Different Instruments Used For Leveling

For many of us, our only experience with levels is the basic type that we use for hanging pictures, hanging shelves and hanging other items. But beyond these typical hardware-store levels, there are several other levels that are commonly used. Many types of engineers, contractors, surveyors and other professionals use these less commonly known pieces of leveling equipment for a variety of important tasks.

An Abney level is an excellent tool used for many leveling jobs and among its other features, this device incorporates a bubble level. A bubble level, sometimes also called a spirit level, is the type with which we are familiar, it’s simply a small tube that contains liquid and a bubble of air and in order for something to be level, this bubble must be located between two lines which are printed on the tube. However, aside from this tube, the Abney level bears little resemblance to our standard, everyday levels as it also includes a sighting tube as well as an instrument known as an inclinometer. This is an instrument that helps one calculate the angles of slope.

An Abney level is an excellent tool because they tend to be affordable and lightweight which makes them easy to use in almost any environment. Typically, the Abney level is used for surveying purposes, but these also are sometimes used by foresters, contractors, and engineers. For instance, an Abney level can be used by a forester to measure the height of trees in a forest. The Abney level gets its name from its inventor, Sir William Abney, a British chemist, and physicist.

Beyond these Abney levels, there are other devices that also incorporate a bubble level, which again also might be called a spirit level. A frame spirit level, for instance, looks like a small square. This commonly will be used by a contractor or perhaps some type of engineer to adjust both vertical surfaces and horizontal surfaces. Because it is square, with bubble levels on the vertical and horizontal plane, you can use it to ensure that walls are level to the floor or perhaps shelves are level or for some other task.

An electronic protractor or digital protractor is another tool that often is used for leveling purposes. These types of protractors also include the inclinometer (sometimes known as a clinometer). One can use an electronic protractor for leveling purposes as well as angle measuring. Again, many different professionals will make use of the electronic protractor, including surveyors and engineers.

While you might not ever need to use a frame spirit level, an Abney level or even an electronic protractor, these are essential instruments needed by all kinds of engineers. Without precise levels, it would be difficult to be certain that equipment calibration is correct or that houses, schools and other structures are built properly and safely. The level, therefore, is probably more important that you ever have imagined.

Carey Bourdier enjoys blogging about precision scientific instruments. For more details about surveying instruments such as an electronic protractor, or to find further information about a telemetric alignment system, visit Warren Knight now.