What is an alignment laser?

An alignment laser is a precision tool that utilises lasers to accurately align components during build and service of industrial machines such as machine tools, precision stages and semiconductor manufacturing machines. Designed to optimise performance, alignment lasers facilitate high-accuracy measurement, digital reporting and real-time axis adjustments.

The increasing demand for intuitive tools to streamline machine alignment processes has outpaced the effectiveness of many traditional methods.

The XK10 alignment laser system offers digital precision for aligning both linear and rotary axes, presenting a modern upgrade from traditional manual methods. This leads to a significant reduction in machine build, maintenance and service time.

The XK20 alignment laser system is our second generation alignment laser system specifically designed to make machine build easier, faster and in conformance to the latest ISO standards. This helps to ensure high accuracy, durability and reduce operator error.

Why would you use an alignment laser?

It is crucial to ensure precision during construction of a machine tool to make sure that it is reliable and efficient. Checking the alignment during the build process can prevent errors from being discovered after the machine has been built, which can be more difficult to fix. Regular alignment checks are also valuable during on-site service, maintenance or following a collision.

Our alignment laser systems provide a quick, easy and versatile alternative to traditional methods, like dial gauges, autocollimators and metrology artefacts. They eliminate the need for time-consuming procedures. Alignment lasers can be used to ensure that linear rails are straight, square, flat, parallel and level. They can also assess spindle direction and coaxiality of rotary machines.

The display units digitally records measurements, providing comprehensive error reports and reducing operator error due to manual documentation.

Key benefits

Easy to use

Guided step-by-step measurements reduce the need for highly skilled operators.

Multi-faceted

Measures rotary axes, spindles and facilitates precision during installation and automation.

Live readings

Instant view of live readings results and dynamic graphs for efficient alignment and measurement.

Detailed results

Straightness and parallelism analysis in the CARTO software Explore application, provides insightful actionable results.

XK20 alignment laser system

Build to international standards

At Renishaw we recognise our customers' growing need to simplify and de-skill the measurements required during machine assembly. Leveraging over 50 years of machine tool industry expertise, our advanced XK20 alignment laser system technology meets the challenges faced by modern machine builders.

The XK20 system is our second-generation alignment laser system. It delivers unmatched precision, performance and traceability while complying with ISO accuracy and reporting standards 230-11. Renishaw’s innovative CARTO XK20 app includes ISO 10 791 and 3070 compliant measurement tolerances.

Launch unit

The launch unit is the laser reference of the XK20 system. It has a built-in calibrated pentaprism, precision rotating head, and digital levels. This provides a stable reference for straightness, parallelism, squareness and flatness measurements. It can also be used for levelling machines and castings.

Key features:
• Digital precision levels
• Smooth 360 head rotation
• Over 12 hours continuous operation
• Rechargeable battery

Moving unit (M unit)

The M unit is the primary sensor for the majority of XK20 system measurements. Similar to the principle of mounting traditional dial indicators on the axes or carriages being measured, the M unit detects deviations from the laser reference and sends a digital record to the CARTO XK20 app for analysis.

Key features:
• 2-axis PSD sensor
• Wireless connectivity to the CARTO XK20 app
• Over 12 hours continuous operation
• Rechargeable battery

CARTO XK20 app

The CARTO XK20 app builds on the strengths of Renishaw’s CARTO calibration software to deliver a sequential and intuitive user experience to aid both skilled and unskilled machine tool builders and assembly operators.

Using the CARTO XK20 app with the XK20 alignment laser system makes the measurement process more manageable, enabling large and complex machine structures to be assembled and aligned faster. It consolidates the number of steps needed to perform measurements, simplifies user interaction and increases throughput, ensuring the highest level of accuracy and traceability.

Mobile app

Developed specifically for machine builders, the CARTO XK20 app is ideal for factory environments. Available on Android™ devices, operators can easily use the app to optimise their measurement and assembly processes.

Built-in guidance

The XK20 alignment laser and the CARTO XK20 app require minimal user training. The app’s built-in guide is designed to be accessible to both skilled and unskilled users, with step-by-step instructions including images and illustrations.

Easy set-up

Aligning the laser to the workpiece or machine is crucial before taking measurements and can be time-consuming, especially over long distances. The CARTO XK20 app simplifies this task, making it faster and easier to use.

Data analysis

Data analysis can be tailored to user needs, for example:

• view error graphs quickly with customer tolerances
• download raw data for research and development analysis
• report configured results in various ISO formats.

Key measurements

The XK20 alignment laser focuses on key measurements needed for building medium to large machines, ensuring geometric accuracy during assembly and high precision. It refines the processes of straightness, parallelism, and squareness, which are essential for every machine’s foundation. Users can extract straightness results from parallelism and squareness tests, effectively getting two measurements in one.

While traditional tools like granite straight edges, squares, and parallels are still valuable, the XK20 system and CARTO XK20 app make these measurements easy and error-free for both skilled and inexperienced machine tool builders and assembly operators.

Straightness

The XK20 alignment laser requires minimal training to operate as its intuitive software guides users through the set up and measurement process. Its new long range straightness feature (patent pending) allows for high accuracy and repeatable measurements for large machines in any environment.

Key straightness measurements:

• Straightness of machine base/casting
• Straightness of carriages along rails

Parallelism

Parallelism is crucial for both small and large machines, ensuring linear rails and carriages run parallel to prevent poor performance. Our parallelism tools detect errors early in assembly. The XK20 system combines straightness and parallelism measurements, saving time and reducing the risk of operator error.

Key parallelism measurements:

• Horizontal parallelism
• Vertical parallelism
• Vertical and horizontal parallelism

Squareness

Granite blocks are traditionally used for measuring squareness in machines. However, the square may either be too small to measure the entire machine axis or so large that it becomes difficult to move around the shopfloor. The XK20 system, with calibrated pentaprism optic, offers versatility and ease of use by measuring both large and small machine tools.

Squareness mode:

• Standard squareness
• Extended squareness