Laser level: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Control tool for surveying and construction}} | {{Short description|Control tool for surveying and construction}} | ||
{{Distinguish|Laser line level}} | {{Distinguish|Line laser|Laser line level|Cross laser level}} | ||
[[File:Laser-Level.jpg|thumb|250px|A rotary laser level set up and used to level sand fill in trenches. The graduated staff is leaning on the pile of sand.]] | [[File:Laser-Level.jpg|thumb|250px|A rotary laser level set up and used to level sand fill in trenches. The graduated staff is leaning on the pile of sand.]] | ||
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In [[surveying]] and [[construction]], the '''laser level''' is a control tool consisting of a rotating [[laser]] beam [[projector]] that can be affixed to a [[tripod (surveying)|tripod]]. The tool is leveled according to the accuracy of the device and projects a fixed red or green [[light beam|beam]] in a plane about the horizontal and/or vertical axis.<ref name="Blake2013">{{cite book |first=L. S. |last=Blake |title=Civil Engineer's Reference Book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pM_8BAAAQBAJ&pg=SA6-PA14 |publisher=[[Elsevier]] |page=6 |isbn=978-1-4831-0233-7 |date=22 October 2013}}</ref> | In [[surveying]] and [[construction]], the '''laser level''' is a control tool consisting of a rotating [[laser]] beam [[projector]] that can be affixed to a [[tripod (surveying)|tripod]]. The tool is leveled according to the accuracy of the device and projects a fixed red or green [[light beam|beam]] in a plane about the horizontal and/or vertical axis.<ref name="Blake2013">{{cite book |first=L. S. |last=Blake |title=Civil Engineer's Reference Book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pM_8BAAAQBAJ&pg=SA6-PA14 |publisher=[[Elsevier]] |page=6 |isbn=978-1-4831-0233-7 |date=22 October 2013}}</ref> | ||
== | == History == | ||
The concept of a laser level has been around since at least the early 1970s,<ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=3897637|status=patent}}</ref> the original spinning-mirror design laser plane and line level was patented by the late 1980s,<ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=4973158|status=patent}}</ref> and the compact lens-based laser line level (as produced by many tool manufacturers today) was patented in the late 1990s. It was invented by Oscar Soliz in the late 1960s, who later sold the rights to it.<ref>{{Cite patent | country = US | number = 5836081 | status = patent | title = Light beam leveling means and method | pubdate = | gdate = 1998-11-17 | fdate = 1996-05-29 | pridate = | inventor = Steven J. Orosz Jr. | invent1 = Orosz, Steven J. Jr. | invent2 = | assign1 = Schroeder, Charles F.}}</ref> | The concept of a laser level has been around since at least the early 1970s,<ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=3897637|status=patent}}</ref> the original spinning-mirror design laser plane and line level was patented by the late 1980s,<ref>{{cite patent|country=US|number=4973158|status=patent}}</ref> and the compact lens-based laser line level (as produced by many tool manufacturers today) was patented in the late 1990s. It was invented by Oscar Soliz in the late 1960s, who later sold the rights to it.<ref>{{Cite patent | country = US | number = 5836081 | status = patent | title = Light beam leveling means and method | pubdate = | gdate = 1998-11-17 | fdate = 1996-05-29 | pridate = | inventor = Steven J. Orosz Jr. | invent1 = Orosz, Steven J. Jr. | invent2 = | assign1 = Schroeder, Charles F.}}</ref> | ||
==Rotary laser level== | ==Rotary laser level== | ||
A rotary laser level is a more advanced laser level in that it spins the beam of light fast enough to give the effect of a complete 360 degree horizontal or vertical plane, thus illuminating not just a fixed line, but a [[horizontal plane]].<ref name="UrenPrice2010">{{cite book|author1=J. Uren|author2=W.F. Price|title=Surveying for Engineers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQEdBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA543|date=17 March 2010|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-1-137-05279-7|pages=543–}}</ref> The laser beam projector employs a rotating head with a [[mirror]] for sweeping the laser beam about a vertical axis. If the mirror is not self-leveling, it is provided with visually readable level vials and manually adjustable screws for orienting the projector. A staff carried by the operator is equipped with a movable sensor, which can detect the laser beam and gives a signal when the sensor is in line with the beam (usually an audible beep). The position of the sensor on the [[graduated (measurement)|graduated]] staff, also known as a grade rod, or story pole, allows comparison of elevations between different points on the terrain. Most laser levels are used in the construction industry. | [[File:Construction laser.jpg|thumb|right|A rotary laser level, which typically have a stronger laser more suitable for outdoor use compared to [[line laser level]]s ]] | ||
