EDM settings

Set the Direct Reflex switch to Yes to enable DR mode.

When the EDM is in DR mode, it can measure to non-reflective instruments. When you turn on DR, the software automatically switches to Target DR. When you turn off DR, the software returns to the last used non‑DR target.

You can also enable DR mode by tapping DR in the Instrument functions screen, or by changing the target to Target DR.

Select the Laser pointer check box to enable the laser pointer. You may need to enable the Direct Reflex switch in the EDM settings screen to enable DR mode and make the Laser pointer check box available.

You can also enable or disable the laser by tapping Laser in the Instrument functions screen.

For a Trimble SX12 scanning total station:

• When the EDM is in standard mode:
  • The laser pointer is steady when the Laser power is set to Low-light or Standard.
  • The laser pointer flashes a regular on-off flash pattern when the Laser power is set to Extended range flashing.
  • In standard mode the camera crosshair is aligned with the laser pointer. The EDM alignment may differ from the laser pointer, depending on instrument and ambient temperature and range (up to 20 mm @ 50 m). The measurement will, however, be made at the position where the laser pointer and crosshair is aimed.
• When the EDM is in tracking mode:
  • The laser pointer flashes an on-on-off flash pattern to indicate the laser pointer may not be exactly aligned with the camera crosshair and EDM.
  • In tracking mode the camera crosshair is aligned with the EDM. The laser pointer alignment may differ from the EDM, depending on instrument and ambient temperature and range (up to 20 mm @ 50 m).

  • During stakeout, if the laser pointer is enabled, the Stakeout screen shows the Mark point softkey instead of the Measure softkey. When you tap Mark point, the instrument changes to STD mode and the laser pointer changes to solid and moves to position itself at the EDM location. When the point is stored the instrument automatically returns to TRK mode and the laser pointer resumes flashing. See To stake out points.

    For more information, refer to the Inside the Trimble SX12: Deep Dive into Trimble Laser Pointer white paper, available from geospatial.trimble.com.

To manually focus the laser, tap the Manual focus softkey and then tap the arrows to adjust the focus and obtain a smaller laser spot. When enabled, MF appears on the instrument icon in the status bar. Manual focus is particularly useful when the laser is pointing at a non-reflective surface, meaning the instrument is unable to obtain a distance to allow automated focus.

The Trimble S8 or S9 total station can be equipped with a 3R high power laser pointer.

Select the 3R high power laser pointer check box to enable the laser pointer. You can also enable or disable the laser by tapping 3R HP Laser in the Instrument functions screen.

When using the high power laser pointer:

• The instrument can automatically turn to measure to the laser pointer location, even though the laser pointer is not coaxial with the telescope. When you take a distance measurement and the 3R high-power laser pointer is on, a preliminary measurement is taken to determine the vertical angle to turn the instrument so that the distance is measured to where the high-power laser pointer is pointing. The instrument automatically turns to that location and takes the measurement. The instrument then turns so that the high-power laser again points to the measured position. The preliminary measurement is not stored. This function does not occur during continuous topo.
• The calculation of the vertical angle to turn to assumes the horizontal distance to the preliminary measurement is similar to the distance to the high power laser pointer location. To measure to the high power laser point when it is near the upper or lower edge of an object, consider using face 1 to take measurements at the lower edge of an object, and face 2 to take measurements at the upper edge of an object so that the preliminary measurement does not overshoot the object you are measuring to.

For a Trimble SX12 scanning total station, use the Laser power field to set the brightness of the laser spot reflection. Select:

• Low-light: When working indoors, in low ambient light conditions, when pointing at highly reflective surfaces, or at close range.
• Standard: When working in normal conditions.
• Extended range flashing: To find the laser spot when working in difficult conditions, including outdoors, in high ambient light conditions, when pointing at low to non-reflective surfaces, or at long range.

To blink the laser and the tracklight or the target illumination light (TIL) when storing a point measured with DR mode, select the number of times the laser will blink in the Blink laser field.

The Blink laser field is not available when the Laser power field is set to Extended range flashing (SX12 only).

To define the acceptable accuracy of a measurement, enter a Prism standard deviation or DR standard deviation value, depending on the mode the instrument is in. When measuring to diffuse targets the standard deviation is displayed on the status line until the standard deviation satisfies the defined value. Once the standard deviation is satisfied, the measurement is accepted. To accept the measurement before the standard deviation is satisfied, tap Enter while the standard deviation is displayed on the status line.

Enter a suitable DR minimum and maximum distance for your survey. Increasing the maximum distance will increase the time that it takes for a measurement to complete, even if the distance being measured is less than the specified maximum. The default maximum distance provides a balance between measurement time and range. Increase the maximum distance if you are working at longer ranges. To restrict the DR measurement range, enter a minimum and maximum distance to avoid a result from a distant or intermittent object.

Use the long range mode when a strong instrument signal is required for measuring to targets more than one kilometer (about 0.6 miles) away.

To accept measurements at a lower accuracy (that is, below the normal instrument specification), enable Weak signal.

Use 10 Hz tracking when a faster update rate is required when using Tracking mode.