NIKON DTM-530 (01) PDF Document

To ensure your safety while using the NIKON DTM-530, safety instructions are indicated with specific symbols. You must follow the instructions marked with these symbols.

WARNING: Disregarding instructions marked with this symbol may lead to death or serious injury.

CAUTION: Disregarding instructions marked with this symbol may lead to injury or property damage.

When operating the NIKON DTM-530, please adhere to the following warnings to prevent serious injury or death:

• Never look at the sun through the telescope. Doing so may cause the loss of your eyesight.

• The NIKON DTM-530 does not feature explosion-protected construction. Do not use it in coal mines, areas contaminated with coal dust, or near other flammable substances.

• Never disassemble, modify, or repair the instrument. Doing so may cause fire, electric shock, or burns.

• Use only the specified charger Q-75U/E for charging the battery pack BC-80. Using other types of chargers may cause fire or rupture. (Note: BC-80 cannot be charged by using the charger Q-7U/E or Q7C.)

• While recharging the battery pack, do not cover the charger with any blanket or clothing which can cause overheating. Ensure the charger can dissipate heat adequately.

• Avoid recharging in humid or dusty places, in direct sunlight, or near heaters. Do not recharge when wet, as this may cause electric shock, overheating, or fire.

• Although the battery pack BC-80 has an auto-reset circuit breaker, avoid shorting the contacts, which may cause fire or burn.

• Never burn or heat the battery, as this could cause rupture or injury.

• When storing the battery pack or charger, prevent short circuits by putting insulating tape on the contact points or using other protective methods. Failure to do so can result in a short circuit, causing a fire, burn, or instrument damage.

To prevent injury or property damage when using your NIKON DTM-530, please observe the following cautions:

• The top of the tripod ferrule is very sharp. Be careful when handling or carrying the tripod.

• Before carrying the instrument in its case, check the shoulder strap and its clasp. A damaged strap or imperfect clasp can lead to an accidental fall.

• Before setting up the tripod, ensure no one’s hands or feet are in the way to avoid injury.

• Firmly fasten the thumb screws of the tripod legs after mounting the instrument. If not, the tripod could collapse, causing injury or damage.

• Securely fasten the clamp screw on the tripod after installing the instrument. Failure to do this may cause the instrument to fall.

• Fasten the leveling base clamp knob securely. If not, the leveling base may fall when you grasp the carrying handle battery.

• Ensure the battery pack is securely clamped and the mounting buttons are in the LOCK position before moving the instrument by the carrying handle. Moving it otherwise may cause the main unit to come loose and fall.

• Do not use the plastic carrying case as a stool, as it is slippery and unstable.

• Do not swing or throw the plumb bob, as it may hit and injure another person.

• Be sure to read the instructions for the Quick Charger Q-75U/E before starting a charging operation.

Proper maintenance is key to the longevity and accuracy of your NIKON DTM-530. Follow these guidelines:

• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun or the heat of a closed vehicle.

• If the instrument has been used in wet conditions, wipe off all moisture and dry it completely before returning it to its case to prevent damage to sensitive electronic assemblies.

• Sudden temperature changes can cloud the lenses or cause electrical failure. If this happens, leave the instrument in a warm location with the case closed until its temperature returns to room temperature.

• Avoid storing the instrument in hot, humid locations. The battery pack should be stored in a dry location at a temperature below 30°C to prevent mold growth and electronic deterioration.

• Store the battery pack with the battery discharged.

• When storing the instrument in areas with extremely low temperatures, leave the carrying case open.

• Do not overtighten any of the clamp screws.

• When adjusting tangent or leveling screws, stay as close as possible to the center of the screw’s range. Use a clockwise rotation for final adjustments.

• If the leveling base will be unused for an extended period, lock down the leveling base clamp knob and tighten its safety screw.

• To clean non-metallic parts like the keyboard or painted surfaces, use a soft cloth lightly moistened with water or mild detergent. Do not use organic solvents like ether or paint thinner.

