Laser Receiver Mount Help

[RDrancher]

I'm going to weld up a removable laser receiver mast for my CTL similar to this. Mine will differ slightly since I will be welding the bracket to the back of the bucket.

There's a complete description of what's needed here SKID STEER BUCKET MOUNTING. Basically it's a 1.5" square tube for the mast and a 2" tube for the welded on bracket.

I'll also be making a setup for my box blade, except it will be a straight mast above the blade. What I can't wrap my head around is how to make it adjustable if I'm cutting a v-shaped drainage swale with the box blade angled (tilted.) I can setup the laser to detect the desired slope of the swale, but the receiver needs to be (somewhat) plumb. I'd like it to be infinitely adjustable for plumb, but a vertical and two off-vertical settings would be fine. Keep in mind that I always cut swales with the right side of the box blade lower than the left.

Any ideas?

 

[Xfaxman]

How about just having the receiver mount plate pivot? Leave the mast fixed.

Put a Lev-O-Gauge on the plate, while parked level, set the angle needed, tighten the plate then tilt the blade until it reads zero.
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[RDrancher]

Xfax, your plate idea is right on track. Hadn't even thought to make adjustments from the other end of the mast. Nice and simple.

The receiver clamps directly to 1.5" square or round tubing, but it should be easy enough to bolt a swivel plate onto the tubing that has it's own piece of tubing welded onto it. I could then adjust plumb as I move lower into the cut. I'm sure it will take some experimentation to get things just the way I want them.

 

[RDrancher]

I'm pretty sure this is the receiver I'll be going with Apache Bullseye 5+ Machine Control Laser Receiver with Alkaline Batteries. It has a built-in plumb indicator.

 

[Rustyiron]

John, ya ever seen a rotating beacon mounted on the cab shield of a dump truck? It's mounted so that as the bed raises, the light stays level (by gravity). Just thinking'. I'm guessing that you'll only need to "plumb" your receiver on the left/right axis - side slope and not both?

 

[ozob2k]

How about a lockable gimble like the top of a camera tripod. It would be adjustable for most angles and fairly easy to fabricate.

 

[RDrancher]

More great ideas to check out guys. And yes, side slope plumb only.

 

[jmc]

John, that laser system looks like a lot of fun to use.

I may be missing something, but from a geometry standpoint, I don't think the receiver still needs to be plumb after you tilt the blade. Yeah, the laser line will intersect the receiver axis at the angle of blade tilt but the only point of interest is when the laser line passes thru the target point on receiver- where the two arrows touch. You'd still be able to distinguish that.

And if you blade tilt is 20 degrees, you will still have 94% of vertical adjustment showing on the receiver as compared to the receiver being plumb. (Cosine of the tilt angle)

And just to stick my neck out a little farther, I don't think that receiver position on the REAR needs to be right over the cutting edge if that would make mounting it easier. The blade height won't change much over the small top link adjustment available.

 

[RDrancher]

That's good to know. I'm new to the machine mounting setup and just trying to make sure I get it right. Just can't seem to get my brain wrapped around where the receiver needs to be mounted. Maybe I'm just getting old. :laughing: It'd be easier on my terminal tractor neck if the mast where mounted on the right side of the blade instead of the center...if it works the same.

I understand the need for the mast setup on the ctl. It clears the door when its open and the cab when the bucket is rolled back.

 

[RDrancher]

I'm also going with the clamp-on receiver instead of a less expensive magnetic mount (1/2 the price) for the larger display. I've read that the magnetic mounts tend to move too.

Since I work alone 99.9% of the time, I'm sure that the machine mount will save time getting on and off the machine checking grade. I'll be moving the receiver from ctl to box blade, land plane and excavator stick. Just trying to cover all of the bases.