Topcon Gt 1000 Series Robotic Total Station Reviews
@gregg-gaffney
Check with your dealer. The new firmware has supposedly ended the burned out motors and other issues associated with it.
Posted : October 23, 2020 x:16 am
@dmyhill will do, much appreciated
Posted : October 23, 2020 iii:02 pm
I've been using a refurbished GT-1001 w/ RC-5 for the past few months with zero bug. The only complaint I would accept is with the battery. If you leave a fresh bombardment in the gun, for some they still depict ability and become dead. The PS did the same. Likewise, there is no battery indicator on the RC-v. Information technology will last all week. Just seems to die at the worst times. I love the gun, lightweight, very authentic, fast, and stable. Much faster than the PS Robot. I can double angles at every shot, will well-nigh no additional downtime. The 3x optical plummet is a huge comeback for accuracy, over the PS.
I'grand trying to get Topcon to give me a demo of the GTL-1000 top-mounted scanner.
FYI: Topcon but released an upgrade, the GT-1200 series.
Posted : October 24, 2020 5:48 am
@leegreen Lee - hope that works out for you and you do not encounter these same issues. Seems to work perfectly, then not so much.
Nosotros liked the instrument for its size and speed as you lot mentioned, but having 1 replaced already and in the shop 3-4 times for the same trouble in 4 years sucks. Nosotros ever pull the batteries out besides as you mention.
Wondering if the upgrade to GT-1200 is due to the issues mentioned with the motors on the GT-1000 series.
Posted : October 24, 2020 8:47 am
@leegreen Lee - promise that works out for you and y'all do not run into these same problems. Seems to work perfectly, then not so much.
Crossing my fingers 😀
Posted : October 24, 2020 11:08 am
Hi all,
Just thought I'd chime in on this one. I've used robots from each of the big three manufacturers, with the company I work for purchasing a GT in the concluding few months. I take heard of the motor drive issues in the GT instruments, but Topcon robots aren't as common here in Australia so I don't hear much about them locally.
I've been using a GT-1003 for engineering survey work, setting command and setting out civil works, it's been working pretty much trouble complimentary for me since we purchased information technology. I currently take it beingness used for machine control and the tracking seems near impeccable for this use, I was actually a scrap worried nearly this but it's actually tracking a mast mounted prism but as well as an SPS730 would for a Trimble wired car. Since it's been assigned to our grader I've fallen dorsum on our erstwhile Trimble S6 in the mean fourth dimension and I've found that when using the control and checking the set out which was set past the GT, at that place is little to no variation in the readings and results, this is a flake of a confidence architect considering the amount of negative reviews I've heard well-nigh Topcon robotics.
The GT however isn't perfect though, I've noticed the post-obit problems:
- The battery issues that Lee stated seem to exist a consistent hangover from previous Topcon products, I've seen this in data collectors from as far dorsum every bit 15-16 years back. I usually just remove all the batteries at the end of the working day, with a single RC5 battery lasting well over a calendar week on a unmarried charge.
- The predictive tracking on the GT's doesn't seem to be equally good as the Trimble's or Leica's, I've got mine set up to three seconds but on a busy construction site information technology tin struggle a piffling more than the others, but at least the target search routine is pretty reliable. The RC5 is Mode better than the joystick and GPS search in the Trimble organisation, just I think that Leica's power search is still the best target acquisition routine.
- Vertical mistake seems to be comparable with previous Leica instruments I've used, I've had one dicky resection, but that was easy to place. As far as vertical consistency is concerned I'm difficult pressed to rate anything higher than the Trimble robots I've used.
- Magnet has a few upside downward concepts in there, such as procedures for set collection, and when you tin/tin't utilize a Tin can model for vertical reference. As a whole though I actually have found Magnet to be a pretty refreshing experience. Alot similar Lee has said, a scrap of training goes a long manner, I've found that Magnet actually doesn't feel all also unlike to Trimble Admission as a whole just in some cases more powerful and presented better on screen. We replaced a Trimble GPS rover with a Topcon 1 for 1 of our foreman and he's commented on how much easier he'due south institute Magnet to navigate.
