How to Set Up a Total Station

How to Set Up a Total Station

1. Total
   stations are used by land surveyors and professional engineers to collect
   field data to complete their projects.ü There are
   many different brands of these instruments, but all of them are mounted on
   three-legged tripods and must remain completely level at all times for the
   data to be accurate.
2. Extend
   all three tripod legs to a comfortable heightü Tighten the knobs (IMAGE 1)üOpen up the legs to form a triangle
   on the ground.(IMAGE 2)IMAGE 1 IMAGE 2
3. Using
   both hands at all times, place the instrument on the top of the tripod.
   (IMAGE 3)ü Gently
   secure the instrument with the tripod screw underneath.(IMAGE 4)IMAGE 3
   IMAGE 4
4. Press
   all three tripod legs firmly into the ground.(IMAGE 5)IMAGE 5
5. Raise
   and/or lower each of the tripod legs until the bubble is roughly centered
   in the circular level.
6. For
   fine-tuning, rotate the instrument until it is lined up horizontally with leveling
   screws A and B (IMAGE 6),and turn those same screws evenly in opposite
   directions until the bubble in the plate level is completely
   centered(IMAGE 7).IMAGE 6 IMAGE 7
7. Rotate
   the instrument 90°(perpendicular) and repeat Step 5, but using only the third
   leveling screw instead. (IMAGE 8)IMAGE 8
8. Rotate
   the instrument 90° (perpendicular) back to the first two leveling screws
   to double check that the bubble is still centered in the plate level.
   (IMAGE 9)IMAGE 9
9. The
   instrument is now completely setup and ready to use!