Leveling the total station

The compensator inside the total station provides dual-axis correction for any misleveling of the instrument during operation, for a working range of up to 6' of arc. The display enables you to level the total station accurately using the foot-screws on the tribrach. If the total station is too far off level, no level data will appear in this screen. To fix this, get the bubble on the total station tribrach approximately level:

To level the total station:

1. Align the front face of the total station with two tribrach foot-screws.

2. Adjust the horizontal bubble in the display using those same two foot-screws.

3. Adjust the vertical bubble using the third foot-screw.

4. Once level, tap ACCEPT.

You can disable the compensator, however, only do this in extreme working conditions such as when working:

• near a piling rig, vibratory compactor, or other source of extreme ground vibration that continuously affects the compensation effect on the total station.

• on a mobile platform where the level is continuously changing, but where all measurements are needed in the reference frame of the platform itself, for example on a marine vessel or oil platform.

• in extremely windy conditions where wind buffet on the total station is significant and continuously affects the compensation of the total station.

If the compensator is switched off, the total station stops correcting for instrument mislevel. In these situations, watch and adjust the level on a regular basis. At this point, Trimble assumes that the total station is set up accurately over a known point (see Setting up on a known point) or that you have set it up in a convenient location, and will establish its position via a resection using the Arbitrary location (see Arbitrary location).