• Clean optical lenses by lightly wiping them with a soft cloth or lens tissue moistened with alcohol.

Unpacking the NIKON DTM-530:

Handle the DTM-500 series gently to guard against shocks or excessive vibration. To unpack, hold the carrying-handle and take the instrument out of its case.

Packing the NIKON DTM-530:

1. Ensure the instrument is encased with the battery pack attached.

2. Set the telescope in the horizontal “face-left” position.

3. Align the storage mark (●) on the bottom of the face-left keyboard with the mark (▼) on the leveling base clamp knob.

4. Lightly fasten the clamp knobs.

5. Replace the instrument in its case.

Follow these steps to recharge the BC-80 battery pack:

1. Insert the power plug of the charger into an AC outlet.

2. Connect the charging plug to the battery pack’s charging connector.

3. Quick charging will start automatically. Check that the charging indicator lights up.

4. When charging is complete, the charging indicator will go out.

Important Notes on Charging:

• Recharge the battery pack indoors within an ambient temperature range of 0°C to +40°C.

• If the charging indicator blinks when charging starts, there is an error in the battery pack. Stop use and contact your dealer.

• If the indicator stays lit for 3 hours or longer, there may be an issue. Contact your dealer.

• After recharging, do not recharge it again before using or discharging it to prevent performance degradation.

• The battery pack and charger will become warm during charging, which is normal.

• A battery pack left unused for a long period may not fully recharge. In such cases, charge and discharge the battery pack several times to restore its full potential.

Discharging the battery pack can refresh its capacity for normal performance, especially if it has been repeatedly recharged while still having power (known as the Memory effect). It is effective to discharge the battery pack once every 10 recharging cycles.

1. Insert the power plug of the charger into an AC outlet.

2. Connect the charging plug to the battery pack’s charging connector.

3. Press the discharge starting switch to begin discharging. Check that the discharging indicator lights up.

4. When discharging is complete, the discharging indicator goes out, and quick charging starts automatically. The charging indicator will light up.

To stop discharging before completion, press the discharge starting switch again. The discharging will stop, and quick charging will begin.

Always ensure the instrument’s power is turned off before attaching or detaching the battery pack.

Detaching the BC-80:

1. Release the LOCK by turning the battery mounting buttons in the opposite direction of the arrow mark until they stop in the horizontal (UNLOCKED) position.

2. While depressing the battery mounting buttons, raise the battery pack to remove it from the main body.

Attaching the BC-80:

1. Make sure the battery mounting buttons are in the horizontal (UNLOCKED) position.

2. Align the mark (●) on the battery mounting button with the mark (●) on the main body.

3. While depressing the battery mounting buttons, fit the battery pack onto the connecting pins on the top of the main body.

4. Release your fingers from the buttons, allowing the battery pack to settle into position.

5. Turn the mounting buttons in the direction of the arrow mark to the limit (vertical position) to engage the LOCK. The battery pack is now correctly mounted and locked.

1. Open the tripod legs sufficiently so the instrument will be stable.

2. Ensure that the station point is located directly beneath the center hole in the tripod head.

3. Firmly press the tripod ferrules into the ground.

4. Level the top surface of the tripod head.

5. Firmly fasten the thumb screws on the tripod legs.

6. Place the NIKON DTM-530 on the tripod head. Insert the tripod mounting screw into the center hole of the instrument’s base plate and tighten it securely.

Note: Do not carry the instrument while it is attached to the tripod.

Centering is the precise alignment of the instrument’s central axis over a station point. This can be done using a plumb bob or the optical plummet.

Using a Plumb Bob:

1. Place the instrument on the tripod and tighten the mounting screw.

2. Hang the plumb line on the hook of the mounting screw and adjust its length so the tip of the plumb bob is approximately level with the station point.

3. Slightly loosen the tripod mounting screw. Supporting the leveling base with both hands, carefully slide the instrument on the tripod head until the tip of the plumb bob is perfectly positioned over the station point. Confirm alignment by viewing from two directions at right angles to each other.

