Specialized laser tools have made their way into the hands of home and garden enthusiasts, professional contractors, and landscapers. Whether used indoors or outdoors, these tools are revolutionizing how the average Joe gets the job done.
By Rosaleen Welsh, Associate Editor
When William Wojtowicz of Premiere General Contractors wakes up each morning, he's not thinking about the technology in the tools he'll be using. "Who thinks about electronic levels at six o'clock in the morning," he says. "But once you're on the job site, boy, does it make life easier." The tools Wojtowicz is talking about are the latest in home and garden equipment – laser measurement tools.
Both contractors and homeowners are using laser-based tools to turn work that once required two workers and two sets of hands into a one-person job. These tools let them take advantage of laser beams to identify targets and gather measurements at the push of a button. As electronic technology has evolved, traditional measurement tools – bulky fluid-based levels and wind-up tape measures – have changed not only in appearance but also in performance. In short, these are not your father's tools.
Bringing It All Together
Most people don't think about working on their homes until it's a certain time of year. But for Wojtowicz and other contractors, as well as die-hard do-it-yourselfers, thinking about the home and garden is a year-round proposition. That's why engineers at companies such as David White LLC, LeveLite Technologies Inc., and Zircon Corp. work so diligently on advancing the technology in hand tools.
For tool lovers, few pleasures equal roaming the aisles of a hardware store in search of a better way to get a job done. If they're lucky, a knowledgeable store clerk will be able to steer them to the solution they want. He might even suggest abandoning an old tool for one of the new high-tech models hitting the market.
That's what happened to Wojtowicz. One day he ended up looking at laser measurement tools to eliminate guesswork and rework. He choose the David White Finish Line laser torpedo level designed with factory precision. It features an anodized aluminum body, a 45-degree-angle vial, a vertical plumb vial, and a grade vial with easy-to-read graduations. It sits on a tripod to make handling easier, and its laser diode reaches beyond 300 feet.
"A builder's level is a two-man operation unless you have a standalone leveling base," says Wojtowicz. "Without a tripod, one person looks through the level and another holds a leveling rod at the distance being measured. This product saves us time by using only one person and reduces labor costs, helping us save money."
A Spectrum Of Lasers
At the heart of high-tech laser tools are advanced optics and electronics that do everything from calculating distances to pinpointing studs, pipes, and electrical wires in walls. Three types of lasers are used: manual leveling lasers, semi self-leveling lasers, and fully self-leveling lasers.
Manual leveling lasers rely on tubular bubbles for leveling. Users manually adjust the laser in both the x and y axis and rely on the bubbles for accuracy. Some of these lasers can achieve a maximum accuracy of 1/8 inch at 100 feet. Most, however, achieve 1/4 inch at 100 feet. David White uses this technology in its ML-450 horizontal visible beam manual level laser, which boasts all the speed, accuracy, and practical features needed for a one-man leveling operation. Its red horizontal beam projects a bright reference for interior work. Variable speed rotation gives users the versatility needed for multiple outdoor jobs.
Semi self-leveling lasers are equipped with a compensator that self levels the instrument within a specific range. They have either a circular bubble with a bulls-eye or electronic lights that turn green when that range is reached. These lasers also shut off if they are bumped or leave their self-leveling range. They can achieve accuracy of at least 1/8 inch at 100 feet. The pocket TriLite by LeveLite uses this technology. It provides three beams positioned at 90 degrees in relation to each other. The three simultaneous visible laser beams, as well as laser beam damping and out-of-level sensor blinking laser beams, are designed to make leveling jobs easier and more accurate.
The company also offers two other self-leveling pocket laser levels – the SLX Pro and SLX2. In addition, there is the LaserPro 3, a triple visible beam Class II self-leveling unit that provides automatic self-leveling for horizontal and up and down plumb. It is a lightweight, battery-powered one-man tool suitable for residential, commercial, industrial, and maintenance applications.
Fully self-leveling lasers have an electronic level vial and a servo motor. The servo motor levels the instrument electronically and when it is level, the laser spins. Fully self-leveling lasers can achieve accuracy up to 1/32 inch at 100 feet, and some models have a shutoff feature in case the laser is bumped or disturbed. One tool that uses this technology is the MultiScanner Pro from Zircon. It's designed to locate wood, metal, and hot ac wires before the user begins drilling, sawing, or nailing. The tool also has a slide switch that allows the user to select the desired mode such as scanning for hot ac wires only.
Regardless of the tool, the use of light beams to establish accurate lines and angle projections has several advantages – not the least of which is the speeding up of a job. However, a few questions should be considered in order to choose the right tool for a specific purpose. First, users must determine their job requirements including whether they need to measure vertical angles. Second, they must establish the distance of sight required by the application. Finally, they must find out the amount of accuracy and setup speed needed. By answering these basic questions, the user should be able to select a tool with the appropriate power, accuracy, and versatility.
Shedding Light On Electronics
These high-tech tools aren't solely about lasers. For instance, Zircon's self-described "tool freak" engineers rely heavily on their expertise in sensor technology, custom chip design, software development, and ergonomic industrial design when working on laser tools.
So what are some of the design challenges that engineers face when working on these tools? Chuck Heger, senior vice president of R&D at Zircon says, "Cost trade-off, ease of use, and features are the challenges we face. Specifically, we design for the end-customer – for anyone to be able to pick the tool up and be able to use it. You can't ever make a product too simple."
They're not all about taking measurements either.
Whether the project is hanging pictures, shelves, or drapery rods, tools such as Zircon's StudSensor ProSL can help cut labor from even the simplest chores. It locates wood and metal studs through common interior surfaces up to 3/4 inch thick. In addition, its DeepScan technology pinpoints studs through drywall, plywood, paneling, or bare wood flooring up to 1-1/2 inches thick. Using the dual scan and mark procedures, users can pinpoint the center of a stud. Likewise, audio indicators or a beam of light shows where stud edges are. The unit incorporates the company's TruCal technology, which Heger describes as providing instant and accurate one-touch automatic calibration. "You've got to have this functionality for the success of a job," he adds.
And now with these high-tech tools at hand, professional contractors, landscapers, and do-it-yourselfers can perform tasks around the home and garden faster and easier than ever, which leaves them more time to relax outdoors in these lazy days of summer.
David White LLCW209 N11845 Insurance PlaceBox 1007Germantown, WI 53022
LeveLite Technologies Inc.476 Ellis St.Mountain View, CA 94043
Zircon Corp.1580 Dell Ave.Campbell, CA 95008
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