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Ah! Somebody else writing about theodolites :-)
Too bad the article is so limited. Right angle, or bent path, theodolites were used extensively in meteorological observations of winds aloft. The PIBAL (pilot balloon) was tracked with a theodolite and winds were calculated by measuring azimuth and elevation of the balloon at fixed, usually one minute, intervals and by knowing the ascent rate of the balloon (balloons were filled to a precise amount of lift). Although not used to any great extent today, balloon soundings are still taken to a limited extent.
JET
please,show the setting up of the theodolite
I have just created this article as a request on WP:AFC. Please have a look at it and see if it warrants an article on its own or if it would better be merged into here. Also if you know anything about it, feel free to expand it.and to see the moon.
I have just expanded the gyrotheodolite section and removed the misleading paragraph. Maybe it needs a new page --King of Tea Tree (talk) 11:03, 24 January 2008 (UTC)
Here's the thing: the page says a theodolite combines a telescope with measuring technology, and was invented in 1571. I thought the telescope made its appearance in 1608! I know Digges is said to have constructed a telescope, but that was a reflector; can't be what we're talking about here...so what's the solution to this discrepency?
A theodolite is a precision instrument used for measuring angles in horizontal and vertical planes. While theodolites are commonly associated with surveying and construction, they can also find applications in manufacturing processes. Here are a few ways theodolites can be used in manufacturing:
Alignment and Positioning: Theodolites can be used to align and position large machinery or equipment accurately. For example, in manufacturing plants where precision is crucial, such as automotive or aerospace industries, theodolites can help align components during assembly or ensure accurate placement of molds and tooling.
Quality Control and Inspection: Theodolites can be used for quality control purposes, verifying the dimensional accuracy of manufactured parts. By measuring angles and distances, theodolites can help assess the alignment, straightness, and flatness of surfaces, ensuring they meet the required specifications. This is particularly useful in industries where precision and tight tolerances are critical, such as the production of turbine blades or optical components.
Geometric Measurements: Theodolites can assist in measuring various geometric parameters, such as angles, distances, heights, and elevations. These measurements can be useful for verifying the geometry of components, ensuring they conform to design specifications. Theodolites can be employed to measure the angles and alignments of features on manufactured parts, checking for deviations or verifying proper assembly.
Calibration: Theodolites themselves need to be calibrated periodically to ensure their accuracy. In manufacturing settings, theodolites may be used as part of the calibration process for other equipment or instruments. For example, in coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) used for precise dimensional measurement, theodolites can be employed to verify and calibrate their performance.
Overall, theodolites offer a means to measure angles and distances with high accuracy, making them valuable tools in manufacturing processes that require precision, alignment, and quality control. Their versatility and ability to provide precise measurements make them suitable for various applications, aiding in efficient and reliable manufacturing operations Jual Theodolite Digital.
The history section states that the theodolite derives from the plane table alidade. Since the plane table dates to the 17th century and Digges described the theodolite in 1571, there's an obvious discrepancy. The theodolite derives from prior instruments such as the geometric square and various graduated circles and semi-circles.
BTW - Leonard wrote the book, his son Thomas published it posthumously. The full title is A geometric practice named Pantometria.
Digges was preceded by Gregorius Reisch who described such an instrument in Margarita Philosophica, Strasburg, 1512.
This section needs a serious re-write. I'll be back! :-) Michael Daly 22:13, 5 October 2007 (UTC)
The article says theodolites could meassure "angular scales accurately to within a second of arc" since several centuries ago. I doubt this is true but I'm not sure, some modern theodolites aren't that accurate.--200.125.48.41 14:54, 17 October 2007 (UTC)
Apologies in advance. What is the difference between a "Theodolite" and a sextant? "Theo" itself seems a little pretentious, being God and such, at least in it's "Theo's" incarnation. Isn't it actually Mr. Everest's own named "Sextant" that helped the fine fellow measure the Great Mount? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.171.75.225 (talk) 06:25, 22 April 2008 (UTC)
A tachometer measures speed of rotation, a tacheometer measures quickly. I have changed the spelling in article. King of Tea Tree (talk) 23:24, 28 July 2008 (UTC)
This article does a poor job of explaining how a theodolite is actually operated. For example, in the introduction, the text states "when the telescope is pointed at a desired object, the angle of each of these axes [horizontal and vertical] can be measured with great precision, typically on the scale of arcseconds." Apart from the inaccuracy in the description (the angles measured are the angle between the object's line of sight and two perpendicular planes -- presumably the horizontal plane and a vertical plane through a meridian), how is the horizontal plane established? Is there a spirit level built into every theodolite? Later, the article mentions plumb bobs and levels but doesn't clearly establish how they are used. Similarly, is the angle in the horizontal pane determined by a compass that determines magnetic north? i.e., is there a compass built into every theodolite? The "concept of operations" doesn't say. Ross Fraser (talk) 22:52, 17 May 2009 (UTC)
The Caption in Diagram of an Optical Theodolite says that the vertical angle is 94deg, 12min, 44sec.