Using the Optical Plummet:

1. Place the instrument on the tripod head and tighten the mounting screw.

2. Look through the optical plummet and turn the leveling screws to align the station point image with the center mark (◎) of the reticle.

3. While supporting the tripod head, loosen the tripod leg clamps and adjust the leg lengths to center the air bubble in the circular level. Then, tighten the leg clamps.

4. Proceed to the “Leveling” procedure using the plate level.

5. Look through the optical plummet again to reconfirm that the station point is still centered. If there is a slight displacement, loosen the mounting screw and correct the instrument’s position with direct movement (not rotational). If the displacement is major, repeat from step 2.

Leveling refers to the precise vertical alignment of the instrument’s vertical axis. Use the plate level as follows:

1. Loosen the upper plate clamp. Rotate the alidade to position the plate level parallel with any two of the leveling screws (e.g., B and C).

2. Using these two screws, move the bubble to the center of the level.

3. Rotate the alidade approximately 90° and use the third leveling screw (A) to move the bubble to the center of the level again.

4. Repeat steps 1 through 3 until the bubble remains centered in both positions.

5. Rotate the alidade 180°. If the bubble in the plate level remains centered, leveling is complete.

6. If the bubble moves off-center, the plate level needs adjustment. Refer to the “CHECKING AND ADJUSTMENT of Plate Level” section.

Sighting involves aiming the telescope at the target, bringing the target image into focus, and aligning it with the center crosshairs of the reticle. Follow these steps:

1. Diopter Adjustment:

Direct the telescope towards a blank area, such as the sky or a piece of paper. Look through the eyepiece and rotate the diopter ring until the reticle crosshairs are in sharp focus.

2. Elimination of Parallax:

Aim at your target and rotate the focusing ring to bring the target image into focus on the reticle crosshairs. To check for parallax, move your eye vertically and laterally. If the target image moves in relation to the crosshairs, parallax is present. If it moves, rotate the telescope focusing ring to eliminate the parallax. When the target image does not move relative to the crosshairs, parallax has been eliminated.

The NIKON DTM-530 display and keys provide access to all its functions. Here is a summary of the major keys and their functions:

1. Sight a prism reflector:

Sight the telescope crosshairs on the center of the prism reflector. When the reflected light is detected, the signal level is indicated on the display. WARNING: Never view the sun through the telescope.

2. Measure distances:

Press the [MSR] or [TRK] key on the Basic Measurement Screen (BMS) or any other observation screen to take a measurement. To abort the measurement, press the [MSR], [TRK], or [ESC] key during the measurement.

• If the Average count is set to 0, measurements are taken continuously until a key is pressed to stop them.

• If the Average count is set to 1 – 99, the averaged distance is displayed at the end. The header “SD:” changes to “SDx” for the averaged value.

3. Measurement mode settings:

Holding down the [MSR] or [TRK] key shows the measurement mode settings screen. You can change the following:

• MSR/TRK mode: Precise (Prec) or Normal.

• Distance Resolution (Reso): High or Low.

• Average count: 0 (Continuous) to 99.

• Target: Prism or Reflective Sheet (Sheet).

Press the [STN] key to display the menu for station setup. You can choose from several methods:

1:Known: Setup with known coordinates or azimuth.

• Press [1] and input the station point number/name.

• If the point is new, input its coordinates. If known, they will be displayed.

• Input the instrument height (HI).

• Choose a method for setting the backsight: [1:Coord] (by coordinates) or [2:Angle] (by azimuth).

• Input the backsight point data, sight the BS point, and press [ENT].

2: 2-Point Resection:

• Press [2] and input the first known point and its target height.

• Sight the first known point and press [MSR] or [TRK].

• Input the second known point and its target height.

• Sight the second known point and press [MSR] or [TRK].

• The observation error is displayed. Press [4:OK] or [ENT] to proceed.

• Input the instrument height (HI) to complete the setup.

3: 3-Point Resection:

• Similar to 2-point resection, but requires measuring angles to three known points.

