Now that the SX10 has been available to the public for a while (as opposed to beta testers, etc), I would be interested to hear opinions about the instrument.
John Hamilton, post: 414355, member: 640 wrote: Now that the SX10 has been available to the public for a while (as opposed to beta testers, etc), I would be interested to hear opinions about the instrument.
I would be interested to hear as well. SAM beta tested them - don't think they were well received.
I just cannot see how this instrument would be worth 50K+? If you want a scanner get a scanner? 25k pts per/sec is pretty lame for a scanner. Lots of black voodoo happening that you cannot use your eye to verify. I also don't like the idea of relying on a tablet. From all my experience tablets suck as data collecting, too big, can't drag through the brush, and susceptible to weather. Also, why does Trimble utilize external data collectors for everything? For real innovation manufactures need to remove as many modular configurations as possible.
We have a St. Louis Chapter of MSPS meeting in March at Seiler, I am sure they will be showcasing the SX10. I will be all ears.
StLSurveyor, post: 414540, member: 7070 wrote:
I just cannot see how this instrument would be worth 50K+? If you want a scanner get a scanner? 25k pts per/sec is pretty lame for a scanner. .
I haven't used one or demoed one either but I agree. 12 minutes for a coarse 50mm 360 degree scan is very slow. With Leica's new scanner offering 360,000 pts per second (even though limited to 60m) I think a better option would be a normal robotic total station and scanner separately. However you probably need to try it to see how it could fit into your workflow.
We tested an SX10 for a week a few months ago. If you think about what Trimble has done, its a pretty fantastic piece of equipment. They have packaged a 1 second robotic total station with a reasonably capable scanner and hit a price point in the mid $50k range. Is it the best scanner in the world - nope. It won't replace our Faro for heavy duty scanning. Like anything else, is it the right tool for what you are trying to accomplish? We will likely be looking to purchase one sometime this spring to assist with utility as builts. I spent some time at Dimensions looking at the SX10 with one of the product development managers and came away impressed with it.
Yes, I looked at it at Dimensions too, very impressed. We have a TX8 scanner, so it won't replace that, but I think it can function well on projects that we might not have brought the TX8 out on.
I've spent some time with one and am highly impressed. As all have said, it will not replace a stand alone scanner in terms of speed but can do the job if needed. When a scanner is sitting in the closet not being used due to lack of scanning work, the SX10 works great as a conventional robot. I was hesitant about lack of optics, though after using the instrument this is no longer a concern. Range of the SX10 is fantastic as well. If you have highway corridors to scan this is the tool I would recommend.
I tested it on 5 rolling acres with mature timber and a few buildings. After taking needed shots at each setup I would run a coarse scan, this only added minimal time as it would scan while I was walking back to the instrument. Upon bringing the point clouds into TBC I was able to extract ground points with one click and have an accurate contour map of the property.
When a scanner is sitting in the closet not being used due to lack of scanning work [/quote wrote:
Unfortunately, that is the mindset of too many folks. Every topo job can be a scanning job. Stop thinking that way - Trimble is even trying to get you to spend another 50k to realize that every job is a scanning job....
StLSurveyor, post: 414540, member: 7070 wrote: I would be interested to hear as well. SAM beta tested them - don't think they were well received.
I just cannot see how this instrument would be worth 50K+? If you want a scanner get a scanner? 25k pts per/sec is pretty lame for a scanner. Lots of black voodoo happening that you cannot use your eye to verify. I also don't like the idea of relying on a tablet. From all my experience tablets suck as data collecting, too big, can't drag through the brush, and susceptible to weather. Also, why does Trimble utilize external data collectors for everything? For real innovation manufactures need to remove as many modular configurations as possible.
We have a St. Louis Chapter of MSPS meeting in March at Seiler, I am sure they will be showcasing the SX10. I will be all ears.
I think you've hit the nail on the head, I don't understand why there is such a big push away from on board data collection these days. If you're traversing for a few km's on winding road with only short lines of sight the last thing you want is to have to lug around a bulky tablet, it's alot easier to have a screen attached to the jigger. The same goes for reflectorless work, have some of these manufacturers forgotten that you still stand behind the instrument for the more intricate survey tasks?
