Levels are precision instruments that are used by a variety of people to indicate whether a specific surface is vertical or horizontal. There are many types of levels, and each one is suited to specific types of work. There are levels for surveyors, levels for stonemasons and levels for carpenters, just to name a few.
There are different categories of levels and one of the most commonly seen is the spirit level. Under the guise of spirit levels, there are many different types and each serves a specific purpose. The most common type of household level would be the torpedo level, and most of us have one of these long levels which have a liquid-filled vial in the center. Torpedo levels are used to hang a shelf or perhaps a picture, and carpenters use them for all types of construction. Stonemasons use a variant of the spirit level known as a mason's level to properly install bricks and masonry. When building a fence, one should use a post level to ensure that all of the posts are properly installed.
When even more precise measurements and leveling are required, one can use a precision frame level, which is a type of spirit level that is built in a square shape with a vial along the bottom, prismatic sides and usually insulating handles. This level is used to adjust or check vertical and horizontal surfaces.
Surveyors use a variety of levels, as well, including the bull's eye level which is named because of its circular appearance which resembles a bull's eye. More importantly, it allows a person to level planes in not one, but two dimensions. Bull's eye levels also are used in theodolites, tripods and compasses. These are all still types of spirit levels, so named because the liquid in the vial is usually ethanol, which is a type of alcohol or rather a spirit.
Surveyors typically use a variety of instruments with levels, including the Abney level which contains not only a movable type of spirit level, but also a protractor and a sighting tube. This type of level is named for the man who invented it, Sir William Abney, an astronomer who designed his level while working at an engineering school in the late 19th century. The Abney level measures elevation and the percent of grade and also can measure degrees.
As technology has advanced, levels have become even more sophisticated, and now there are several types of laser levels. While these can certainly be used in construction and in home use, there are highly precise laser levels that are used to ensure that machines are level, as even the most minute inaccuracy can cause gigantic issues in manufacturing.
There are different categories of levels and one of the most commonly seen is the spirit level. Under the guise of spirit levels, there are many different types and each serves a specific purpose. The most common type of household level would be the torpedo level, and most of us have one of these long levels which have a liquid-filled vial in the center. Torpedo levels are used to hang a shelf or perhaps a picture, and carpenters use them for all types of construction. Stonemasons use a variant of the spirit level known as a mason's level to properly install bricks and masonry. When building a fence, one should use a post level to ensure that all of the posts are properly installed.
When even more precise measurements and leveling are required, one can use a precision frame level, which is a type of spirit level that is built in a square shape with a vial along the bottom, prismatic sides and usually insulating handles. This level is used to adjust or check vertical and horizontal surfaces.
Surveyors use a variety of levels, as well, including the bull's eye level which is named because of its circular appearance which resembles a bull's eye. More importantly, it allows a person to level planes in not one, but two dimensions. Bull's eye levels also are used in theodolites, tripods and compasses. These are all still types of spirit levels, so named because the liquid in the vial is usually ethanol, which is a type of alcohol or rather a spirit.
Surveyors typically use a variety of instruments with levels, including the Abney level which contains not only a movable type of spirit level, but also a protractor and a sighting tube. This type of level is named for the man who invented it, Sir William Abney, an astronomer who designed his level while working at an engineering school in the late 19th century. The Abney level measures elevation and the percent of grade and also can measure degrees.
As technology has advanced, levels have become even more sophisticated, and now there are several types of laser levels. While these can certainly be used in construction and in home use, there are highly precise laser levels that are used to ensure that machines are level, as even the most minute inaccuracy can cause gigantic issues in manufacturing.
About the Author:
Carey Bourdier loves blogging reviews on precision scientific instruments. To get more information about different types of levels such as a precision frame spirit level, or to find more details about instrument calibration services, go to the Warren Knight site now.
No comments:
Post a Comment