Laser Measurement Instruments
- There are a number of different tools that use lasers for measurement.Laser Entfernungsmesser image by Otmar Smit from Fotolia.com
Once residing strictly in the realm of science fiction, lasers now have many uses in modern technology. From manufacturing to medicine, lasers have become a lightweight, easy-to-use tool that has lowered costs in many sectors. Lasers can even be used to take measurements, if you have the right tool for the job. - A range finder is a tool commonly used by hunters and shooters who want to figure out how far away an object is. Laser range finders can return an instant, or nearly instant, measurement of how far away an object is from where the range finder is located. Lasers can be purchased for long ranges, such as those used by hunters and sharpshooters, or for shorter ranges. Price depends on the range of the laser as well as its accuracy and sensitivity.
- A laser measuring device is significantly less powerful than a range finder but it is also more compact and designed for shorter distances. This type of tool is more often used in construction projects for measuring exact distances on a smaller scale such as from floor to ceiling or to find the length of a hallway. This laser is roughly the size and shape of a cellphone, with a simple key pad that makes programming and using it fairly simple. However, it is not meant to work over greater distances and can give faulty readings when its range is exceeded.
- Land surveyors have to be very specific when they take measurements and lasers are just another tool in the surveyor's arsenal for figuring out exact distances on the land they're measuring. Laser instruments used by surveyors are usually mounted on top of a tripod and they are very precise instruments capable of measuring exact distances. These lasers are expensive because they require a high degree of calibration in order to produce precise measurements.