I guess I'm used to using a Leica 1200+ and older Sokkia gear, I've got a Trimble jigger now with the 10 inch Kenai tablet now that the boss said "I had to have". The tablet has to be the bulkiest, most un-ergonomic piece of equipment I've ever had the displeasure of carrying on a work site, and I'm too afraid of attach it to the tripod because I fear it'll slowly drag the leg down with it's ridiculous weight.
I just wish Trimble would think about real world functionality when designing their gear, not just what extra bells and whistles they can attach to it, bigger is not always better. On the plus side though, Trimble Access is pretty sweet, top notch software that doesn't require you to speak Swiss to understand 🙂
When using our S6 we have a choice of a Yuma tablet or a TSC2. Much easier to use the TSC2. The Yuma needs a harness that will hold it about stomach high. I bought it to use with a V10, but that gets heavy (Yuma, V10, and R10).
The real beauty of the SX10 is that it is a combination Robotic Total Station and 3D laser scanner. You will use this unit day to day in the same way you use a robot and when you need remote measurements in areas that might be dangerous or impractical to get to, you can scan. This is a great way to combine traditional land surveying with the 3D laser scanning technology. Many people hear that it will only scan 26,600 points per second and think that it is not a "real scanner". The reality of this unit is that you are not wasting time scanning anything that you don't want or need. Once you are done in the field, all of the scan data is already registered to the rest of your survey data in TBC. There is no registration time and you know exactly what you have before you leave the field. If you use Trimble Access for other surveying tasks, it will take you 5 minutes to be comfortable with using it with the SX10.
Can anyone provide me with any information about the accuracy of the SX10 scans, or the safety of the laser...is it eye safe, etc? Traditionally Trimble scanners have been rebranded Faro scanners that have issues in each of these departments, as well as very limited usage within extreme temperature ranges.
McRey, post: 441039, member: 12937 wrote: Can anyone provide me with any information about the accuracy of the SX10 scans, or the safety of the laser...is it eye safe, etc? Traditionally Trimble scanners have been rebranded Faro scanners that have issues in each of these departments, as well as very limited usage within extreme temperature ranges.
All of this information can be found on the spec sheet which is easily obtained from Trimble's web site.
If you're looking at the SX10 as a scanner first then you're not looking at it in the right way. What the SX10 really is is the best robotic total station made that also just happens to be able to scan 26,600 pps.
Regarding dragging the SX10 and Tablet through the woods on a traverse - that's not the right instrument for the job. If that's the majority of your work the SX10 might not be for you.
Regarding the use of cameras and lack of optics... you have to see it to believe it. I can zoom in on things so much tighter with the cameras... it makes locating things like wire ties a breeze, even on complex structures.
The reflectorless EDM range, spot size at distance, and accuracy are absolutely incredible. Get your hands on one, double a few angles, do a couple resections, take some reflectorless shots at distances over 1000'... you'll either become a believer very quickly or the SX10 is not for you.
I also enjoy being able to sit in an air conditioned vehicle in Louisiana in August while I shoot reflectorless topo to power lines, etc. I've operated the SX10 from the comfort of my vehicle more than once.
Regarding "real" scanners... do you really need a 360 degree full dome scan at every setup, and the 50,000,000+ points that come with it? I know I don't. You can do a coarse full dome with photos with the SX10 in four minutes; if you don't need the full sky and/or full 360 degrees that number becomes much smaller. On areas where you need the high point density you can use a polygon to select that specific area and increase the point density by as much as 64x the coarse density. TBC easily handles the data, it comes in colorized, georeferenced, and ready to create deliverables.
I sold equipment for 21 years and I've never seen a new piece of equipment that the majority of surveyors didn't complain about and say was too expensive, impractical, didn't do it "the way we're used to", etc, including data collectors, GPS, and scanners. This is no exception; you really do have to see it and use it to appreciate it.
Also if you didn't read Gavin's excellent article about the development and production of this instrument, you should... it's a rare insight into what goes into the creation of something like this. There's a reason why this instrument costs what it does. But if you look at the cost of a high end S6 or S7, it's not THAT much more, and it's a much better, more versatile piece of equipment.
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