Doing a particularly difficult layout using a rotary laser and wishing there were professional level alternatives to Trimble at the $1k price point – in looking I found that Hilte has a much less expensive tool but it is still $15k, does anyone know an accurate tool that can be programmed with the foundation plan and lays out everything quickly in the field?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
From building boxes and fitting face frames to installing doors and drawers, these techniques could be used for lots of cabinet projects.
Featured Video
Highlights
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
Fine Home Building
Follow
-
Fine Homebuilding
Dig into cutting-edge approaches and decades of proven solutions with total access to our experts and tradespeople.
Start Free Trial Now -
GBA Prime
Get instant access to the latest developments in green building, research, and reports from the field.
Start Free Trial Now
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
I am 10 years retired as a professional land surveyor. So my knowledge may be a little out of date.
A 'total station' or GPS are your only options for quick and accurate layout. And of course expensive. Still, you must have a solid grasp of the instrument adjustment and calibration procedures.
Look at used total stations. A 'robotic' allows for one man layout. Older versions require that you input xyz coordinates rather than having the CAD drawing uploaded.
One option that comes to mind is the 1st gen Leica robotic total station. They were pretty much junk near a roadway. The servo tended to lose track of the prism and follow a car mirror. On a site layout they were good. The local survey equipment dealer will know availability.
In 30 years I've had only two clients attempt their own surveying. One of them came back. Good luck.
Thank you for the opinion, very helpful. I am surprised there is not a solution aimed at builders or excavators as laser and GPS are cheap and lots of layouts don't really call for a surveyor (not just about $, also about time in the schedule).