Using Laser to Dig straight Trench

[fred]

Have to dig a long (500m) service trench that has other utilities very close to it and didnt want to rely on following the spray line. Ian from Laser Levels came up with a great solution that used my existing laser level kit. You need a rotating laser that can work in vertical mode and two receivers that detect both sides.

Put the laser on the tripod a known offset, say 500mm, from centre of dig and turn laser so its vertical.

Put first laser receiver clamped --horizontal-- ( im using a simple G clamp) to the base of boom above kingpost, so it is exactly 500mm offset to the side when green.

Put the second laser receiver (need 2 to make sure the machine is not skewed) clamped to the dipper where it wont be in the way of the trench, height doesn't matter as the beam is vertical so can go right at the top again offset 500mm to match.

Now when both receivers are green you are bang on in line anywhere along the run.

Could also use for fencing long runs when string is a pain.

Heres a pic

 

[Brendan]

Have to dig a long (500m) service trench that has other utilities very close to it and didnt want to rely on following the spray line. Ian from Laser Levels came up with a great solution that used my existing laser level kit. You need a rotating laser that can work in vertical mode and two receivers that detect both sides.

Put the laser on the tripod a known offset, say 500mm, from centre of dig and turn laser so its vertical.

Put first laser receiver clamped --horizontal-- ( im using a simple G clamp) to the base of boom above kingpost, so it is exactly 500mm offset to the side when green.

Put the second laser receiver (need 2 to make sure the machine is not skewed) clamped to the dipper where it wont be in the way of the trench, height doesn't matter as the beam is vertical so can go right at the top again offset 500mm to match.

Now when both receivers are green you are bang on in line anywhere along the run.

Could also use for fencing long runs when string is a pain.

Heres a pic

View attachment 17019

Tried similar with the same model laserl trying to setout corners in a footing, just couldn't get the knack of square the line up

 

[GazCro]

As long as you're not relying on the other services being arrow straight!

 

[fred]

Tried similar with the same model laserl trying to setout corners in a footing, just couldn't get the knack of square the line up

i use a stabila LA180 for corners, again supplied by laser levels. Massive time saver.

STABILA LA 180 L multi-line laser - STABILA Messgeräte Gustav Ullrich GmbH (EN)

AUTO ALIGNMENT function: fully automatic transfer of axes and creation of right angles at the touch of a button. Precise alignment without losing the reference …

www.stabila.com

 

[T whiting]

Similar to using a pipe laser you can just attach one recover to the dipper somewhere near the end and swing it backward and forward to check if your straight

 

[DaveDCB]

My lasers won’t do that, they only spin up if the laser is level within its tolerance.. I’d just rent a pipe laser if I needed such a straight trench/pipe. I’d Go old skool and use ranging poleS

 

[Jimoz]

Surely you could just do with the one reciever in practice. Your not going to be far off straight with one as even though the machine could be crooked to the digging end you would soon not be able to get the reciever in the green zone?
Would it not be easier to set laser and recover in middle of trench. Set to dipper/blade or something then just stay in green and keep an eye that your bucket is following the trench?
Happy to be proved wrong as probably least qualified on here to comment!

 

[Charlie]

Surely it would be easier just to use the laser to mark a new paint line!!!!!