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Laser questions

Jakebreak

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2016
Messages
273
Location
Bakersfield Ca
Occupation
operator/pipelayer/mechanic
So I have been doing a little more side work than what I have done in years past. I have been thinking about buying a laser setup at work we use top con dual slope laser which I am familiar with. Most of my side jobs have been building roads and putting asphalt grindings down or some pads and horse arenas right now I just eye ball it and use my engineers ruler and monocular to make it work. So my question is what would be a good laser setup also if it’s possible to get some kind of grade indicator to go on a skip loader, a blade and a dozer. I rent the skip loaders so I was thinking if their was a way to make a mount that was magnetic to put on a skip loader that is removable and the same for the dozer and a blade any thoughts
 

FarmWrench

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2013
Messages
168
Location
Chaffee NY
Occupation
Table Potato farmer
I have a Spectra (Trimble?) Has a magnet mount for the receiver. It's an ebay special and taken a lot of abuse.

Getting glitchy.
 

Jakebreak

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2016
Messages
273
Location
Bakersfield Ca
Occupation
operator/pipelayer/mechanic
Have you been happy with the spectra laser is your mount used on an excavator or a box blade
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
A Topcon RL-H5A self leveling laser is a great tool for the price. We have 3 of them and have used them for years setting grade and laying pipe. You can buy a kit including tri-pod and grade rod for around $800.
 

Jakebreak

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2016
Messages
273
Location
Bakersfield Ca
Occupation
operator/pipelayer/mechanic
Gotcha have you ever used it with a pole mounted to a skip loader or a box blade hooked to your track steer with a receiver to indicate grade as your working or am I getting a 2d system confused with a grade indicate system. I seen that you have gotten into the 3d systems how’s that been working for you so far. I’m trying to find something that will work so I can be a little more efficient
A Topcon RL-H5A self leveling laser is a great tool for the price. We have 3 of them and have used them for years setting grade and laying pipe. You can buy a kit including tri-pod and grade rod for around $800.
A Topcon RL-H5A self leveling laser is a great tool for the price. We have 3 of them and have used them for years setting grade and laying pipe. You can buy a kit including tri-pod and grade rod for around $800.
 

CM1995

Administrator
Joined
Jan 21, 2007
Messages
13,250
Location
Alabama
Occupation
Running what I brung and taking what I win
I haven't used our Topcon like that.

We have a Spectra GL622 dual slope with pole mounted receivers for our Cat box blade that works automatically wired up on 2 279D's. However that system cost around $15K a couple of years ago and worth every penny if you are doing a lot of slab and parking lot prep. Depending on the size of the base rock it can achieve 1/2" tolerance in finish grade very quickly on flat or single slope surfaces.

3D GPS is a game changer for a whole site solution, costly and worth the price IMO.
 

FarmWrench

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2013
Messages
168
Location
Chaffee NY
Occupation
Table Potato farmer
Form farm use it's been ok. Receiver has taken a swim in a tile ditch a few times too many. I'm looking at something newer but not actually looking. The detector was small for a machine mount. Angle iron painted silver and then with headlight paint and an engineering scale painted on is what I use in hole. (It's always dark here in NY when I'm digging.)
 
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