Like Lee I'grand not a Topcon rep, so this is all based solely off of my own experiences. If I had to buy a setup and work for myself tomorrow I'd probably buy a second hand Trimble setup as I'm probably most comfortable and confident all the same with this gear and it's results, but if you were to ask me five years agone I would have said the same things about the Leica 1200+ series. Don't write off the GT every bit a prospective purchase, my suggestion would be to hire before you buy to get a feel for it, and I would actually recommend doing this for all of them, non just the Topcon.
Posted : October 26, 2020 half-dozen:44 am
@zammo
The Magnet set collections is weird, and it gets more strange when you look into the raw data, and take it write the annotation files with the raw data (which are much more accessible than the raw information in the xml).
Had a bit of a kerfuffle getting it to work with Star*Internet (if you need this, talk to the Star*Net tech telephone line...they have some answers).
What was nigh interesting was the revelation that the prepare collection of Magnet reduces sets to accumulated angles. Think of using an old Topcon with the lower motion and how nosotros used to accumulate sets...well, a transmission on how to practice field traverse was written, and that aforementioned transmission still rules the engineering at Topcon (from what I was told). Getting info directly from Topcon is VERY hard. So, Magnet is not "trash", but like all our software is essentially "bespoke", meaning that each manufacture is extremely unique, although they all do the same thing.
Brand sure yous use the Topcon tribrachs rated for the robot!
Posted : October 26, 2020 viii:22 am
@zammo "tin't utilize a TIN model for vertical reference"
You can import a surface model (XML, TN3, TTM) into Magnet for vertical reference. Tin can format specifically is not supported. Can files formats are either from GeoPAK or Carlson. They should be converted to XML.
Posted : October 26, 2020 x:38 am
@leegreen
Yep I should re-phrase that, I have been using terrain models I've brought in from TN3 files which work well, I approximate the term is unlike depending on who you're speaking to, I actually call them DTM'due south.
The specific result I'm having is when staking 2D linework I'd similar to exist able to get the cut/fill values shown in relation to the terrain model at the same time. For the life of me I tin can't notice this setting anywhere, even in the peak left Magnet symbol which seems to exist the magical go to when all promise is lost.
The only other outcome I have with Magnet is constantly having to shoot a dorsum sight for doing a set collection. Most of my work I practise using resections to tape targets I've gear up, and I'm on average hitting less than 2mm misclose over 4-v ii faced readings. I can't understand why I need to resign to a single dorsum sight bespeak for reference when I have more than enough redundancy in the resection, nigh feels like your going backwards from a accuracy point of view. Do you lot have any idea how to plough off the demand for a back sight bank check for each set?
Sorry about all the questions, Topcon robots aren't ordinarily used amongst surveyors down hither in oz then knowledge on little things like this is far a few betwixt, even tech back up has struggled a chip because they haven't had many people downward hither asking enough to proceed them sharp. Other than those couple of bug I'g pretty happy with Magnet Field, afterwards using Topcon role software for the last 15 years it's been nice to use field software which talks the same language.
Posted : Oct 27, 2020 viii:31 pm
@dmyhill
The prepare collection routines have been different for all the instruments I've used, I've probably found the easiest routine is in Trimble Admission. Magnet Fields routine feels a bit convoluted but I tin work through it, hey it'due south not as complicated as what I recall with the Leica 1200 jiggers.
I likewise made the error with the tribrachs, I intended to use the Leica robotic tribrachs which accept the required torsional stiffness for that kind of work, only to find that the GT jigger doesn't actually fit in the tribrach!! Kickoff time I've ever encountered this in over 17 years in the game.
Posted : October 27, 2020 eight:39 pm
@zammo
You are suggesting a routine sectional to Pocket3D software where you lot can pale a 2D line and reference the peak from a blueprint surface. Unfortunately, I've long looked for this in Magnet, and tin't observe it.
