# To adjust a Trimble SX10 or SX12

These steps apply to a Trimble SX10 or SX12 scanning total station connected to the controller.

1. Set up the instrument on a stable surface.
2. Connect the instrument to the controller running Trimble Access.
3. Make sure that the instrument is accurately leveled and that the compensator is enabled. Do not start a survey.
4. Tap and select Instrument / Adjust.

5. Select the required calibration then follow the prompts to complete.

   For more information on any of these procedures, refer to the Trimble SX10/SX12 Scanning Total Station In-Field Calibration Guide.

6. If any of the calibrations fail, or any error messages appear, ensure the instrument is stable and the specific calibration requirements are being met. Then repeat the process. If there is still an issue, contact your Trimble distributor.

Compensator calibration

The compensator calibration ensures that the instrument can adjust for the tilt of the instrument.

When to perform this adjustment

- Immediately prior to high precision measurements in one face.
- Whenever the instrument may have been roughly handled during transport.
- After extended working or storage periods.
- If there has been a significant temperature difference from the previous calibration.
- When you have a significant difference when turning the instrument 180°, between the absolute values for the sighting and trunnion on the Electronic level screen. For example, a difference of 8" (0.0025 gon) will cause a difference of 2 mm at 100 m.

Any measurement errors introduced by collimation, tilt, or trunnion axis errors are cancelled when two-face measurements are used.

Setup instructions

It is important that the instrument has been powered on for at least 5 minutes before you start the calibration procedure to ensure that the compensator has warmed up.

Autolock collimation

Perform the Autolock collimation test to determine and store the tracker collimation error values in the instrument. The Autolock collimation correction values are then applied to all subsequent angle measurements observed when Autolock is enabled. Angles observed in a single face are then corrected for collimation errors.

When to perform this adjustment

- Immediately prior to high precision measurements in one face.
- Whenever the instrument may have been roughly handled during transport.
- After extended working or storage periods.
- If there has been a significant temperature difference from the previous calibration.

Any measurement errors introduced by collimation, tilt, or trunnion axis errors are cancelled when two-face measurements are used.

Setup instructions

- The compensator calibration should always be performed immediately prior to performing the Autolock collimation.
- Set up the prism at least 100 m from the instrument, and within 9° (10 gon) of horizontal. Ensure there are no obstacles between the instrument and the prism.
- Use a single prism for the collimation. Do not use a Trimble 360°, VX/S series 360° or R10 360° prism.

Telecamera auto focus

This adjustment stores new values for the Telecamera auto focus motor in the instrument.

When to perform this adjustment

- Perform the Telecamera auto focus adjustment if you identify an issue with the auto focus of the Telecamera in the field, for example a fuzzy telecamera image.
- The Telecamera auto focus adjustment does not need to be performed as frequently as the other adjustments, only if you identify a fuzziness with the telecamera image.
- No other adjustments need to be completed before performing the Telecamera auto focus adjustment.

Setup instructions

- This adjustment should be conducted with a target or object that has distinct lines/edges approximately 10 meters from the instrument and in good light conditions.
- Trimble recommends the laser adjustment plate, coaxial target (P/N 57013007) or similar.

If the Telecamera auto focus adjustment does not improve the auto focus, perform the adjustment again. If the Telecamera auto focus values for Face 1 and Face 2 differ by more than 10 after a short time period, and/or the auto focus is still out of focus, contact Trimble Support.

Automatic camera collimation

To be able to perform these adjustments, the instrument must have firmware S2.1.9 or later installed.

Perform the Automatic camera collimation to determine and correct for collimation errors between Face 1 and Face 2 for the Overview, Primary or Telecamera camera. Angles observed in a single face are corrected for collimation errors, which eliminates the need to measure in both instrument faces.

If you are using an SX12 and the laser pointer is enabled, the software disables the laser pointer when you open the Automatic camera collimation screen.

When to perform these adjustments

- Important: Each camera has its own calibration parameters and you should only calibrate the camera(s) that are exhibiting erroneous behavior.
- The compensator calibration should always be performed immediately prior to performing the Automatic camera collimation.
- Camera collimation should not need to be performed frequently. The cameras are extensively calibrated in the factory and these calibrations are very stable over time and temperature.
- You should perform the Automatic camera collimation if you notice any of the following:
  - If you observe deviations between the camera image and measured points.
  - If you aim to an object in Face 1, switch to Face 2, and you can clearly see that the crosshairs do not align properly.
  - During scanning if the scans are colorized and you can see a mismatch between colorization of scan points and overlaid images.

Setup instructions

The selected target scene, which is everything inside the frame drawn on the video feed, requires:

- Objects that have clear features in two different directions. For example a horizontal and vertical line.
- All objects should be in the same depth of field, with no more than 5% difference in the distance to all objects.
- Avoid shiny or reflective objects that are reflecting other objects.
- All objects within the frame must be static for the duration of the calibration. There should be no movement, such as objects moving in the wind or moving traffic behind objects.
- For easier target identification, use the second zoom level for the selected camera to maximize the frame size and make it easier to identify the target. For the:
  - Overview camera, use zoom level 2.