A '''rotary laser level''' is a more advanced laser level in that it spins the beam of light fast enough to give the effect of a complete 360 degree horizontal or vertical plane, thus illuminating not just a fixed line, but a [[horizontal plane]].<ref name="UrenPrice2010">{{cite book|author1=J. Uren|author2=W.F. Price|title=Surveying for Engineers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iQEdBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA543|date=17 March 2010|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|isbn=978-1-137-05279-7|pages=543–}}</ref> The laser beam projector employs a rotating head with a [[mirror]] for sweeping the laser beam about a vertical axis. If the mirror is not self-leveling, it is provided with visually readable level vials and manually adjustable screws for orienting the projector. A staff carried by the operator is equipped with a movable sensor, which can detect the laser beam and gives a signal when the sensor is in line with the beam (usually an audible beep). The position of the sensor on the [[graduated (measurement)|graduated]] staff, also known as a grade rod, or story pole, allows comparison of elevations between different points on the terrain. Most laser levels are used in the construction industry. | |||
== Tower-mounted laser level == | == Tower-mounted laser level == | ||
A tower-mounted laser level is used in combination with a sensor on a [[wheel tractor-scraper]] in the process of [[land laser leveling]] to bring land (for example, an [[agriculture|agricultural]] field) to near-flatness with a slight grade for [[drainage]]. | A tower-mounted laser level is used in combination with a sensor on a [[wheel tractor-scraper]] in the process of [[land laser leveling]] to bring land (for example, an [[agriculture|agricultural]] field) to near-flatness with a slight grade for [[drainage]]. | ||
== Cross laser level == | |||
[[File:Installation of a stainless-steel angle at the bottom of a column in the future LIRR Concourse. 11-12-2019 (49070775291), laser.jpg|thumb|right|Green cross line laser level, here drawing a cross (or two lines 90 degrees on each other) on the floor (XY) plane. They are usually used indoors, while rotary laser levels are usually used outdoors.]] | |||
[[Cross laser level]]s and [[line laser level]]s are types of modern electronic laser levels commonly used in construction and [[Do it yourself|home projects]]. Instead of a rotating laser, they have one or several stationary [[line laser]]s that is levelled by a spirit level and/or plumb bob to simultaneously display precise horizontal or vertical illuminated lines on surfaces. Cross laser levels have largely replaced line laser levels.<ref name="gjoerdetselv">{{cite web|access-date=2025-07-09 |date=2019-10-04 |first=Av Bjarke Løgstrup-4 |language=nb |surname=oktober 2019 |title=En linjelaser får tingene i vater |url=https://gjoerdetselv.com/verktoey/maleverktoy/linjelaser-en-linjelaser-far-tingene-i-vater |work=Gjør Det Selv}}<!-- auto-translated from Danish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> While line laser levels can be handy for things like hanging pictures, cross laser levels have a much wider range of uses, including painting and tiling.<ref name="gjoerdetselv"/> The most versatile type is the 3x360-degree cross laser levels, which draw horizontal and vertical lines on all walls. They can be manufactured with cross lasers in one, two or three planes: | |||
* XY plane: Draws lines on the floor plane | |||
* XZ plane: Draws lines on the forward and backwall | |||
* YZ plane: Draws lines on the side walls | |||
The light beam can span, for example, 90, 180 or 360 degrees of each of these planes, with small interruptions due to the posts that protect the glass housings around the lasers. A 360 degree laser level is sometimes confused with a rotary laser level. | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[Dumpy level]] | * [[Dumpy level]], optical instrument used in surveying and building to transfer, measure, or set horizontal levels | ||
