HEX-CAL

HexCal User Guide for Marine

These notes assist anyone using a total station and the HexCal application to complete a measure-up on a backhoe or excavator used in a marine application with Trimble Marine Construction (TMC) software.

Important: Place CT1 and CT2 on a flat surface parallel to the center of the boom. CT1 is closest to the cab.

GNSS measure-up

As part of the UTS measure-up, and in addition to the standard excavator measure-up routine, the following information is required for a marine excavator system:

• Heading adjustment
• Primary (left) antenna offset from COR

Using the Measure-up target (PN 105568) correctly seated on the radome of the GNSS antenna, take a measurement to the top of the radome of each GNSS antenna.

Note: The target height from APC is 202.8 mm.

Measure-up points

Measure the following points using a total station set on an arbitrary point. Create a CSV file with the correct point names.

• CB1 and CB2 are points on the centreline of the boom (optional).
• COR1, COR2 and COR3 are points on the slew ring used to determine COR.
• CT1 and CT2 are on a flat surface parallel to the centre of the boom. CT1 is closest to the cab.
• LM and RM are the left and right APC (antenna phase centre) of the GNSS antennas.
• TRACK is usually the underside of the cab or top of the slew ring for marine measure-ups.

Using HexCal

1. Drag and drop the CSV file into HexCal.
2. Define the delimiter and point order.
3. Add the machine pitch and roll from the EC520.
4. Measure the X distance in the machine frame from measured point A to the centre of the boom. If A is to the right of the boom, the value is negative (v3.11 and earlier).
5. Hit Calculate.

If point COR is in the CSV file, it will be used. Otherwise, points COR1, COR2 and COR3 will be used to compute COR.

For marine measure-ups, COR elevation = TRACK = underside of cab.

Amphibious HEX and permanent HEX installations

Some excavators used in marine applications cannot rotate 360 degrees by design. This may be an excavator without tracks permanently installed on a construction barge, or a Watermaster or Amphibex excavator. The amphibious machine is a hybrid configuration consisting of a marine vessel and operator cabin, with linkage that rotates 180 degrees horizontally around the A pin.

Because of this design and/or functionality, body calibration of the EC520 through typical workflows is not possible and requires a patch file to allow calibration with only 180 degrees of linkage rotation.

When it is not possible to rotate the machine 360 degrees for the EC520 calibration process, a patch file may be generated. The following measurements and information are required:

1. Contact Construction_Support@trimble.com with a minimum of two weeks' advance notice about the installation.
2. Use UTS and HexCal for the measure-up process.
3. Create a measure-up CSV file containing:
   1. CT1 and CT2
   2. A
   3. SEC, the centre of the EC520 bracket. Remove the EC from the bracket and centre an acrylic target on the bracket.
   4. TRACK
   5. COR1, COR2 and COR3
4. Machine pitch and roll
5. EC520 serial number and version, or machine zsnap
6. EC520 connector and label direction with a photo

Generate and submit the patch file

Enter the required measurements and select Generate Patch file. Send the patch file together with requirements 3 to 6 above to Construction_Support@trimble.com, referencing the same support case.

The patch file will be reviewed and modified if necessary before being returned. It may be provided within one week of the dealer submitting the required measurements.

After the patch file is applied, EC520 pitch and roll calibration will be set to zero. If pitch and roll calibration values are required to adjust the EC520 values, make that adjustment in the TMC software.