DIY Laser levelling using webcam and laser level

[John McNamara]

Hi Joe

I do have an optical microscope, A cheap student version I used to align my lathe in 2011 using wire. The is a longish post here that discusses lathe alignment and wire, https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/for....asp?th=136771 In this case I lashed up a measuring stage that allowed me to position the wire centrally in a slot by eye using my bio computer then measure off the error using a micrometer. It worked! Page down the thread to see photos.

In particular note the simple wire positioning stages clamped to the lathe bed made from scrap steel, rock solid.

Using a USB webcam or microscope with your software is clearly a better solution. It eliminates a number of sources of error.

I don't have a working USB microscope I will order one! I cant wait to test the software.

In many ways two cameras will be even more useful, for XY measurement, Ideally using one computer, although old PC's are easy to source for nothing or next to nothing, if two instances of the software could interface to two USB ports on one computer it would be more convenient.

Regards
John

PS stretched wire plumb lines are used to this day by heavy machinery installers, for instance passenger lifts and giant boring mills to align the column. Normally the bob weight is suspended in a container of thick oil to damp out any tendency to sway like a pendulum.