Total Station: Is an electronic piece of equipment used for many applications in construction to find points and locations.
Robotic Total Station: A robotic total station allows an operator to control the instrument from remote.
Common brands of Robotic Total Stations used in the Mechanical Industry:
Trimble, Leica, Topcon, Pentax, and Sokkia
Purpose of Robotic Total Station in the Mechanical Field
The main purpose and use in the Mechanical Field is for Layout
Layout:
-Pipe Hanger Location
-Pipe Sleeves
– Duct Hangers
-Pipe Supports
-Pipe Rack Locations
-Pipe Intersections
-Pump Locations
-Pipe Drains
-Vale Locations
The Process of how the Robotic Total Station works:
After the design of a project is complete and the Mechanical Engineers have completed the design of the mechanical system. CAD designers can incorporate the mechanical CAD drawings into a program that maps out all the locations and points of the items in the mechanical drawings. Some example programs that are used are: AutoCAD MEP 3D, QuickPen DuctDesigner 3D and QuickPen PipeDesigner 3D AutoCAD-based 3D CAD soultions. Once the CAD drawings are entered into one of the programs, the CAD team can map out points for hangers, sleeves, pipe supports, pipe drains, and many other objects.
Once all the points are determined the points can be uploaded into the robotic total station on the jobsite. These points are labeled and designated by any chosen way. The CAD team frequently uses BIM and other programs clash detection to make sure objects are not running into each other.
Before any points can be shot the instrument needs to be set up. All the data is upload in the robotic total station is in coordination with the other trades and contractors. The total station finds its location by using designated bench marks set on the jobsite.
The field personnel then can perform what is known as shooting points. The robotic total station will follow the remote control which can be put on a pole with a prism to help the robotic total station find its location. Once a point is located the person can mark that point. The points can be labeled to come back later with a laser, or if it is on a deck before the concrete is poured sleeves can be installed or bang-its for hanger rods. This process not only saves a lot of time, but it also helps with accuracy.
