Breadcrumbs

First steps with the total station

The information contained in this chapter covers the standard first steps for using the software. For detailed descriptions of all features, advanced workflows, configuration options, and reference information, refer to the complete User Manual. The full manual provides comprehensive documentation for all functions and capabilities available in the software.

Station setup

  • The first step when working with a total station is the Station setup.

  • To perform a Station setup open Survey page and select Station setup.

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  • Select the orientation method from the list of available orientations.

  • The software provides different setup methods.

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    • Backsight to known point: used when the station is set on a point with known coordinates. The orientation is determined by measuring a reference point with known coordinates.

    • Backsight by azimuth: used when the station is set on a point with known coordinates. The orientation is determined by measuring a reference defined by a known azimuth.

    • Free station: determines both the position and orientation of the station by measuring at least two reference points with known coordinates.

    • Auto free station: determines both the position and orientation of the station by measuring automatically at least two reference points with known coordinates. The instrument rotates and measures all available targets to calculate the position automatically.

    • Orientation to multi points: used when the station is set on a point with known coordinates. The orientation is determined by measuring multiple reference points with known coordinates.

    • Reference axis: calculates station position referring to a reference axis.

    • No orientation: no orientation is applied. It is possible to manually assign the station coordinates.

    • Load internal TPS orientation: loads the orientation stored in the total station, if available. This function retrieves and applies the station coordinates and instrument height as the current orientation. The horizontal correction angle is assumed to be equal to 0. This function allows sharing the orientation between different X-PAD sessions running on an external controller or onboard.

For more information on each orientation method refer to Station setup.

  • Select the orientation method and press Next.

  • Enter the station information. Press Atm.Coeff. to define the atmospheric PPM. See Temperature and pressure for more information on how to change the atmospheric PPM.

  • Press Next and proceed to complete the setup according to the selected method.

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  • When the setup is completed it is possible to proceed with the desired application.

First steps

  • In the different software applications it is possible to control the total station. The interface is very similar among the different applications.

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Electronic compensator

  • If the instrument is not leveled and the compensator is turned on, the interface shows this icon.

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  • Press the icon to open the instrument control panel and press E-level to open the compensator page.

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Select the target

  • Press the prism icon to open the prism list and select the correct target, as well as the target height.

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  • If the target is not available press Customize to add it or Offsets to create a new target. See Target manager for more information.

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Measure the target with ATR

  • ATR allows to precisely aiming to the target using total station sensors.

  • To measure with ATR press this button to open the Robotic control panel.

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  • Select AutoTarget.

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  • Press Measure or Meas-Save to measure the target. The instrument aims at the target and perform the measurement.

Search and lock the prism in tracking mode

  • Initially the prism is not locked. If the prism is not locked, the software shows the status Unlock.

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  • Long-press the Unlock icon to start the search of the prism, or press it to open the Robotic control panel.

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  • In the Robotic control panel it is possible to access different functionalities to rotate or automatically search the prism.

    • Unlocked: press the button to search the prism around the current direction using ATR and, with a full robotic, perform a 360° search.

    • Search Left: to search a prism on the left.

    • Search Right: to search a prism on the right.

    • Search Window: to search a prism within the search window. Requires to define a search window.

  • In Rotate TPS page it is possible to use commands to rotate the instrument in specific directions and in Joystick page using commands to rotate the instrument with arrows.

  • The instrument rotates and lock the prism.

  • When prism is located, the instrument enters in tracking mode following the prism. The icon is now Lock.

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  • Now the instrument is locked to the target, continuously tracking the prism.

  • Press Measure or Meas-Save to measure the target. The instrument keeps the Lock status after the measurement.

If ehile in tracking the prism is unlocked, X-PAD automatically searches the prism using the strategy defined in TPS Settings in Search after lost field.

Reflectorless measurements

  • The instrument allows to measure surfaces with the reflectorless mode.

  • Open the Target manager and press Reflectorless to activate the reflectorless mode.

  • Press Laser Pointer to activate the red laser pointer.

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