Laser line generator, not a level?

[danski0224]

I'm looking for a laser line generator, but not a level.

When I search, I just get results for laser levels.

Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[yatg]

Bought this one recently for inside projects, Huepar M-9211G.
It has a level mode, and "Manual mode locks lines for use at any angle."

Amazon.com

 

[larry_g]

Just what are you trying to do? There are laser pointers, laser plumb bobs, laser level, laser measuring, and others. Most described by function.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[GeoBruin]

Just what are you trying to do? There are laser pointers, laser plumb bobs, laser level, laser measuring, and others. Most described by function.

lg
no neat sig line

But they don't want any of those things. They want something that makes a laser line that can be oriented in directions that are not necessarily tangent to their location on the surface of the Earth.

I always see this Ryobi cube laser level at home depot. It doesn't use a pendulum but rather, you just use the bubble to level it so the line won't always try to be level.

 

[larry_g]

But they don't want any of those things. They want something that makes a laser line that can be oriented in directions that are not necessarily tangent to their location on the surface of the Earth.

Good assumption, but until the OP states that it's still an assumption.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[danski0224]

I just want something that can be attached to a tripod and/or magnet that will make a straight line where I point it. No need for leveling.

The line would be on an angle with respect to horizontal.

Think straight edge across belt driven sheaves to check belt deflection.

A commercial checking kit is crazy money.

 

[PCustoms]

I just want something that can be attached to a tripod and/or magnet that will make a straight line where I point it. No need for leveling.

The line would be on an angle with respect to horizontal.

Think straight edge across belt driven sheaves to check belt deflection.

A commercial checking kit is crazy money.

I think most laser levels allow you to lock the gimbal in place.

 

[danski0224]

Unfortunately, the ones I have... do not.

 

[whateg01]

The cheap one from Walmart, hart brand, just projects a line. If you wanted level it has a bubble level.

Robot or human?

In case the link doesn't work...



So are you wanting to line this up with the center of a sheave and see it land in the middle of the next? Or are you wanting more of a laser pointer that you can point to a tape measure to see that they are in line? Seems like sticking it on the side of a sheave would be better. Otherwise you have to eyeball whether you are pointing the same way as the sheave. Iow, it could be a challenge to make sure your line is on the same plane as the sheave.

 

[RTM]

I think most laser levels allow you to lock the gimbal in place.

Only one of my three does.

Think straight edge across belt driven sheaves to check belt deflection.

That makes a huge difference. You really want the equivalent of a string or wire, not a planar line as generated by a laser level, unless you pointed the level's straight down. If you use a typical laser level, you get a plane of light, not just a line, so pointing it "level" at a horizontal running belt, you get nothing useful. If your belt is running in a vertical plane, it will work.

I've done this twice with just a decent laser point (can't be a fat pointer), and set it up to just graze the surface we were trying to check for bow between pieces of a machine. If I had to do it again for real, I'd mount the laser on an XY table, and move it a little more precisely.

Amazon.com

Once we realized we had a problem, a millwright came in with high tensioned wires to fix it right.

 

[danski0224]

I'd like to line it up from sheave to sheave, along the top of the belt to measure deflection.

It won't be "level" and only has to be reasonably parallel to the belt.

 

[PCustoms]

I'd like to line it up from sheave to sheave, along the top of the belt to measure deflection.

It won't be "level" and only has to be reasonably parallel to the belt.

What's your budget?

My Bosch level locks and with a tripod would work, it was under $100 but I don't recall the exact cost.

 

[wolf_from_wv]

How bright does it have to be? How far does it need to reach?

GAMO Red Laser Sight 650 Weaver Rail Mount - GAMO

650nm Red Laser Sight with Weaver style rail mount. This 650nM red laser is very easy to mount and includes a weaver mount.

gamousa.com

Flat Weaver type base. Drill a hole and tap for 1/4-20 thread for camera base mount on tripod.

Buy Top Mount Base Pairs and More | Weaver Optics

Shopping for the Top Mount Base Pairs - Learn more about the latest Two Piece and other hunting or shooting gear at Weaver Optics.

www.weaveroptics.com

Set camera base on surface, or set tripod on surface.

 

[rlitman]

Unfortunately, the ones I have... do not.

On both of the 3-plane lasers I've owned, the on/off switch is what locks the gimbals, but there's a way to turn on the laser while it is locked. It's a common mode for setting stair railings, etc.

I recently bought a green laser line generator module from China for about $4. My plan is to figure out how to place it on the floor and project a line along the floor (I may need a mirror) to highlight dirt while vacuuming (Dyson offers this feature, but Dyson...). So, the line modules by themselves are dirt cheap. You could stick it to anything within a lump of duct seal if you didn't want a tripod.

 

[danski0224]

How bright does it have to be? How far does it need to reach?

Ambient lighting, some red lasers are so so. Probably within 5 feet away.

What's your budget?

My Bosch level locks and with a tripod would work, it was under $100 but I don't recall the exact cost.

I wouldn't be afraid to spend a bit, just not interested in the 1.5k and up kits.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Harbor freight has a regular level with a laser on it for....used to be about $20. Has a lens to convert from dot to line. Also pretty easy to pull the laser out of the housing.

 

[Sumboodie]

I just want something that can be attached to a tripod and/or magnet that will make a straight line where I point it. No need for leveling.

The line would be on an angle with respect to horizontal.

Think straight edge across belt driven sheaves to check belt deflection.

A commercial checking kit is crazy money.

Some laser levels don't self level.

 

[Firebrick43]

Throw him a bone here people. He wants A BELT DEFLECTION GAUGE WITH A FREAKING LASER BEAM ON ITS HEAD!

