Warm-up time is the short wait after you power on a laser tracker while it brings its internal parts to a stable operating temperature. You can't record control points or print until warm-up finishes — the tracker won't show its ready signal until it's done. It's quick: about 2 minutes on the AT500 and 10–15 minutes on the AT930 family for the first setup of the day.
What "Warm-Up" Actually Means
A laser tracker measures position with precision optics and angular encoders that are calibrated to work at a stable operating temperature. When you first power on the tracker, its own electronics and laser components generate heat. "Warm-up" is the tracker bringing those internal parts to a steady, consistent temperature.
The name is slightly misleading: the goal is a stable temperature, not a warm one. A tracker that comes in hot — off a sunny slab or out of a warm vehicle — also needs settling time to reach a steady internal temperature.
Why the Tracker Makes You Wait
The tracker holds off measuring until it's stable because its accuracy depends on a steady internal temperature. If it measured while the temperature were still changing, its position readings would drift and wouldn't repeat from one reading to the next. Rather than let that happen, the tracker keeps itself out of measuring mode until warm-up is complete and it reports ready.
That's why warm-up isn't a step you can skip or rush — the instrument enforces it. Plan the couple of minutes (or 10–15 on the AT930 family) into your setup so you're not waiting on the tracker when you're ready to station.
How Long Warm-Up Takes on Dusty Trackers
Warm-up time depends on which Leica tracker you're running. All three deliver Dusty's 1/16" layout accuracy once warmed up — the difference is only how long they take to get there.
| Tracker | First setup of the day | Later setups (same day) |
|---|---|---|
| AT500 | ~2 minutes | ~2 minutes |
| AT930 | ~10–15 minutes | ~5 minutes |
| AT930-NRT | ~10–15 minutes | ~5 minutes |
The AT930-NRT warms up exactly like the AT930 — the two differ only in radio and cabling, not warm-up.
How to Tell the Tracker Is Ready
The tracker shows you when warm-up is done, so you don't have to time it.
On the AT930 and AT930-NRT, watch the tracker controller screen. While the tracker is warming up, the screen shows temperature/heat status icons; once it's warmed up and ready to measure, the screen displays a green checkmark.
The green status LED on the front of the telescope also indicates when the system is ready. See AT930 Status LEDs and Components for the full LED reference.
On the AT500, watch the power-button LED. It flashes blue while the tracker boots (about 1–2 minutes) and turns solid blue once it's booted up and ready to connect in the Dusty app.
See Laser Tracker AT500 Status Power Button for the full LED reference. Wait for the ready signal before you start recording control points.
Temperature Changes Warm-Up Time
The bigger the gap between where the tracker was stored and where you're measuring, the longer warm-up takes. A tracker stored in a hot or freezing vehicle and carried straight onto a climate-controlled floor has to work harder — and longer — to reach a stable temperature.
To keep warm-up short and measurements stable:
- Let the tracker acclimate to the work-area temperature before powering it on, especially after transport in a hot or cold vehicle.
- Store the tracker in a climate-controlled space when it isn't in use — not in a vehicle overnight.
- Set up in the shade and off hot slabs or active heat sources whenever possible.
- Avoid rapid temperature swings during operation.
Operating well outside the tracker's recommended temperature range increases warm-up time and can cause tracking loss; it won't be fixed by re-stationing. See What Are the Ideal Operating Temperatures for the Laser Tracker (AT500 and AT930) for the recommended ranges.