What is this?

[notorious]

Yes I did. Availability is not an issue. The same company manufacture green lasers too. They are a bit cost prohibitive. For instance, 20mW green plane laser module was quoted £1275. I went for 15mW red and the cost was £454. That is just for the laser module.

Because it is plane laser and not dot laser (or do they call them line lasers?) the power of laser is distributed across the whole plane and not concentrated in one dot. Plane lasers are not as dangerous as powerful dot lasers.

[ainarssems]

Ouch!$$$ Could you not achieve the same with £10 laser. I do have spirit level with red line laser that cost less then £10, battery operated and no remote control but that could be rigged up if needed. Also my jigsaw that cost around £25 has laser alignment line. I know you are always going for the best available but it would be hard for me to swallow 40x the cost

[notorious]

This is industrial grade equipment. My first idea was to buy battery-operated Bosch or Leica laser level and simply attach it to wall on a mount. But one problem is operating temperature. These devices are not designed for permanent outdoor installation. I wanted the device to work reliably at temperatures below -10C. The laster I've got is warranted to work up to -15C. Second problem is UK climate. This device is dust and water protected. 100% waterproof.

I think about this in cost avoidance terms. Fixing car properly if I dent, say, a wing and a door will cost £1500-£2000 easily. And I use garage every day.

[notorious]

Made pics today how the thing works.

Situation: Double garage with idiotically narrow doors. Who built this? Welcome to the UK !!!


5cm tolerance from one side ...


... and 5cm tolerance from another side. Notice red line on bonnet.


SOLUTION: On approach to garage you can see a red line on the bonnet. Align the line with climate control sun sensor and just press gas. That's it.


Don't worry about mirrors -- just relax and drive. Make sure sun sensor is always in the middle of the red line. And don't look right or left -- it is scary.


These black/yellow things will make sure you stop at the right place even if you drive fast. No cork on rope !


Stopped. This ensures parking with laser accuracy.


Result: 5cm from front bumper to front wall ...


... 5cm from left to water tank ...


... and 5cm from rear bumper to closed door.


This system guarantees you **always** park exactly on the same spot with 1cm tolerance. Red line is visible even in bright sunny weather and activated via remote control from car.

[PsYcHe]

Excellent piece of engineering

The garage I have left is 'just' big enough for an '8. but then you wouldn't be able to get out the doors..

[David's8]

That is some hi-tech solution! When docking ships (and I mean aligning them with the keel blocks before draining down the dock -or raising them on a shiplift - to leave the vessel high and dry), they have in the past tried all sorts of similar kit but have come back to using simple, low tech, low cost plumb bobs as used by shipwrights in Nelson's day.... I know that people often use a tennis ball on a string to ensure that they dont hit the wall at the end. That said, I DO appreciate that this device guides you in from a greater distance out - from how far out is it usable?

[notorious]

Originally Posted by PsYcHe

Excellent piece of engineering

The garage I have left is 'just' big enough for an '8. but then you wouldn't be able to get out the doors..

Yeah I know exactly what you mean. Glad you have left it !!!

[notorious]

Originally Posted by David's8

That is some hi-tech solution! When docking ships (and I mean aligning them with the keel blocks before draining down the dock -or raising them on a shiplift - to leave the vessel high and dry), they have in the past tried all sorts of similar kit but have come back to using simple, low tech, low cost plumb bobs as used by shipwrights in Nelson's day.... I know that people often use a tennis ball on a string to ensure that they dont hit the wall at the end. That said, I DO appreciate that this device guides you in from a greater distance out - from how far out is it usable?

Distance depends on amount of sunlight. From a couple of metres before garage during sunny day to 20+ meters during night.

Tennis ball / cork on a string will tell you where to stop but it won't provide much guidance left/right on approach. It is also much softer tool than I need. I need a device to physically stop me to avoid any human error. Hence those big rubber things on the floor.

This is garage with 5 cm tolerances.

[briang9]

absolutely superb piece of engineering work there Sergey, well done, I love it

[Adrian E]

Awesome job! I would probably have gone for putting the money towards removing the silly pillar and putting a longer steel in place with a double door, but depends on structural issues above I guess - and risk!

I've never got round to videoing me getting the car in and out of the garage but because it's a standard UK single (7ft but frame makes it smaller) it is ridiculous on a daily basis, especially as the builders put a half width of bricks exactly half way down the garage to give some additional strength to the roof supports so I can't get out with the car all the way in! Pulling a 2 tonne car in and out does get a bit dull....