4: Default Station:

• Sets up the station without coordinates. The instrument uses a default station point name and the current horizontal circle reading (HA) as the backsight azimuth.

5: Remote Benchmark:

• Determines the station elevation by measuring to a known benchmark (BM).

6: BSCheck:

• Checks the backsight direction after a station has been set up.

Press the [S-O] key to display the stakeout menu. Select your desired method.

1: Ang-Dist (Specifying by Angle and Distance)

1. Press [1] to display the screen for inputting distances (HD, dVD) and angle (HA) to the target.

2. Input the values and press [ENT].

3. Rotate the instrument until the horizontal angle difference (dHA) is close to 0°00’00”.

4. Sight the target (prism pole) and press [MSR] or [TRK].

5. The screen shows the errors: dHA (horizontal angle), R/L (lateral error), and IN/OUT (longitudinal error).

6. Advise the rodman to adjust the position until the displayed errors become 0.000m.

2: XYZ (Specifying by Coordinates)

1. Press [2] to start Stakeout by Coordinates.

2. Input the point number/name you want to stake out. You can also search by code or radius.

3. Once the point is specified, the display shows the required angle and distance to the target.

4. Rotate the instrument until the dHA is close to 0°00’00”.

5. Press [MSR] or [TRK] to measure to the prism.

6. The screen will display the errors for the rodman to adjust their position. Adjust until the errors are zero.

The NIKON DTM-530 organizes survey data into databases called Jobs. Press the [MENU] key and then [1] to enter the Job Manager.

Opening an Existing Job:

• The current job is marked with an asterisk (*). Use the up/down arrow keys to select the desired job and press [ENT] to open it.

Creating a New Job:

• In the Job list, press the [MENU] key again to see the sub-function menu.

• Select [1:Create] and input a job name (up to 8 characters).

• You will be prompted to confirm or change the Job settings (e.g., Scale Factor, Units, Coordinate Order). These settings are fixed once the job is created.

• Press [ENT] on the last setting line to create the new job.

Deleting a Job:

• In the Job list, move the cursor to the job you want to delete.

• Press the [MENU] key and select [2:DEL].

• A confirmation screen will appear. Press [ENT] or [4] to delete. Note: There is no “UNDELETE” function.

Setting a Control Job:

• A Control Job stores common survey data (like control points) for use across multiple jobs.

• In the Job list, move the cursor to the job you want to assign as the Control Job.

• Press the [MENU] key and select [3:Control].

• Press [ENT] or [4] to confirm. The job will be marked with an “@” symbol.

This adjustment makes the axis of the level vial perpendicular to the instrument’s vertical axis.

1) Checking:

1. Set up and level the instrument as described in the leveling procedure.

2. Rotate the alidade 180°.

3. Check if the bubble remains in the center of the vial. If it moves, it needs adjustment.

2) Adjustment:

1. Using the supplied adjusting pin, rotate the plate level’s adjustment screw to move the bubble and eliminate half of the displacement you observed.

2. Use the leveling screw A to take up the remaining displacement, centering the bubble.

3. Recheck by rotating 180° again, and repeat the adjustment if necessary.

This procedure aligns the optical axis of the plummet with the vertical axis of the instrument.

1) Checking:

1. Place the instrument on the tripod. No leveling is necessary for this check.

2. Place a thick sheet of paper marked with an ‘X’ on the ground directly below the instrument.

3. Look through the optical plummet and use the leveling screws to bring the image of the ‘X’ to the center of the reticle mark (◎).

4. Rotate the alidade approximately 180°.

5. If the marked ‘X’ image remains in the center of the reticle, no adjustment is required. If it has moved, proceed to the adjustment.

2) Adjustment:

1. Using the supplied minus screwdriver, turn the adjustment screws to move the reticle and align the ‘X’ marking with position ‘P’. ‘P’ is the center point of the line connecting the displaced ‘X’ marking and the center of the reticle mark.

2. Recheck by repeating steps 3 to 5 of the checking procedure. Repeat the adjustment if necessary.