What is a Laser?
An
atom, in the simplest model, consists of a nucleus and orbiting
electrons. This simple atom
consists of a nucleus (containing the protons and neutrons) and
an electron
cloud. It’s helpful to think of the electrons in this cloud
circling the nucleus in many different orbits.
The
Laser/Atom Connection
A
laser is a device that controls the way that energized atoms
release photons. "Laser" is an acronym for light amplification
by stimulated emission of radiation, which describes how a
laser works.
Laser
Classifications
Lasers
are classified into four broad areas depending on the potential
for causing biological damage. When you see a laser,
it should be
labeled with one of these four class designations:
• Class I - These lasers cannot emit laser radiation at known hazard
levels.
•
Class I.A. - This is a special designation that applies only to lasers
that are "not intended for viewing," such as a supermarket
laser scanner. The upper power limit of Class I.A. is 4.0 mW.
• Class II - These are low-power visible lasers that emit above Class
I levels but at a radiant power not above 1 mW. The concept is
that the human aversion reaction to bright light will protect a person.
• Class IIIA - These are intermediate-power lasers (cw: 1-5 mW), which
are hazardous only for intrabeam viewing. Most pen-like pointing
lasers are in this class.
• Class IIIB - These are moderate-power lasers.
• Class IV - These are high-power lasers (cw: 500 mW, pulsed: 10 J/cm2
or the diffuse reflection limit), which are hazardous to view
under any condition (directly or diffusely scattered), and are a potential
fire hazard and a skin hazard. Significant controls are required
of Class IV laser facilities.
About Construction
Lasers
There are three basic types of beam correction for construction
lasers. They are divided by the way they level beam.
Good
1.) The first
is the most simple; it is a laser diode that is leveled by an
external leveling vial that the operator
adjusts with external leveling
screws. You can
identify this one by external leveling screws and when shaken lightly you
should hear nothing.
Better
2.) The second
is leveled with a compensator. A compensated laser works like
a laser diode attached to a hanging
plumb bob. This one is can be identified
by lightly shaking the laser and listening for some kind of a rattle
inside that will be the compensator. It will have leveling
screws on outside of
laser for
the operator to adjust.
Best
3.) The third
is fully automatic in the leveling process. It has electronic
leveling vials that monitor the laser diode
and make any adjustments
to make and keep
the beam level. This type will have no leveling screws on the outside.
Therefore the operator will not have the means or the need to adjust
for level. This
is the easiest and most consistent laser to use.
Construction
Laser Setup
and Operation
1.) Setup
your tripod as level as possible, step on tripod legs to drive
into the ground.
2.) Attach
your laser to the tripod and turn on laser. If needed adjust
leveling screws to get unit as level as possible.
3.) Calibration
should be checked before the start of the day. This is done by
picking a spot (a wall, tree or stake
in the
ground) around
50
feet away.
With the
keypad facing you move laser to face the wall, tree or stake.
Go to the wall with detector set to the
finest
mode move
detector
up thru the
beam
until you get on center beam on the detector.
Draw a mark
across the top of detector on the wall. Go back to laser and
turn 180 degrees. Go back to the wall
move detector
up
thru beam
to on
center of
beam and Draw a mark across the top of detector on
the wall.
Go back to
the laser and turn unit 90 degrees from where it is sitting now.
Move back
to the wall and move detector up to center on beam draw a line
across top of detector again.
All marks
should
fall on top
of
each other.
Go back to
laser and turn 180 degrees. Move back to wall move detector up
to center of beam and
make a
forth mark
on wall.
All marks should
fall on
top
of each other if not the error needs to be corrected
by a competent repair technician.
Financing
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