Laser levels

[Mintsauce]

Looking for recommendations for a laser level with machine mount receiver.

I have been happy with the old dumpy level but recognise the advantages and convenience of the up to date kit. There is someone nearby selling Topcon.

Its to be used for the usual site reduce, footings, drain runs and the odd dig where a gradient or fall needs to be achieved.

I think I read somewhere that the receiver drops out of range if you are trenching.

Looking for something decent quality sensible price of course. TIA

 

[Gunners]

I don't think you can go too wrong with all the top manufacturers lasers these days. I really liked my Leica Rugby 820. With the rod eye 180 you could set it to a gradient too, really neat bit of kit but the reality is I hardly used the slope feature as it was a bit of a pain to set up. I got myself a magnetic mounted receiver - a topcon one which was good but I found you needed to think about where you put your laser as it goes on one side of the arm and often the aux hoses got in the way. You also have to be careful to put the bucket and arm in the same position. They are quite expensive and I found I drive worse with it on as I kept looking at it. The way to do it is grade by eye and use it as a check rather than rely on it. Also draw a line in pencil under where you stick it on as they can have a habit of sliding down the dipper over time with vibrations.

 

[jd6820]

We use a Leica Rugby 420 dual slope, long range, it works really well, last for ages on the two NiMH batteries, solid construction and not too expensive. For the machine receiver we have a Spectra CR600 with magnetic base or staff clamp. Like Gunners says, you need to be able to grade fairly close by eye then verify with receiver rather than trying to grade with it as such otherwise you'll probably find the job goes much slower.

 

[Left hooker]

I have a topcon with single slope function that I use to lay sewer pipes with and been researching arm mounted receivers for a good one from spectra that has a plumb feature which most dealers come in at just over a grand to buy plus has a in cab screen also

 

[fred]

I have a topcon with single slope function that I use to lay sewer pipes with and been researching arm mounted receivers for a good one from spectra that has a plumb feature which most dealers come in at just over a grand to buy plus has a in cab screen also

I have this one, post some pics when I get back to base.

 

[Mintsauce]

Thanks that explains it well. For trenching do you simply mount the receiver higher up on the dipper?
The supplier near me is/was Phoenix who looks to have been taken over by Brandon hire.

The in cab display looks like a good idea. I was also wondering how it would be used in practice as the gut feeling is to watch the bucket cutting edge rather than the display. After all you could be touching a drain or other service while you're checking something else.

I would have thought single slope function would cover most jobs here. I did see one where you can pre set a fall in degrees/% which looks like a useful idea.

 

[JD450A]

We run a Spectra, good bit of kit and use it a lot for final trim where it matters in combination with a RSJ.

Mag mount is a waste of time IMHO for general work. I've had mine fall off a few times. Likewise I've got to be honest and say I really don't see a time advantage for digging footings/drainage/trenching work. I can hop out the machine and dip within a minute once I get everything setup. To be honest if your worth your salt dipping is mainly a verification thing and you should hopefully be working within 20mm by eye anyway.

As for going out of range when trenching. Really depends on the location of the receiver.

Good tools, but don't kid yourself that there ground breaking, a Rotating Laser level and good quality staff receiver is far far more important than machine mount.

 

[Mintsauce]

Interesting point about it being ground breaking technology Rory. I would have expected the opposite in actual fact it likely to get superseded by more modern kit soon.

as said in my earlier post I'm using an optical level and boning rods which i doubt you'd better for accuracy. But if I'm buying my way out of the 19th century i will be getting a machine mount to go with the new laser level..

 

[doobin]

We run a Spectra, good bit of kit and use it a lot for final trim where it matters in combination with a RSJ.

Mag mount is a waste of time IMHO for general work. I've had mine fall off a few times. Likewise I've got to be honest and say I really don't see a time advantage for digging footings/drainage/trenching work. I can hop out the machine and dip within a minute once I get everything setup. To be honest if your worth your salt dipping is mainly a verification thing and you should hopefully be working within 20mm by eye anyway.

As for going out of range when trenching. Really depends on the location of the receiver.

Good tools, but don't kid yourself that there ground breaking, a Rotating Laser level and good quality staff receiver is far far more important than machine mount.

I don't think anyone is disputing that a decent rotary level is the important bit- neither a staff not machine mount receiver will work without it. The machine mount is jut the lazy (efficient?) man's staff.

Hopping out the cab is all very well when you're young and keen. But I think you're the minority on this board in that respect

 

[JD450A]

as said in my earlier post I'm using an optical level and boning rods which i doubt you'd better for accuracy. But if I'm buying my way out of the 19th century i will be getting a machine mount to go with the new laser level..

Trouble with machine mounts is the accuracy is only there if the bucket and dipper is in the correct configuration you have setup to measure from, which is difficult, Unless mounted direct to a beam (and even then you still need to be dead on).

Rotary Lasers are bang on, just need to know how to set them up accurately and not mess around with the source (the actual laser) through the day... more accurate than optical levels and Rod's in my experience. But I'd honestly be surprised if a machine mount meets what your expecting... better off spending the £200 + on getting a better quality Laser and receiver.

