What makes measuring tool accessories a must have in the toolbox? Easy! The accessories enhance the functionality of these instruments, increasing the range and visibility of the laser or allow us to firmly hold the meters to different surfaces. Other accessories serve to protect our eyesight or simply to adapt one fastening system to another.
In this article we will see the accessories for measuring tools known, their functions and how to use them properly.
1. What are accessories for measuring tools, and what can be done with them?
They are elements that complement the function of the different measuring instruments (laser distance meters, line projectors, and others) helping to attach them to different surfaces where they could not normally be used directly: uneven or unconsolidated floors, walls, rails or on a location where there is no support at all. Some of those accessories for measuring instruments They help us to improve the visibility of laser light beams, and also to protect our eyesight from them.
Within the measuring tool accessories, the best known and most important are the tripods, which we will see below.
2. What is the function of tripods?
These accessories are the most important, so much so that we have written an entire technical article dedicated to them. Its main function is to lift and level laser levelers (and also other instruments such as distance meters).
The tripods that are used for works in construction or spare parts in buildings they are usually made of aluminum – which is a lightweight material – while those intended for field work are made of wood, to give them greater stability against strong winds.
The tripods They allow you to level the instrument even on the most uneven floors and, in addition, to elevate it at ease. The larger models allow the height of the instrument to be just over two meters high.
3. How do you adjust the height on a tripod?
Measurement Tool Accessories
Some tripods They offer an extendable arm, which is regulated by means of a crank. In other models, the height is adjustable through the legs, which are telescopic.
Models without an extension arm are generally taller and more robust, allowing heights of more than two meters to be reached. The construction tripods The extendable arm, in contrast, allow the height to be adjusted with greater precision and ease.
Tripods
4. How do I attach the measuring instrument to the tripod?
The various measuring instruments have a threaded hole that allows them to be firmly secured to the tripods (and other supports that we will see later in this article); Similar to the clamping system used in cameras, a screw is used that adjusts to the tool and then the assembly is secured to the tripod by means of a clamping.
5. What are wall mounts?
They are squared bases that allow to hold the measurement tools to a wall, column or vertical rail using fixing screws. The tool It is ensured by using the screw fixing system that we saw in the previous section. In turn, the base is fixed to the wall using screws.
The square bracket is adjustable and can be raised or lowered as desired by means of a screw brake.
6. What are universal brackets?
They are similar to wall brackets, but with the difference that they also have a foot that allows them to rest directly on horizontal surfaces such as floors, tables and others.
The clamping system of its base is universal, so it is possible to secure many instruments there. At the same time, it allows you to support it on any level surface, hang it on a wall or attach it to a rail.
7. What is the compatibility between the different accessories and the measuring instruments of different brands?
Measurement Tool Accessories
Sometimes the set screw may have a different thread size (5/8 and 1/4 are the most common inch measurements). In this case, the adapters solve the problem by offering a screw of the appropriate size on one of its faces, while on the other it has a threaded hole of the size of the screw. tripod or support.
8. What are the reflector plates for?
A common problem with line levels (red or green) is that outside, in full sunlight, it is very difficult to distinguish the position of the laser beam. The reflector plate eliminates the inconvenience by making the light beam reflect off its surface, thus offering an important visual aid.
9. What are laser receivers used for?
Similar to reflector panels, receivers help find the position of the laser beam in unfavorable light conditions. When the laser line falls on them, a photosensor is activated and the height at which the beam is located is shown on the display, thus facilitating any leveling work that is being carried out.
As with the others measurement tools, the receivers have a special support, which allows them to be secured to walls, bars or tripods.
10. What are laser glasses for?
Laser glasses
Eye care is essential when working with any laser. Are laser glasses They protect our eyesight from concentrated light while allowing us to see it more easily in brightly lit environments.
It is important that the color of the crystals matches that of the RF spectrum of the laser we are using.