 

[IndyGarage]

I recently bought a 3 line laser level. 360 degree lines, two vertical and one horizontal.

Just slide a lever over and it locks the lines in place and you can turn it to any angle you want and place the line anywhere you want.

 

[KnurledNut]

 

[Firebrick43]

129$

 

[KnurledNut]

129$

I wouldn't be afraid to spend a bit, just not interested in the 1.5k and up kits.

 

[GeoBruin]

129$

Yeah but there are folks in here talking about 360 degree 3-line laser levels that are upwards of $500 and would be terribly inconvenient for the job the OP described. This is literally the tool they came here asking about (but didn't know existed). I call it case closed.

 

[scooby074]

This work? under $30

 

[danski0224]

That looks interesting. Thanks.

 

[sdowney717]

I just want something that can be attached to a tripod and/or magnet that will make a straight line where I point it. No need for leveling.

The line would be on an angle with respect to horizontal.

Think straight edge across belt driven sheaves to check belt deflection.

A commercial checking kit is crazy money.

I bought this angle finder with magnetic base on all 4 sides and it puts out a laser line on both sides or only one side of the device. Charges off USB and has an aluminum case. It will put a red line all the way down a wall.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L8N8H2R/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[danski0224]

I have found "bridge saw line laser" over on the big auction site, those look promising, but none appear to be battery powered. Yes, I suppose this is a good application for those power tool battery inverters... which I would need to buy.

The other option might just be a Huepar laser with a pendulum lock, which could be used elsewhere. Their lasers allow the beam to be on with the pendulum locked (this feature may be available elsewhere).

 

[Spencer Was Here]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PWYJX9W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Fix Until Broke]

Bumping this back up as I'm looking for something similar (but for a different purpose). I specifically do NOT want it to self level, I just want a plane projected either parallel or perpendicular to a surface. I have the typical construction laser levels from Bosch or Huepar that will "lock", but there is no flat "true" surface on them to reference once locked - Just a bunch of oblique angles and rubber bumpers.

I bought a few of the digital angle gauges with a laser line projecting out both sides and, while good in concept, I need something a bit more accurate.
The red ones were "decent" with reasonably sharp lines at 20 feet, but were 3/8"-1/2" off from left side to right side. One of them had a base that was not flat and rocked so not high confidence which stable point to use.
Angle varied ~0.2 degrees from right side up to upside down.
The green ones were not decent with line widths almost 3/8" wide at 20 feet and were over 1" off from left to right to the center of the line.
To be clear, I didn't have high expectations for them at ~$25/each - just sharing what you can expect if you buy one.

I want a nice sharp line (1/16" wide or less) at 20 feet with an accuracy of <1/16" side to side over that same 20 feet. The plane needs to simultaneously project "forward" and "backward". The application is makeshift wheel alignment for automotive use.

I'm willing to do some machine work and/or fabrication.

 

[GeoBruin]

Bumping this back up as I'm looking for something similar (but for a different purpose). I specifically do NOT want it to self level, I just want a plane projected either parallel or perpendicular to a surface. I have the typical construction laser levels from Bosch or Huepar that will "lock", but there is no flat "true" surface on them to reference once locked - Just a bunch of oblique angles and rubber bumpers.

I bought a few of the digital angle gauges with a laser line projecting out both sides and, while good in concept, I need something a bit more accurate.
The red ones were "decent" with reasonably sharp lines at 20 feet, but were 3/8"-1/2" off from left side to right side. One of them had a base that was not flat and rocked so not high confidence which stable point to use.
Angle varied ~0.2 degrees from right side up to upside down.
The green ones were not decent with line widths almost 3/8" wide at 20 feet and were over 1" off from left to right to the center of the line.
To be clear, I didn't have high expectations for them at ~$25/each - just sharing what you can expect if you buy one.

I want a nice sharp line (1/16" wide or less) at 20 feet with an accuracy of <1/16" side to side over that same 20 feet. The plane needs to simultaneously project "forward" and "backward". The application is makeshift wheel alignment for automotive use.

I'm willing to do some machine work and/or fabrication.

If you have some machining capability, I would just look for a couple laser line generator modules, then machine your own housing. You could machine a flat surface, then bore a hole all the way through that you know is parallel to accept the modules. That said, it might be better to over size the hole and use some set screws so you can tune the alignment since there's no way to know the line will be aligned relative to the housing.

Here's an example.

Green Laser Line Module | Green Laser Line Generator https://share.google/WXMJWLhPdDwAEsczW

 

[Fix Until Broke]

Thanks - I'll keep digging into these Line Generators.

I'd like to find something that inherently projects both directions or somehow that I can make it do that without "tuning" too much.
They all seem to be cylindrical in shape - if something were flat to start with, that might be easier?

How's the saying go - "if you can't make it perfect, make it adjustable"

 

[whateg01]

I was gifted for Christmas a laser line thing from Walmart, hart brand. I asked for a laser level but the person didn't understand that this wasn't.

ETA: I guess I forgot it is a bubble level with a laser.

 

[e015475]

I bought this laser off of Amazon-

Amazon.com

This one was about $40 but you can buy simpler ones for about $12 on Amazon

I mounted it to the ceiling and used a wall-wart to power it. It projects a beam about 20' out the door to the middle of my four post lift. The wall wart is powered by a smart-home module that I can turn on and off with the phone. To park my truck on the 4-post lift, I turn the laser on with my phone and center the beam on the middle of the hood and drive on - perfect every time and no arguments with my wife! The beam's cross hairs are set to the edge of the windshield so I know I've driven onto the lift far enough

The one I bought was a green beam and my truck is green. Probably should have bought a red one, but it still works pretty good