active target tracking is great for work on construction sites and also "in the bushes". Target is re-acquired faster than with powersearch on Leica, needing little intervention once you have your settings tweaked.
-Passive target tracking will lock onto anything and everything reflective. Leica's is much more discerning. When traversing, Trimble Finelock is far superior (S7 or S8 feature) to Activelock. It's more similar to the Leica ATR but it won't lock and follow.
+Organisation of data is far simpler in Access. Also some aspects of the software are more powerful and intuitive.
+Very impressed with R10 GNSS receiver. I feel the HD-GNSS algorithms gives a more honest appraisal of your accuracy.
BUMP
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TIME TO REFRESH THIS POST
@brosef Agree with the camera comment. MUCH preferred the track?ÿ lights.?ÿ
DISCLAIMER - THIS ISN'T THE BEST GUN!?ÿ But agreeing with the post above, the trimble track light is invaluable to me working solo and I learned on another's S6 robot before buying my little 2" S3. I just wish my robot was more than a passive tracker but hey I bought it with cash and the simple trimble access joystick command paired with the track lights brings me back in sight 95% of the time. Can't beat paid for & earning pure profit for as seldom as I bust it out of the box lol
After using Leica for a few years and having to use Trimble on the new job, I have to say that they are quite different.
Overall they can do the same job but one major issue I've had while trying to use Trimble is the false lock, where it locks and measures to random things (a reflective tape of a traffic post or a stop light on a parked car), which never happened with Leica.
On a similar note, has anyone tried the new AP20 from Leica? That feels like it's the future. It still has a few bugs but once they get ironed out, I can't see anyone going back to normal poles once they had the chance to use it.
... one major issue I've had while trying to use Trimble is the false lock, where it locks and measures to random things ...
It sounds like you are using it without the multitrack prism, or without it's diodes turned on. With the multitrack the Trimble locks on like a bulldog and cannot be shaken off. In the multitracking mode it will not lock onto anything else, not even another multitrack prism. Do not pass judgement on Trimble until you have the multitrack prism thing sorted out.?ÿ ?ÿ
... one major issue I've had while trying to use Trimble is the false lock, where it locks and measures to random things ...
It sounds like you are using it without the multitrack prism, or without it's diodes turned on. With the multitrack the Trimble locks on like a bulldog and cannot be shaken off. In the multitracking mode it will not lock onto anything else, not even another multitrack prism. Do not pass judgement on Trimble until you have the multitrack prism thing sorted out.?ÿ ?ÿ
I swear I have heard these stories for almost as long as I have been using the MT/AT active track prisms, about ten years now, and I can't figure it out.
I can count on one hand the number of times I had trouble keeping lock over that time period, from construction sites to deep woods. Once I read up on how the autosearch, autolock, and predictive tracking interact with each other, it was a snap. Finelock and Interrupted Target Measurement give a lot of additional control too...
@rover83?ÿ
I see only a marginal increase in lock when using the MT1000.?ÿ
Its slightly better, and heavier, and not quite as accurate as a really good piece of -30mm glass on top....IMHO YMMV.
Because I'm on construction sites almost everyday now, I just set up to avoid as much crossing my backsight/gun from the area I'm working and run with it.?ÿ No people, no shiny vests, no trouble.
That being said, i do try to keep my position where i can see the gun anyway so it might be im overcompensating for the expected blockages.
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I see only a marginal increase in lock when using the MT1000.?ÿ
That is totally at odds with my experience. There is something going on here. My experience is that with the diodes working, if the MT prism is in the field of view the Trimble is going to snap on to it. Then you can stand 5 feet in front of the gun and throw the rod from hand to hand and not lose lock. If a truck blocks the line of sight the instrument will reacquire as soon as it passes. So I don't know just what is going on here, but something isn't working right.?ÿ ?ÿ
Furthermore if you have it set to track the diodes of the MT it isn't tracking the prism, it is tracking the diodes. So it isn't going to lock onto shiny objects.?ÿ If you find it wandering off and locking onto random reflective objects than you aren't in multitrack mode.?ÿ Period. End of story.
Could it be that Jitterboogie has set the MT1000 target options for tracking to 'passive' ?