GOMACO Fine Grade Trimmer 3D System

The world-first 3D-Machine-Automation-System for GOMACO fine-grade Trimmers.

The Leica LMGS-S interfaces with GOMACO trimmers, ideal for the following applications:

• Highway construction
• Railway construction (high-speed trackbeds)
• Airport taxiways, runways, hardstandings, etc.

System Components

Conventionally, fine-grade trimmers are controlled for elevation and steering by one or more stringlines. But stringlines

• are expensive, time-consuming and error-prone to install, (US$1.50 per pin, or > US$500 per mile plus the surveyor costs)
• are easily damaged during paving (significant site safety hazard) and easily misaligned,
• interfere with site logistics,
• greatly increase pre-production planning & surveyors workload
• increase concrete delivery time and haulage costs.

With the Leica Geosystems unique LMGS-S 3D control system, the machine is controlled without stringlines. Starting from the project data, the actual 3D prism position is measured by one or two Total station(s) and transmitted by radios between 6-8 times per second to the Leica Machine Computer (MPC). High-accuracy machine-mounted slope sensors provide additional information on the long-slope and cross-slope of the machine's trimmerhead. The results of this design-vs-actual comparison representing the amount of the position-, elevation- and slope-correction required to bring the machine back on-line and on-grade within an accuracy of ±3mm, and steered within ±10mm.

The key components of the 3D system are:

• Industrial PC
• Application program "LMGS-S"
• Total station with TCPS27S radio data modem
• Dual-axis tilt sensor
• Required accessories such as prisms, masts, etc.

Benefits of the Leica LMGS-S system:

• With the machine under fully automatic control, the driver can concentrate fully on the production process.
• All information needed during the working procedure is available.
• Better operational safety and reliability result in greater paving speed and productivity.
• Major cost savings - no installation and maintenance of control strings required.
• High-precision trimming (± 3mm in paving height and ± 10mm in position).
• Project data produced by any CAD system can be effectively transferred 1:1 onto the terrain on site.
• Continuous trimming (without stopping the machine) if multiple Total stations are used
• Existing GOMACO trimmers can be upgraded or "retro-fitted" to run with the Leica Geosystems 3-D Machine Guidance Systems (requires GOMACO G21 controller)
• Key components can be used in GOMACO mainline, WIRTGEN, Pavers, Graders, Dozers, etc.

New features of LMGS-S Version 4.0

• Support for Leica TPS1200 Instruments with the onboard application M-Guide
• Fully-independent height and position adjustment
• Leapfrog Assistant for easier Total station changeovers (switch between the prism from one Total station to another, continuous trimming)