The definition of set collection is to mensurate the backsight at each set. Sounds like y'all want just Face1/Face2 angle at each measure point. This is done in Survey >Topo with Survey Settings >Meas. Method Directly/Reverse. This volition allow you to mensurate each side shot, without returning to the backsight.
Posted : October 28, 2020 4:04 am
I merely hope folks from Topcon are reading this thread - good feedback for them.
Topic starter Posted : October 28, 2020 6:30 am
@mark-mayer I apply a Topcon QS now and I accept some experience with The Trimble Due south series (had an S6 in 2005, had an SX-ten in 2017, recently used an S7, S8, etc) I do not love the Topcon robotics simply I assure you that you volition probable never accept a Trimble South series one-time or new, discover your 360 prism at 2500 feet the fashion the Topcon RC system does consistently. All of these instruments have their pros and cons. Once you larn the software and hardware quirks I would say the South series is comparable to the Topcon in productivity and measurement quality. Perchance amend in durability.
With that said, there was a time a couple of years ago when the Topcon Bluetooth system software failed miserably. I believe it was a miscommunication between the Windows 10 updates. The FC-5000 became most inoperable for about 9-12 months earlier Topcon was able to get it worked out. This kind of lag on resolution of technical issues would requite me pause prior to investing in Topcon equipment. The tech back up is not there unless you have a responsive dealer that knows his equipment well to make information technology all work.
If yous can get a great deal on the Topcon gear then it is a practiced option. If the price is similar to the Trimble and you don't regularly have to operate solo at distances greater than 2000' then I would choose the Trimble. Note that in my experience the Trimble S serial robotics are unmatched under m feet and completely useless at distances above 1500 feet without a dedicated instrument operator.
Notation: I take null experience with the Topcon GT and the QS is a 2012 model then the GT is bound to exist improved
Posted : October 28, 2020 ten:00 am
@david-kendall
Presently later on I wrote the preceding diatribe I took possession of a Trimble S5 and used it for several months. It definitely tracked the prism far, far ameliorate than the PS. Admittedly the joystick procedure for finding the target in the first case is not as convenient equally the PS-5 arrangement, and I never could go the GPS locating arrangement of the Trimble to work to my full satisfaction, only locating the target at distances of more than several hundred feet is a thing that just never came up. If I have taken EDM shots in excess of g feet even 10 times in my thirty years in the business I'd be surprised. And so finding the target at farthermost long ranges only isn't a consideration.
In August of this year I took a new chore and when I arrived constitute that the instrument I was assigned to apply is none other than my old favorite, the Topcon PS. This fourth dimension with Tesla/Magnet. The Tesla/Magnet has issues of it'due south own, but the latency problems I experienced with TSC3/Survey Pro are not among them. (It seems that the glass and RC-5 ane this unit must accept been dropped by it'south previous user - there is a chip out of the glass and the global search role does not piece of work. And so I use mostly without the RC-5 at all, which I previously did not know was an option).
Posted : Oct 28, 2020 10:04 pm
@leegreen
Thank you mate, I've been doing the same as what you've stated, I feel a bit better knowing that I haven't missed annihilation 😆 .
I've been using the F1/F2 setting in the topo module for more accurate measurements, I've just had the option in Trimble Admission to exclude the backsight readings in their equivalent module to set collection called 'mensurate rounds'. I was actually hoping that at that place was a setting in the topo module to collect more than one set of F1/F2 to a signal, this is pretty much what I'm looking for. No big deal, just a modest adjustment on my function to get used to the routines.
Hopefully someone from Topcon R&D comes across this thread and adds these functions to it, especially the 2nd line with DTM reference, seems a bit backwards to have information technology in Pocket 3D and not in Magnet. Other than that Magnet Field has been pretty good on my part.
Posted : October 29, 2020 half-dozen:22 am
Source: https://surveyorconnect.com/community/surveying-geomatics/topcon-gt-series-robotic-instrument-looking-for-reviews/paged/3/
0 Response to "Topcon Gt 1000 Series Robotic Total Station Reviews"
Postar um comentário