  - Primary camera, use zoom level 4.

  - Telecamera, use zoom level 6.
- To achieve the best collimation results, set up the target at the recommended distance for the selected camera. For the:
  - Overview camera, select a target at a distance of 10 m.

  - Primary camera, select a target at a distance of 20 m.

  - Telecamera, select a target at a distance of 50 m.

Before starting the collimation, Trimble recommends changing the instrument face, to ensure that the chosen object within the frame looks the same in both faces. If it does not, then it is likely that the calibration will fail, so you should choose a different target.

For more information on selecting suitable targets, refer to the Trimble SX10/SX12 Scanning Total Station In-Field Calibration Guide.

Results

The image matching threshold is 0.5 pixels for the Overview and Primary cameras, and 0.8 pixels for the Telecamera. This threshold is used to determine suitable images from which to do the calibration and exclude outliers. The overall standard deviation of the calibration will be within this tolerance, but is typically around 0.2 pixels.

The size of a pixel depends on the camera used and the distance to the target. At a distance of 25 m (82 ft) to the target, 1 pixel equates to:

- 10 mm (0.39 in.) with the Overview camera.

- 2.2 mm (0.08 in.) with the Primary camera.

- 0.44 mm (0.02 in.) with the Telecamera.

To reset the collimation to the factory default setting, select the camera and then tap Reset in the Automatic camera collimation screen.

Plummet camera calibration

To be able to perform this adjustment, the instrument must have firmware S2.1.9 or later installed.

Perform the Plummet camera calibration to calculate and correct to the rotational center of the plummet camera. The plummet camera image is then shifted to correspond to the center pixel for the camera sensor. This calibration ensures that the crosshairs are in the same location, regardless of instrument orientation.

When to perform this adjustment

- Important: Each camera has its own calibration parameters and you should only calibrate the camera(s) that are exhibiting erroneous behavior.
- The Plummet camera calibration should not need to be performed frequently. The camera is extensively calibrated in the factory and these calibrations are very stable over time and temperature.
- Carry out this adjustment if you set up the instrument over a target and when you rotate the instrument you notice that the plummet camera crosshairs scribe a circle, instead of remaining in the same position.

Setup instructions

The selected target scene, which is everything inside the frame drawn on the video feed, requires:

- Objects that have clear features in two different directions. For example a horizontal and vertical line.
- All objects should be in the same depth of field, with no more than 5% difference in the distance to all objects.
- Avoid shiny or reflective objects that are reflecting other objects.
- All objects within the frame must be static for the duration of the calibration. There should be no movement, such as objects moving in the wind or moving traffic behind objects.
- To achieve the best collimation results, set up the target at the furthest distance possible. To do this, set up the instrument as tall as possible within the plummet camera working range (1.0–2.5 m).

For more information on selecting suitable targets, refer to the Trimble SX10/SX12 Scanning Total Station In-Field Calibration Guide.

Results

The image matching threshold is 0.5 pixels, so all calibration results will be within this tolerance. For the plummet camera, the size of one pixel depends on the instrument height. At an instrument height of 1.55 m (5.08 ft), 1 pixel equates to 0.2 mm (0.008 in.).

To reset the calibration to the factory default setting, tap Reset in the Plummet camera calibration screen.

Laser pointer collimation

This instrument adjustment applies only to an Trimble SX12 scanning total station fitted with a laser pointer.

Perform the Laser pointer collimation to determine and correct for collimation errors between Face 1 and Face 2 for the laser pointer in the SX12. The angles to the laser pointer location in a single face are then corrected for collimation errors.

When to perform this adjustment

You should perform the laser pointer collimation if you aim to an object in Face 1 with the laser spot, switch to Face 2, and you can clearly see that the laser spot does not align properly. Or in the following scenarios:

- Immediately prior to high precision measurements in one face.
- Whenever the instrument may have been roughly handled during transport.
- After extended working or storage periods.
- If there has been a significant temperature difference from the previous calibration.

Any measurement errors introduced by collimation, tilt, or trunnion axis errors are cancelled when two-face measurements are used.

Setup instructions

Choose a DR target over 30 m away where you can clearly see the laser spot. An angles only measurement will be taken on each face.

Results

The collimation value can be a maximum of 60". If you get a larger collimation adjustment value then please contact your Trimble distributor.

Laser pointer auto focus

This instrument adjustment applies only to an Trimble SX12 scanning total station fitted with a laser pointer.

This adjustment stores new values for the laser auto focus motor in the instrument.

When to perform this adjustment

- Perform the Laser focus calibration if you identify an issue with the auto focus of the laser spot in the field, for example a blurry laser pointer spot.
- The laser focus calibration does not need to be performed as frequently as other instrument adjustments, only if you identify a fuzzy or blurry laser spot.
- No other adjustments need to be completed before performing the Laser focus calibration.

Setup instructions

Choose a DR target over 30 m away where you can clearly see the laser spot.

Results

If the laser pointer auto focus calibration does not improve the clarity of the laser spot, perform the adjustment again. If the auto focus is still out of focus, contact your Trimble distributor.