HAMAR LASER STEALTH Series, General Training Manual

Page: 5 / 113

1
An Introduction to Laser Alignment
Laser alignment is a simple and extremely accurate method of aligning machinery. A laser alignment
system consists of a laser, a target (or targets), and some form of readout (either a hand-held device or a
computer interface). The laser provides an intense, narrow beam of light that stays focused over distances
of up to 100 ft. The target is a light sensitive cell that can detect the absolute center of the laser beam.
When the target is placed in the line of the laser beam, the readout displays the offset between the center
of the laser beam and the center of the target cell, either graphically, numerically, or both.
In addition to lasers that produce a straight beam of light, Hamar Laser also manufactures laser that
produce a continuously sweeping plane . These planes are produced by bending a laser beam precisely 90°
using an optical penta prism. A laser plane is used for alignment by making it parallel (or “bucked-in”) to
three reference points or a datum plane, and then using targets to measure deviations from those points.
Once the laser is bucked in, any point within range of the laser system (up to a 100 ft. radius (30.5 m))
can be aligned to the reference points.
Hamar Laser’s multi-plane lasers, such as the L-733 and L-743, generate up to three ultra-flat laser planes
(both horizontal and vertical) and can be used with multiple targets on multiple axes to check alignment.
In most cases, this requires only one setup procedure.
Laser “buck-in” refers to the adjustment of a laser plane or line to be parallel to the surface being
measured (a tabletop, a surface plate, or a way surface). Three points are required to buck-in a laser plane
to a reference surface. Two points are needed to buck-in a straight-line laser to a reference line (i.e.,
centerline). For most machining centers, the alignment process begins by bucking-in the laser to five
reference points, three points using the horizontal laser plane (usually on the machine’s table) and two
using one of the vertical planes. The two reference points for the vertical plane are usually chosen from
either the X or Y straightness motion of the machine. The horizontal plane is measured using vertically
mounted targets and the vertical plane uses horizontally mounted targets. The pitch, roll and yaw of the
laser planes are adjusted by using adjustment knobs built into the base of the laser.
After bucking in, the target is moved to various points along the surface where it measures deviation from
the laser reference plane. For squareness, a target is placed (usually horizontally) on one part of the
column and zeroed. The column is then traversed up or down and any deviation becomes a measurement
of squareness since the laser plane used for measuring is perpendicular to the reference laser plane.
This manual will cover the four procedures that are necessary to use a Hamar Laser alignment system:
1. Reading and Calibrating the Laser’s Precision Level vials
2. Three-Point Buck-In
3. Two-Point Buck-In
4. The NORMIN Procedure
Any alignment you perform consists of one or more of these procedures. This manual will explain these
procedures and how to perform them. By fully understanding them, you will be able to align virtually any
machine, transfer line or production setup. In addition, this manual contains several appendices that cover
more advanced procedures and alignments using older Hamar Laser products.