Machine spirit level – what is it?
So what is a machine spirit level? As the name suggests, it is designed for use with machines, among other things. Unlike construction spirit levels, machine spirit levels are much more accurate and come in many more types, depending on the needs and characteristics of the measurements. Considering the above, machine spirit levels are usually shorter and equipped with various measuring bases, ranging from flat, prismatic and angular to those equipped with magnetic inserts. It is also worth mentioning that machine spirit levels can be divided into analogue and digital (electronic) types.
Machine spirit levels are not only used for levelling machines, which is probably the first thing that comes to mind. Depending on the type of spirit level, we can test straightness, perpendicularity, parallelism and even flatness. In advanced digital systems, entire machine tool structures are tested.
Machine spirit level - construction
In terms of construction, machine levelling instruments can be divided into:
- type
- analogue with a spirit level - spirit levels equipped with a spirit level filled with liquid and an air bubble that uses Earth's gravity. The most accurate spirit levels of this type have a sensitivity of 0.02 mm/m
- water - usually use the principle of connected vessels - mainly used to check the levels of machine components.
- digital - come in many varieties, measuring ranges, accuracies and sensitivities, as well as classes. We can distinguish between general-purpose digital spirit levels costing several hundred zlotys and specialised spirit levels with sensitivities of 0.001 mm/m equipped with accurate measuring bases.
- Type of measuring base (most popular)
- flat,
- prismatic,
- angular (flat or prismatic)
- round,
- cross
- etc.
Depending on the needs and type of structure being measured, we can select the appropriate instrument for specific applications.
Machine spirit level - operation
Operating standard spirit levels usually seems quite simple for the average user and does not require much knowledge. In the case of machine spirit levels, it is not an easy or intuitive task. It is worth noting that knowledge and characteristics of the instrument are important, and, even more importantly, the characteristics of the measured object.
Given the sensitivity of these tools, even the smallest human error can significantly distort the measurement results. In this case, occupational health and safety is one of the key elements of the measurement process. Before starting work, first check the measuring instrument and the correctness of the readings (by rotating it 180 degrees), check the cleanliness of the spirit level surface and the measured element, etc. In the case of digital spirit levels, it is important to calibrate the instrument (in relative or absolute values). The better the sensitivity of the instrument, the more important it is to prepare for measurements with precision.
Wyler BlueLEVEL spirit level
This can be easily illustrated using the example of the BlueLEVEL spirit level manufactured by the Swiss company Wyler. The sensitivity of this spirit level is 0.001 mm/m, which translates to 1 mm per kilometre. It is easy to imagine that even the smallest amount of dirt can drastically change the reading and significantly distort the result. In the machine industry, this is almost a basic measuring tool for high-precision machine tools. For the average user, this value may seem somewhat abstract, but it should be remembered that new machine tools often have accuracies better than 0.01 mm, and following the principle that a measuring instrument should have a resolution one order of magnitude better than the measurement tolerance, the whole thing becomes clear and justified.
Machine spirit level – advantages
The advantages of machine levellers are undoubtedly their accuracy and the possibility of precise adjustment of machine elements or structures. Thanks to their use, we are able to adjust the machine tool as precisely as possible.
In the case of precision digital levelling instruments, a major advantage is undoubtedly their greater sensitivity and measurement accuracy, digital readout and (increasingly common) data transmission. This allows us to build an entire measurement system and create procedures for measuring complex structures.
