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Surveying Prisms

(4 Styles Available)
  • Ships Factory Direct
  • Full Manufacturer Warranty
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Surveying Prisms

(4 Styles Available)
  • Ships Factory Direct
  • Full Manufacturer Warranty
  • 30 Day Money Back Guarantee
  • Price Match Guarantee

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a surveyor’s prism used for?

A surveyor’s prism, also known as a corner cube, serves as a retroreflector for total stations and other electronic distance measuring (EDM) instruments.

How does a surveying prism work?

In distance measurement, a surveying prism works by reflecting or redirecting the transmitted measuring beam back to the EDM device, all without scattering it. Then, the device processes the signal and calculates the distance of the beam. 

What does a prism offset mean?

A prism offset refers to how a surveying prism is positioned in its holder. It corrects the distance measured by the transmitted beam from the EDM device since light travels differently through the prism’s glass. Prism offsets are typically 0, -17.5 mm, -30 mm, -34 mm, and -40 mm.

What does a zenith angle mean when using a surveying prism?

A zenith angle or a vertical angle is the angle measured directly from the upper end of the vertical axis to the horizontal axis or to the lower end of the vertical axis (nadir). When using an EDM device for slope measurements, a zenith angle is measured to the target and the slope distance to the prism.

What should I look for when buying a prism?

Apart from its quality and brand, the surveying prism must have an accurate beam deviation. This ensures that the prism can return the beam to the EDM device precisely for accurate distance measurement.

Surveying Prisms

Measuring long distances outdoors is a must in surveying projects. This task requires the use of electronic distance measuring (EDM) instruments, such as total stations, which usually needs targets to measure vertical and horizontal angles, coordinates, and distances of slopes. Because these instruments produce waves when ranging, the targets that perfectly complement them are retroreflectors or prisms. Prisms can reflect light back toward the instrument in a straight direction without scattering it. They can therefore help surveyors establish control points with high accuracy at a comfortable height. When choosing which prism to use for surveying, Engineer Warehouse has carefully selected the best prisms that will surely suit your needs. Since the light beams generated by EDM instruments take a longer time to exit the prism, the accuracy of the distance measured is adversely affected. This is why most of these prisms have 0/-30mm offset, which means that they correct the distance measured by altering the transmitted light coming from the instrument. These prisms are guaranteed to have high-quality glass, assemblies, and refractive index for accurate measurements and optimal performance. Constructed with durable materials, these prisms will surely last through years of surveying.

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