Dusty FieldPrinter 2 works with three Leica laser trackers: the Absolute Tracker AT500, the Absolute Tracker AT930, and the AT930-NRT. This article explains what each one does and how they differ. All three meet Dusty's industrial-grade 1/16" layout accuracy standard — the differences are in the radio, power, warm-up time, setup, and working range, not in the accuracy of your printed layout.
All three trackers do the same core jobs: layout printing, measurement point recording, and Floor Elevation. All three also use the same tripod. The AT930-NRT is identical to the AT930 in every spec — accuracy, range, power, warm-up, and temperature — except for its radio (Radio 2 instead of Radio 1) and the cables needed to set it up.
Capabilities Comparison
| Capability | AT500 | AT930 | AT930-NRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Layout printing with FieldPrinter 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Measurement point recording (control points) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Floor Elevation measurement | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Radio | Radio 2 | Radio 1 | Radio 2 |
| 2D stationing (Radio 2 only) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Controller | None (all-in-one) | Separate AT Controller | Separate AT controller |
| Power | Integrated batteries or external AC 120V | External AC 120V only | External AC 120V only |
| Warm-up (first setup) | ~2 min | ~10–15 min | ~10–15 min |
Radios and 2D Stationing
Each tracker pairs with a specific radio:
- AT500 → Radio 2
- AT930 → Radio 1
- AT930-NRT → Radio 2
Two things depend on the radio:
- Floor Elevation works with both radios — so all three trackers can measure Floor Elevation.
- 2D stationing works only with Radio 2 — so it's available on the AT500 and AT930-NRT, but not the AT930.
Radio 2 is powered by a Milwaukee M18 battery (a 2Ah M18 lasts roughly 16 hours of radio runtime), so it needs no separate power cable. Radio 1 uses a dedicated power cable.
Power
| Tracker | Power source |
|---|---|
| AT500 | Integrated, hot-swappable batteries (~6 hrs per pair). Can also run on external AC 120V via the AC power adapter (batteries must stay installed to operate). |
| AT930 | No batteries — requires external AC 120V power via the AC power adapter. |
| AT930-NRT | No batteries — requires external AC 120V power via the AC power adapter. |
Setup and Cabling: What Connects to What
AT500 — the simplest setup. The only item that connects to the tracker is Radio 2, via a Double Shielded Cat6 Ethernet cable. Radio 2 runs on an M18 battery, and the AT500 runs on its own batteries (or the AC adapter), so there are no additional power cables to the radio.
AT930 — uses the AT Controller and Radio 1. Required cables:
- Tracker-to-controller cable (sensor cable)
- Double Shielded Cat6 Ethernet cable (connects the tracker to Radio 1)
- Radio 1 power cable
- AC Power Adapter cable
AT930-NRT — uses the controller and Radio 2. Required cables:
- Tracker-to-controller cable (sensor cable)
- Double Shielded Cat6 Ethernet cable (connects the tracker to Radio 2)
- AC Power Adapter cable
Warm-Up Time
| Tracker | First setup of the day | Subsequent setups |
|---|---|---|
| AT500 | ~2 minutes | ~2 minutes |
| AT930 | ~10–15 minutes | ~5 minutes |
| AT930-NRT | ~10–15 minutes | ~5 minutes |
Let the tracker acclimate to the indoor temperature before powering on. A cold-start tracker brought straight in from a vehicle can re-initialize its laser oven, which destabilizes measurements. If that happens, pause and let it re-stabilize before measuring.
Accuracy
The number that matters for your layout
All three trackers meet Dusty's 1/16" (≈1.6 mm) layout accuracy standard — the accuracy of the printed layout on the floor, which is what governs your work. Choosing between the trackers does not change your layout accuracy; all clear the 1/16" bar with large margin.
Instrument accuracy (Leica datasheet specs)
The trackers themselves measure far tighter than 1/16" — in microns (µm; 1,000 µm = 1 mm). For reference, the manufacturer publishes these figures.
AT500 (per ISO 10360-10):
| Test | 5 m | 10 m | 20 m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Angular (location), typical / MPE | ±23 µm | ±38 µm | ±68 µm |
| Length, typical / MPE | ±32 µm | ±53 µm | ±96 µm |
| Distance (ADM ranging), typical / MPE | ±7 µm | ±7 µm | ±7 µm |
AT930 (per ISO 10360-10):
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Absolute angular performance (eT) | ±15 µm + 6 µm/m |
| Length measurement (1.5" reflector) | ±21 µm + 8.5 µm/m |
| AIFM absolute distance performance | ±0.5 µm/m |
| PowerLock beam re-lock (dynamic) | ±10 µm typical |
Note: Leica specifies the AT500 and AT930 using different accuracy metrics — the AT500 as fixed values at set distances, the AT930 as a formula (±µm + µm per metre). Don't subtract one from the other to "rank" them. In practice the AT930 is the higher-accuracy metrology instrument, while the AT500 trades some ultimate metrology accuracy for an integrated, faster-setup design. Both are far tighter than the 1/16" your layout requires.
The AT930-NRT shares the AT930's accuracy — the two differ only in radio and cabling.
Range
Working range with the FieldPrinter (Dusty operating figures)
The most useful "range" number is how far the robot can be from the tracker while working:
| Range | AT500 | AT930 | AT930-NRT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max robot-to-tracker distance during scanning/control | ~450 ft (~137 m) | ~240 ft (~73 m) | ~240 ft (~73 m) |
| Max robot-to-tracker distance while printing | 160 ft indoors / 120 ft outdoors | 160 ft indoors / 120 ft outdoors | 160 ft indoors / 120 ft outdoors |
On a colder day with no direct sunlight, printing range may extend slightly beyond the outdoor maximum. Print range is the same for all three; the AT500 reaches significantly farther for scanning/control.
Environmental Specs
| Spec | AT500 | AT930 / AT930-NRT |
|---|---|---|
| Recommended operating temperature | 5°F to 110°F (-15°C to 43°C) | 32°F to 110°F (0°C to 43°C) |
| Recommended storage temperature | 5°F to 110°F (-15°C to 43°C) | 5°F to 110°F (-15°C to 43°C) |
| Ingress protection | IP54 | IP54 |
How to Tell Which Tracker You Have
- AT500 — a single integrated unit with no separate controller; runs on its own batteries. The only thing connected to it is Radio 2 (via an Ethernet cable).
- AT930 — has a separate AT Controller and uses Radio 1. Its telescope has three status LEDs on the front (see AT930 Status LEDs and Components).
- AT930-NRT — has a separate controller and uses Radio 2.
Related Articles
- AT500 Laser Tracker Battery Guide: Hot-Swapping, Runtime, and Power
- AT930 Status LEDs and Components
- What Are the Ideal Operating Temperatures for the Laser Tracker (AT500 and AT930)
- How to Use the Verification Reflector to Detect Laser Tracker Movement
- Alternatives to the Tripod: Mounting the Laser Tracker with a Column Clamp or Wall Mount