After calibrating my total station and storing the error in the instrument, I still notice that when I check the instrument for error I have 17" error on the vertical reading. That is when i sum the FL and FR readings. Is this proper? I though after calibration the instrument automatically applies these corrections to subsequent observations?
Its good to note that 17" was the vertical error during calibration that was saved in the instrument.
Hello MightyMoe,
Once a total station has been correctly calibrated, what instrument errors do you suppose 2-face readings will eliminate that will remain otherwise uncorrected for in observations of the one face?
Trunnion axis error is the one error that only CL/CR will allow you to compensate for. The trunnion axis is the axis about which the telescope tilts, and if this is not perpendicular to the vertical axis and the collimation axis, then essentially your telescope will list to one side tilted up and the other side tilted down. Taking CL/CR readings (the same number of readings on each side, mind you) will allow you to take a mean of these readings, which essentially balances the error out.