*[[List of laser articles]] | * [[List of laser articles]] | ||
*[[Laser | * [[Laser machine control]], electronic system for automatic operation of land scrapers or excavators | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 20:16, 9 July 2025
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In surveying and construction, the laser level is a control tool consisting of a rotating laser beam projector that can be affixed to a tripod. The tool is leveled according to the accuracy of the device and projects a fixed red or green beam in a plane about the horizontal and/or vertical axis.[1]
History
The concept of a laser level has been around since at least the early 1970s,[2] the original spinning-mirror design laser plane and line level was patented by the late 1980s,[3] and the compact lens-based laser line level (as produced by many tool manufacturers today) was patented in the late 1990s. It was invented by Oscar Soliz in the late 1960s, who later sold the rights to it.[4]
Rotary laser level
A rotary laser level is a more advanced laser level in that it spins the beam of light fast enough to give the effect of a complete 360 degree horizontal or vertical plane, thus illuminating not just a fixed line, but a horizontal plane.[5] The laser beam projector employs a rotating head with a mirror for sweeping the laser beam about a vertical axis. If the mirror is not self-leveling, it is provided with visually readable level vials and manually adjustable screws for orienting the projector. A staff carried by the operator is equipped with a movable sensor, which can detect the laser beam and gives a signal when the sensor is in line with the beam (usually an audible beep). The position of the sensor on the graduated staff, also known as a grade rod, or story pole, allows comparison of elevations between different points on the terrain. Most laser levels are used in the construction industry.
Tower-mounted laser level
A tower-mounted laser level is used in combination with a sensor on a wheel tractor-scraper in the process of land laser leveling to bring land (for example, an agricultural field) to near-flatness with a slight grade for drainage.
Cross laser level
,_laser.jpg){kind=link}
Cross laser levels and line laser levels are types of modern electronic laser levels commonly used in construction and home projects. Instead of a rotating laser, they have one or several stationary line lasers that is levelled by a spirit level and/or plumb bob to simultaneously display precise horizontal or vertical illuminated lines on surfaces. Cross laser levels have largely replaced line laser levels.[6] While line laser levels can be handy for things like hanging pictures, cross laser levels have a much wider range of uses, including painting and tiling.[6] The most versatile type is the 3x360-degree cross laser levels, which draw horizontal and vertical lines on all walls. They can be manufactured with cross lasers in one, two or three planes:
- XY plane: Draws lines on the floor plane
- XZ plane: Draws lines on the forward and backwall
- YZ plane: Draws lines on the side walls
The light beam can span, for example, 90, 180 or 360 degrees of each of these planes, with small interruptions due to the posts that protect the glass housings around the lasers. A 360 degree laser level is sometimes confused with a rotary laser level.
See also
- Dumpy level, optical instrument used in surveying and building to transfer, measure, or set horizontal levels
- List of laser articles
- Laser machine control, electronic system for automatic operation of land scrapers or excavators
References
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- ↑ <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>Template:Citation/make link, Steven J. Orosz Jr., "Light beam leveling means and method", issued Script error: No such module "auto date formatter"., assigned to Schroeder, Charles F.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
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External links
- <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>Template:Citation/make link, Rando, Joseph F.; Kahn, Michael E. & Heumann, Thomas E. et al., "System for controlling attitude of laser beam plane", issued Script error: No such module "auto date formatter"., assigned to Spectra-Physics, Inc.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".
- Resource conservation through laser leveling
Template:Measuring and alignment tools Template:Authority control