Testimonials (Doug Novac)
When you have been involved
in this profession for a number of years, you hear all of the hype and
promises about new tools that will make your life easier and your time
more productive. Then you are disappointed with the product after it
is in your hands or on the shop floor.
Here's a surprise, I actually found something
that works and is simple to use. One of my friends asked me to play with this
gadget, the LT-55 Precision Laser Templator. I was reluctant because I have
no involvement with "top-shops." My profession is architectural millwork
and commercial casework. He assured me that this tool was much more than the
title implied so I took him up on his offer.
After having received the product and looking
it over I quickly realized that "gadget" is
the wrong terminology. Precision instrument is a better label for this tool.
The usage of this device is simple. Remove the
tripod from its case (the tripod is worthy of any fine engineering instrument),
set it up and level it with the bubble level built in. Then remove the actual
unit from its case (an impressive and durable case) and attach it to the tripod.
Turn it on…go to work. Granted, the included are more detailed, but
these procedures are what it all comes down to. Simple…easy.
So what is the LT-55? It is a true laser measuring
device (not sonic) controlled by a PocketPC. Accuracy? I laid out a room as
accurately as I could with a tape measure. Then I hit the room with the LT-55.
Quite a difference. One of the inside corners was 90.111 degrees, another was
92.023 degrees. There was joint compound buildup of 1-1/16" in one corner
tapering out by 1-1/4" each direction to the flat wall surface and buildup
or 1-1/8" in another corner tapering out about 1-3/4" each direction
to the flat wall surface. Get the picture? The entire process tool about 5
minutes (including set-up). The LT-55 drew the floor plan in polylines and
saved it as a ".dxf" file onto a Secure Digital [memory] card. I
discovered an SD-USB Card reader in the case of goodies and plugged it into
my laptop. Windows XP recognized it immediately and AutoCAD opened it up with
no effort. Too easy. There are also functions that can be done with the line
drawing on the PocketPC that emulates the basic CAD commands. Now that I did
a complete room layout in less than 5 minutes I finally sat down and read the
manual only to discover I did it the hard way. Imagine that. So I started measuring
everything within sight. Radius corner walls, arched walls, multi-angular walls
and anything I could assign a dimension to.
When was the last time you or one of your employees
came back to the office with field dimensions at 1/32" accuracy showing
the corner "mud" buildups, arched/radius
walls exactly duplicated with all of their quarks and have all of this information
ready to go into your CAD program? No more lugging around template material,
tape, razor knives, tape measures, scissors and squares. Plus this eliminates
calling in an analysts to decipher the notes your employee wrote all over the
scratch pad with wall dimensions and coffee stains.
Everything you need to get going and productive
is on the first four pages of the 19 page manual. The laser unit has a 15 hour
run time before recharging is needed, and the PocketPC has about 6 hours usage.
Poking around in the case of goodies, I discovered a 12-volt charging cord,
a 110-volt charger, a cord to sync the PocketPC with a laptop or a desktop
PC and attachments for accurate counter-top layouts with cabinets in place.
The PocketPC is running Windows CE with all of the standard software. You can
also type notes on your floor plans.
I contacted my friend to let him know I was impressed
and he informed me they had an attachment to mount the unit vertically. You
can measure heights, archways, radius openings and on and on. The included
CD* has short movies explaining all of the functions and guiding
you through proper usage of the LT-55. Check out their website at www.lasersquare.com
and you will discover that these people eat, live and breathe lasers.
The down side to the LT-55? I haven't found one
yet.
Doug
Novac
Brunswick
Woodworking
* The CD has been redone recently to include full training resources.
About the evaluator:
Mr. Novac has been professionally employed in
the millwork, cabinet industry since 1971. His experiences ranges from high-end
furniture and antique restoration to automated state of the art case work manufacturing.
Currently employed as a production manager he also consults with other shops
as a friend for their strategic planning. Previous product reviews have been
for Rockwell, SCMI, Porter Cable, Hoffer and Holzma Favorable and not so favorable.