Pro Construction Guide: During the last few years, a new product category – laser distance measuring tools – has gained new customers in the contracting, architecture and real estate professions. When these devices first came to the market about a decade ago, they had drawbacks that limited their utility. Recent product refinements, however, have addressed most of these issues.
4 comments:
I actually recently purchased myself a laser datum at a really good discount on Amazon. I was skepical at first, but I tested it fairly extensively in comparison with my favorite tape measure, and concluded that it is just as accurate, if not more! I really prefer to use my laser datum over my tape measure when possible, as it holds a host of benefits. Beyond being more accurate, the physical measuring process is significantly easier, as it involves simply pointing the device and pressing a button. Further, it also remembers the meaurements I have taken since it turned on! It really makes life so much more convenient when I am surveying a new space. However, I find that there are definitely instances where a tape measure is more useful for measurements. If I am measuring the distance between two objects that are not parallel, the measurer struggles to get an accurate measure of the distance. As such, if I'm measuring the length of a stick of lumber or something similar, a tape measure is still the way to go.
Construction technology keeps improving and over the years I have been iffy about some of, mainly the laser the stuff. They have since improved things like the laser measuring systems to be more accurate and reliable but I personally would rather not rely on them. Although I am becoming more inclined to laser technology as I have seen its improvement there are still so many instances in which it can become very quickly unreliable. Laser on miter saws if bumped to hard could bring it out of whack whereas a line drawn from a measuring tape still works perfectly well to line up that blade. I enjoy that this article while promoting and talking about these laser systems still mentioned that things like a measuring tape should still be around and that is exactly what I would do should I buy one anyways. The batteries could run out or something happens malfunctions and it stops working. A measuring tape is still a sure way of getting accurate measurements. Short measurements as also mentioned are better done with measuring tapes anyways because it is that much quicker but this “laser world” we are approaching is appealing in its capabilities but I still want the guarantee a tape measure gives on laser systems if possible.
This article was very well balanced. It talked about the many innovations that these tools can offer us in our day to day work life. This is said without saying that the tape measure is all but done for. There is something about being able to see with your eyes what something is or where to place it said the distance from another object. Until they come up with a laster that somehow puts an indicator at a set distance, then the humble tape measure and hundred foot tape will always have a place in one's toolkit. In our industry, we often use these to establish distances that have to do with the standing architecture and not with things we have built. Thus the seeming lack of use. However, with more and more projections and not standard looks we are creating the more and more we have to interface with things that will require a site survey, will inevitably increase our use of this technology.
Laser guides to me have always been one of the most indispensable tools in a theatrical space. The ability to measure such long distances accurately and with little to no obstruction or error is amazing. The new added functionality of some of the new lasers for example I have used the newest Bosch laser in the past where I was able to save and categorize dimensions so that I could create essentially entire layouts and designs of a room just on the laser finder itself. This functionality is perfect for our applications in theatre as we often have to deal with distances that are often untraceable and hard to quantify with things such as hung scenery and raked stages make it hard to get true length measurement and angles without some degree of difficulty. This all being said I totally agree with the articles last points though with the idea of holding on to tape measures and make sure that the old trusted technology doesn’t just die off it needs to stick around its purpose just might change as we move forward with newer laser technologies.
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