I think it should be 94deg, 02min, 44sec. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.46.200.232 (talk) 16:51, 10 May 2010 (UTC)
In particular, the sentence:
The instrument known as the engineer's transit was the same from maybe the 19th century until electronics took over. It was as described in the above sentence. A theodolite was always the high-precision version of a transit, which sometimes was unable to "transit" the telescope. There were further breakdowns of these general terms. Tfr000 (talk) 22:23, 30 May 2012 (UTC)
See, for instance,
Tfr000 (talk) 12:50, 31 May 2012 (UTC)
I suspect that the quoted sentence came about because the middle of the 20th century is when high-quality, high-precision optical theodolites of European manufacture (brand name Wild) started to be widely used in America, rather than the other way around. Tfr000 (talk) 13:23, 31 May 2012 (UTC)
See:
Tfr000 (talk) 13:29, 31 May 2012 (UTC)
Apparently, in Europe, the term is theodolite for all of these instruments. The distinction between transit and theodolite seems to have been an American thing. Tfr000 (talk) 15:30, 31 May 2012 (UTC)
Looking back through the edit history here, it seems the article used to be more clear on these points:
Probably we should restore this to make it more understandable. As is, it reads like the term "transit" for a lower-precision theodolite came around mid-20th-century, when in fact that's what it stood for all along. Tfr000 (talk) 18:26, 31 May 2012 (UTC)
Insley, J.; (2008) The Tale of the Great Theodolites. Londen: Science Museum. Sander1453 (talk) 08:26, 6 October 2013 (UTC)
In the description, it says, "The builder's level is sometimes mistaken for a transit theodolite, but it measures neither horizontal nor vertical angles". However, most all levels, both Dumpy and automatic will measure a horizontal angle, (some pretty precise), just not a vertical. They are single axis, but will measure angles about that horizontal axis.--Craxd (talk) 02:01, 15 May 2014 (UTC)
The lead states that theodolites are used in metrology, but this is not mentioned in the body of the article. I have a little knowledge of the subject matter, and I think this might mean meteorology, where, for example, theodolites are used in tracking weather balloons. Either way, if it's mentioned in the lead, it should do so only to highlight its mention in the body of the article. Lou Sander (talk) 22:52, 24 May 2014 (UTC)
The article describes angles between the zenith and the target as vertical angles. This is wrong. These are zenith angles. A vertical angle is an angle between the horizon and an object. A vertical angle can be positive of negative. Theodolites measure these and forward and reverse. For example a target at the same altitude as the instrument would be measured as 90 and 270 degree (both positive) zenith angles. This should be corrected in the article. Senor Cuete (talk) 20:29, 8 December 2016 (UTC)
zenith distance: angular distance on the celestial sphere measured along the great circle from the zenith to the celestial object. Zenith distance is 90° minus altitude.
altitude: the angular distance of a celestial body above or below the horizon, measured along the great circle passing through the body and the zenith. Altitude is 90° minus the zenith distance.
Please undo the recent edit. First of all, that detail doesn't belong at that point in the article.
Secondly, you are confusing the what the terms describe. The diagram is correct. The terms describe the axes, which are the opposites of what is being measured by motion on them. The motion that allows you to move the telescope up and down is about an axis that is horizontal, the trunnion axis. The motion that lets you measure angles right and left is about an axis that is vertical, as labeled in the diagram. BillHart93 (talk) 06:01, 6 January 2017 (UTC)
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Should Temporary adjustments of theodolites and Permanent adjustments of theodolites be deleted and appropriate content merged back into this article? These two pages seem like how-to articles; I can't find any other articles in WP about how to make adjustments to a piece of equipment. Wanted to ask other editors for their thoughts as a first step. Thanks. Levivich (talk) 22:47, 15 January 2019 (UTC)
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