Laser alignment tool

thingiverse

This allows you to use a laser sight for precision building a tool to determine if two planes are in perfect alignment. This setup is mainly used for aligning a photo enlarger, but can be easily adapted for any two planar surfaces. A reliable method uses a pistol laser sight and a mirror for this task. An adjustable sighting mechanism allows you to adjust the beam to make it exactly perpendicular to the base plate. When the reflected laser returns to its original path through the aperture, you know the two surfaces are in perfect alignment. To create a DIY parallelism tool: Buy a reliable laser sight designed to fit on a pistol that can be attached to an accessory rail. Choose one with adjustable aiming screws for precision targeting. You can get a basic model for as little as $17 at Walmart or cheaper online. Additionally, you'll need a small piece of glass to act as a mirror, which is readily available at most hardware stores. You may want to smooth the sharp edges to make handling safer. Next, clamp the laser sight onto the dovetail rail with the laser shining upwards. The aperture should be roughly centered; however, precision isn't crucial here. These steps are originally designed for aligning a photo enlarger but can also be applied to any other two planes you wish to bring into alignment. Note: Always be careful not to let the beam hit your eyes directly. To accurately set up the parallelism tool: First, elevate the photo enlarger's head close to its maximum height for improved accuracy. Then, position the mirror on the negative stage of the enlarger. Remove the lens from the device and turn the alignment tool's power off. Place this adjustable sight mechanism securely onto the baseboard, adjusting it as necessary to precisely aim the beam. Activate the laser light within the adjustment tool and direct the beam at the mirror until it perfectly reflects back down towards you. Next, engage the sighting system to monitor how far off-center the dot is that has formed where the reflection meets your surface. To fine-tune this precision setup, observe how far away from perfect alignment the beam actually remains when rotated within its confined space while still projecting its target at a fixed spot as you go through the procedure repeatedly until achieving maximum efficiency. This method takes time to master but becomes much easier by doing small steps every single iteration and following along these straightforward steps laid out above for getting desired accuracy needed right away