Most jobsites don't come with perfect, surveyed control. You might be working a TI in a tight existing space, framing on an out-of-true foundation, or aligning layout to existing construction that doesn't match the plans. Flexible Control is the name for a growing set of Dusty stationing tools built to meet the jobsite as it actually exists — so you can set, weight, and align control points without a round-trip to the VDC team.
This article explains what each Flexible Control tool does and when to use it.
The tools at a glance
| Tool | What it does | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Create Control at Reflector | Define a new control point at the reflector's position after stationing is locked | You need to expand your control network in the field, or set a reusable semi-permanent reference |
| Persistent Control | Keep a reflector mounted off the floor (on a drift nest) as semi-permanent control that lasts across sessions and project phases | Repeat work, phased renovations, or cluttered floors where you don't want to re-establish control each time |
| Anchor Layout at a Control Point | Force the layout to align exactly to one or two critical points instead of a global best fit | You must hold a layout to a specific feature — a stairwell corner, the end of a wet wall, or a line along a wall |
| 2D Control | Stations using only X/Y and ignores vertical differences, projecting layout straight down | Control points sit at different heights, or Z offsets in the data are tilting your layout |
| Corner Control | Creates control points at right-angle (90°) corners — inside or outside — using Dusty's corner reflector jigs | You have no surveyed control, or want to align to an existing building corner |
Create Control at Reflector
Create a control point directly at the reflector's location after stationing is locked. The new point is defined relative to your current stationing, which makes it easy to establish reusable reference points in the field.
This is especially useful for setting up semi-permanent reflectors — such as drift nests — that you can rescan in future sessions without returning to your original control points.
- After stationing, a new option appears under Add Control Point to create a point from the reflector's X/Y/Z position.
- This option is only available once the station is locked.
Persistent Control
Persistent Control means keeping a reflector mounted off the floor — on a drift nest — so it stays in place as semi-permanent control. Because the reflector position persists, you can rescan it in future stationings without returning to your original control points.
Pair it with Create Control at Reflector to save that mounted reflector as a reusable control point. It's most useful for:
- Repeat work — industrial automation, data centers, and fab shops where you re-station the same area over time.
- Phased renovation or fit-out — reflectors stay on site across project phases.
- Mid-job re-stationing — RFI-driven reprints and design changes.
- Cluttered or obstructed floors — layout can proceed without clearing the floor.
Drift nests are customer-supplied commodity hardware. Use a 1.5" drift nest with the standard Dusty reflector for best range.
Anchor Layout at a Control Point
By default, Dusty fits the layout to minimize overall error across all scanned control points (a best fit). Anchoring lets you weight one or two points more heavily so the layout aligns exactly where it matters most.
- When you set an anchor, the layout shifts from the overall best-fit solution to give zero error at the anchor point. This can increase error at other control points.
- Adding a second anchor further constrains the layout — it may shift and rotate the layout to align with a feature defined by two points, such as a line running along a wall.
- Set an anchor by swiping left on a control point before stationing is locked.
Use anchoring when a single point is critical — for example, locking layout to the corner of a stairwell or the endpoint of a major wet wall — and you'd rather absorb error elsewhere than chase clashes with existing construction across the floor.
2D Control (Limited Release)
Dusty supports both 2D and 3D stationing and automatically selects the best method for your setup conditions.
- 3D stationing uses the full X, Y, and vertical (Z) coordinates from your scanned control points. If those points sit at different heights, or the digital data has incorrect Z offsets, the layout can come out slightly tilted in 3D before it's projected onto the floor.
- 2D stationing uses only X and Y and ignores vertical differences, so the layout projects straight down onto the ground even when control points are at different heights. In field conditions this is generally more accurate and reliable.
2D stationing becomes available when the tracker is sufficiently level (within about 0.2° of vertical), and the system uses it automatically whenever possible. The app's leveling guidance is there to help you reach that state — if it's ignored, the system falls back to 3D stationing.
Availability: 2D Control is a Limited Release feature, available only to customers using a Radio 2 for the laser tracker, running firmware 2.9 or later.
Corner Control
Corner Control is a stationing workflow that uses Dusty's corner reflector jigs to create control points at right-angle (90°) corners — inside or outside corners of a slab or wall framing. The jig holds the reflector at a fixed offset from each wall, and the iPad lets you select the two lines that define a corner and drop a control point there.
Use it when you don't have surveyed control to work from, or when you want to align your layout directly to an existing building feature — like a wall corner.
Corner reflector jigs aren't shipped by default — contact Dusty if you'd like a set.
What's coming
Flexible Control is a growing toolset. Dusty plans to add more capabilities for working with real-world site conditions in future releases — watch the monthly release notes for what's new.
Related articles
- March 2026 Release Notes: Flexible Control & Printing on Slopes — full detail and screenshots for Create Control at Reflector, Anchor Layout, and 2D Control
- April 2026 Release Notes: Corner Control, Image Printing, and Metric Unit Support — full detail on Corner Control (Beta)