Does anyone have any feedback on this laser level for outdoor site work, topo and FEMA elevation certificates? The manufacturer info is slanted to interior construction work.
As far as Rotary Lasers go that ones pretty accurate and consistent. The fact that it can do interior does not affect anything accuracy wise for exterior use, they just add a lay down sensor and internal vial so it can level and compensate on its side for a vertical beam and add a few other features. On this unit if properly set up and calibrated you can expect to get at least +/- 1/16th accuracy at 100'. One thing to keep in mind is that most receivers that come with the units also have a 1/16th of play for their "on-grade" mark, to eliminate adding the hand held receivers error to the instruments inherit error always bring the receiver into the beam from the same direction... for example if on your first shot it said "down, down, down ON GRADE" on your receiver you do not want it to say "up up up on grade on your next shot" because your hitting the receivers dead band from the opposite side allowing for the receivers 1/16th of dead band(on grade) to be factored in. All depends on how accurate you need to be, If I had to issue a certificate I would only use a quality engineers level like a Leica NA2 or a Digital level with a bar-code rod such as a Leica DNA series... let me know if you have any other questions, sorry for such a long post.
I have a question.
I use a Topcon laser level all the time for elevation certificates. I regularly check 0.02 or less on my loops around the house I am doing the certificate on. You appear to be in the business, so would you not trust a laser level for elevation certificates?
Just asking, because I don't want bad results.
I don't have that particular laser, but I really like my Topcon laser level. It is really handy to have in the truck.
They are a great tool, expecially when your working by your self. Its perfectly ok to trust them, so long as you know they are accurate. The only reason I would prefer issuing a cert. with a engineers level is because a lot of service centers can provide a real certificate of calibration with them. This comes in handy if you ever have any legal disputes come up later. I have a video calibration range which I can measure a laser beam down to one arc second that was made by spectra precision before trimble bought them but I still cannot give a calibration cert. with it because of the requirements by leica for a laser calibration range to be certified. The only range I know of that can provide a true laser cert. is in Hereberg, Germany at Leicas facility. If you want to have a good peice of mind with your laser and do not require it to be certified, do this easy check. 1.Level up a tripod atleast 100' away from a building or wall somewhere. 2. put a piece of masking on the wall for you to make marks on 3. aim one axis at the wall and with your receiver take a shot on the wall and mark "on grade" on the tape. 4. spin the laser 180deg. (face two,in survey lingo) and make a mark where it shows the receiver being "on-grade". 5. Switch to the lasers other axis and do the same above steps.
Final= dead center of the two marks on each axis is where perfect calibration would be, most user manuals will tell you the sequence of buttons you need to mash to get into the lasers calibration mode... If yours does not or you have any trouble with it let me know the model you have and I will help you get it right if its off... Started off working on lasers before total station and machine control and still find the lasers fun to work on!
Thanks for the reply. It is most informative.
I guess I take it for granted that I am solo, and I know that my equipment does not get mistreated. That helps a lot.
Have a great weekend.