But that's my opinion, as said we have one and I've found it's never going to be precision enough for most works, but each to there own.

 

[doobin]

If I were buying a rotary again, I'd definately go for auto levelling with a digital display, in degrees. Takes any guesswork/squinting out of it.

My latest purchase in this department was a NivComp digital altimeter. Has a pressurised tube conencting base and receiver, can be zeroed anywhere in seconds and then gives you a reading in mm from that point to another. Can be used on a staff or off for slabs etc, and no need for line of site. Not great for large earthworks I'd imagine (although my apprentice got my driver to follow the levels spot on digging a sandschool the other day) but incredibly quick and versatile on landscaping jobs. And for quoting too- very quick and professional.

Really well designed bit of kit and not expensive either.

https://www.laser-level.co.uk/nivcomp-digital-altimeter.html

 

[doobin]

Trouble with machine mounts is the accuracy is only there if the bucket and dipper is in the correct configuration you have setup to measure from, which is difficult, Unless mounted direct to a beam (and even then you still need to be dead on).

I've never used a machine mount. But it's not rocket science that, just as a staff needs to be held plumb to be accurate, the bucket and jib need to be flat and consistant for an accurate reading. Surely with the larger surface area of the bucket, this would average the results out to be more consistent too? In other words, there's still room for human error with either system. Are you saying that it takes longer to get the bucket and jib aligned then to just jump out the cab? If so I see your point.

I'd never contemplate grading by trying to keep it in the green, and I doubt anyone else on this board would either.

 

[Gunners]

Whichever laser system you go for MintSauce I would definitely recommend getting a receiver that gives you a readout in mm. Mine worked 50mm each way off grade and was dead handy for everything because you could see at a glance if 20mm or so needed to come off an area. Saved on jumping out the cab so often and your eye will always get it to within the 50mm grade. Even the bricklayers I worked with now have one - and brickies never spend money on anything other than booze.
Honestly I'd see if you can borrow or try out a machine mounted receiver. I paid £160 2nd hand for mine and its sat in the van for a year before I sold it again, used twice I think. I'd of been pissed off if I'd of bought an expensive one and not used it.

 

[Left hooker]

Using a machine mount with it set with bucket fully tipped so teeth/blade is the datum checking point and with machine mount receiver that has a plumb sensor light it's fast to check

 

[fred]

here is my spectra setup, works for any size machine.

https://www.planttalk.co.uk/threads/donnk.166/

setup takes less than a minute, the laser I use is self levelling so hardly ever bother getting the tripod out anymore.

 

[fred]

Whichever laser system you go for MintSauce I would definitely recommend getting a receiver that gives you a readout in mm. Mine worked 50mm each way off grade and was dead handy for everything because you could see at a glance if 20mm or so needed to come off an area. Saved on jumping out the cab so often and your eye will always get it to within the 50mm grade. Even the bricklayers I worked with now have one - and brickies never spend money on anything other than booze.
Honestly I'd see if you can borrow or try out a machine mounted receiver. I paid £160 2nd hand for mine and its sat in the van for a year before I sold it again, used twice I think. I'd of been pissed off if I'd of bought an expensive one and not used it.

not seen a laser receiver that doesnt have measured arrows/graduations if your after just a rough ball park.

The spectra you can select fine/medium/coarse for alerting close to grade.

 

[V8Druid]

If I were buying a rotary again, I'd definately go for auto levelling with a digital display, in degrees. Takes any guesswork/squinting out of it.

My latest purchase in this department was a NivComp digital altimeter. Has a pressurised tube conencting base and receiver, can be zeroed anywhere in seconds and then gives you a reading in mm from that point to another. Can be used on a staff or off for slabs etc, and no need for line of site. Not great for large earthworks I'd imagine (although my apprentice got my driver to follow the levels spot on digging a sandschool the other day) but incredibly quick and versatile on landscaping jobs. And for quoting too- very quick and professional.

Really well designed bit of kit and not expensive either.

https://www.laser-level.co.uk/nivcomp-digital-altimeter.html

seen them before ... glorified water level, ... old tech meets Y2K+18 and goes digital ..... water level'll take some beating TBH .... but you got a hose trailing everywhere

 

[BertB.]

We've been using machine mounted laser receivers for years for everything from ditching to digging footings with the proper receivers like this LR50 I've been using for the past month or so it will indicate if the stick is plumb going in or out and from side to side. As for the magnetic bit we have a magnetic pipe that the receiver clamps to and it makes adjusting the receiver much easier as your not fighting with the pull of the magnet plus it has the added advantage that the receiver sticks out a little bit from the hydraulic plumbing. We also have a Leica receiver that I like quite a bit. When we set up we take our shots by rolling the bucket all the way open and this way you usually get a consistent shot and grade. But your grade can vary if you have a lot of wear in your bucket linkage and or quick coupler.

 

[Mintsauce]

Thanks for all your comments the developer im working for has supplied a laser level and we are hiring a receiver off the same people so will find out if it's any good.