A rotary laser can become out of calibration after being dropped, transported in a car without a case, or after years of use. You won't notice anything at first glance - the laser will level and rotate normally, but the plane is slightly tilted. You can verify this with a simple test between two walls.
What you will need
- two opposite walls approximately 20 to 30 m apart (hall, yard, long garage),
- tripod, receiver or target board,
- pencil and tape measure.
X-axis procedure
- Place the laser exactly in the middle between walls A and B. Let it level.
- Turn the laser so that the X axis is pointing towards wall A. On walls A and B, use the receiver or the beam to mark the height of the plane: A1 and B1 .
- Rotate the laser on the tripod 180° (do not move the tripod, just the laser itself). Mark the height again on both walls: A2 and B2 .
- Measure the difference between A1 and A2 and between B1 and B2.
If the laser is accurate, the marks A1 and A2 (also B1 and B2) are almost on top of each other. If they differ, half of the difference is the laser error at the distance from the laser to the wall.
Procedure – Y axis
Rotate the laser 90° so that the Y axis is facing the walls and repeat steps 2 to 4. Each axis is calibrated separately, so both must be checked.
When is the laser okay?
With an accuracy of ± 1.5 mm at 10 m, the error at a distance of 15 m (laser in the middle between walls 30 m apart) should not exceed approximately 2.25 mm. Since the error is reflected twice by a 180° rotation, the difference between the A1 and A2 marks should not exceed approximately 4.5 mm .
| Laser distance from wall | Maximum allowed brand difference |
|---|---|
| 10 meters | approx. 3 mm |
| 15 m | approx. 4.5 mm |
What if the difference is bigger?
- Repeat the test – check that the tripod did not move between measurements and that the laser was completely level during the measurement.
- If the result is confirmed, the laser needs calibration . Do not attempt to disassemble it – calibration is done at a precision workplace.
We also calibrate lasers from other brands. You can bring the laser to us in person in Švábovce near Poprad or send it by courier - after calibration, we will return it ready for work.
How to prevent decalibration
- Always transport the laser in a carrying case .
- Place the tripod on the construction site so that it does not get in the way, and place your feet on the ground.
- After a fall, always test the laser before further work.
- With regular use, it is worth checking the accuracy at least once a year.