My company owns several Trimble S6 Total Stations and we haven't had too many issues with them until recently.
One of our scopes had been taken into our local dealer for a calibration because it was out vertically about 0.05' every time we set up on control that was previously set with this particular scope. We recently got the scope back after the calibration was done and are still having the same issue with it being out vertically.
I've called the local dealer and he informed me to check and go through the adjustments on my own. Went through and did the compensator calibration, ha/va & trunnion collimation, etc... and stored the corrections (which were all minor) and still having the same vertical problem.
Im planning on taking it back to the dealer to have him look at it, but was wondering if anyone else had similar issues and, if so, how did you fix it? Thanks in advance for your advice/help!
We have had that issue with our S6 as well. It is usually between 0.03'-0.06'for the vertical check, even on shots around 200'. We just got ours back in November and it has done it since the beginning. We always run levels through our control so I know that it is better than that. In our case, it is something to do with our prisms. If we use the multi-track prism for the backsight it checks a whole lot tighter. Our dealer hasn't really come up with an answer for us.
We have the standard SECO prisms so I don't know what is going on. I guess its a constant somewhere. The only strange thing is that we can shoot the same side shot or traverse point with the multi-track and the SECO and they are within 0.01'vertically of each other. The issue only shows up during the backsight check.
That has been very annoying, especially since it was brand new, out of the box performing that way. I absolutely love the S6 and haven't had any other issues with it. I though I had found a weak point in performance when we were shooting a topo in some thick woods, but all I had to do was run the gun manually then turn off the AutoSearch and AutoLock and it shot through the leaves better than any of our other guns. I am a fan!
What is your bs on? Tripod or a prism pole? I have a prism pole that i have so set 6.03' for a 6.00' true rod height.
Leica too
> We have had that issue with our S6 as well. It is usually between 0.03'-0.06'for the vertical check, even on shots around 200'. We just got ours back in November and it has done it since the beginning. We always run levels through our control so I know that it is better than that. In our case, it is something to do with our prisms. If we use the multi-track prism for the backsight it checks a whole lot tighter. Our dealer hasn't really come up with an answer for us.
>
> We have the standard SECO prisms so I don't know what is going on. I guess its a constant somewhere. The only strange thing is that we can shoot the same side shot or traverse point with the multi-track and the SECO and they are within 0.01'vertically of each other. The issue only shows up during the backsight check.
>
FWIW this sounds like my situation with my ancient dinosaur 1998 model Leica Robot.
I also think it is prism related, which is why I plan to get a smaller stake out prism for tighter work someday...
Now I do mostly rural and suburban boundary and topo work...
It is on a prism pole. I know that isn't the best method but it good enough for what we need right now. 4.98 on the rod equals 4.90 taped. We measured both poles with prisms using the same tape. Like I said, it's strange, there error only shows up on the BS check.
Wouldn't hurt to go into your backsite prism manager and ensure that there isn't some oddball offset being applied there.
When you use the multi track prism, try setting it to semi active tracking when doing vertical work. I get better vertical results in that tracking mode.
For what ever reason it seems that the S6 does not do well with other brands of prisms. I use the trimble multitrack 360 and a small trimble 360 from a 5600 I used to have and do fine. Have tried Seco prisms and it's not as accurate. I have heard the same problem with Leica. A friend of mine used the Leica robot with mixed brands of prisms and had problems. Finally he got the Leica traverse kit and had amazing results. Also a collimation could be the problem. It's not the easiest thing to do. Especially the axis trunnion part. I collimate my instrument at a park that has flat wide open spaces. There is a cell tower at the park (sight up high above 13.5 degrees above horizon ) where I can do the axis trunnion section of the collimation.
hi, can I do this remote point (tilt axis) adjustment without a prism? When I select DR & start the adjustment process it jumps back to prism mode - does this mean the adjustment can only be done with a prism?
Thanks
This may help.?ÿ Below is a recent Trimble webinar on Refraction Coefficient and the effects of weather on measured height.
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Very old thread, but I believe this is a problem with the calibration procedures at some Trimble shops. This vertical error is not uncommon and has nothing to do with prisms, believe me I have tried them all.
