HAMAR LASER L-702 User manual

WARRANTY
Hamar Laser Instruments, Inc., warrants each instrument and other articles of
equipment manufactured by it to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship under normal use and service, its obligation under this warranty
being limited to making good at its factory any instrument and other article of
equipment which shall within one year after shipment of each instrument and
other article of equipment to the original purchaser be returned intact to Hamar
with transportation prepaid, and which Hamar’s examination shall disclose to
Hamar’s satisfaction to have been thus defective; other than this express
warranty, Hamar neither assumes nor authorizes any other persons to assume for
it any other liability or obligation in connection with the sale of its products.
This warranty is not applicable to instruments or other articles of equipment
manufactured by other companies and limited by a warranty extending for less
than one year. In such an event, the more limited warranty applies to said
instrument or article of equipment.
This warranty shall not apply to any instrument or other article of equipment
which shall have been repaired or altered outside the Hamar factory, nor which
has been subject to misuse, negligence, or use not in accord with instructions
furnished by the manufacturer.
The software described in this manual is furnished under a license agreement and
may be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of the agreement. It is
against the law to copy the software on any medium for any purpose other than
the purchaser's personal use.
The information in this manual is subject to change without notice. No part of
this manual may be reproduced by any means, electronic or mechanical, without
written permission from Hamar Laser Instruments, Inc.
© Copyright Hamar Laser Instruments, Incorporated, 2019
5 Ye Older Road, Danbury, Connecticut 06810

Table of Contents
L-702/L-702SP Spindle and Multi-Turn Alignment System........................................................................1
System Features ........................................................................................................................................1
Hardware Overview......................................................................................................................................2
Model L-702/L-702SP Spindle Laser.......................................................................................................2
Laser Control Panel and Functions..................................................................................................3
L-702/L-702SP Laser Dimensions ..................................................................................................4
The T-261A Four-Axis Target..................................................................................................................5
The R-358 Computerized Interface...........................................................................................................5
Hamar Laser’s Lathe9 Alignment Software .............................................................................................5
Interpreting the Plus and Minus Signs in the Live Displays............................................................5
Preparing for an Alignment ..........................................................................................................................7
Hardware Mounting..................................................................................................................................7
Maintenance and Cleaning........................................................................................................................7
Tools and Equipment................................................................................................................................7
Other Considerations.................................................................................................................................7
Qualifying Lasers and Target Calibration.................................................................................................8
Installing the (RS-232) USB to Serial Converter Cable Driver ................................................................9
Connecting to the R-358 Computer Interface.........................................................................................10
Qualifying the L-702 Laser Beam to its Mounting Stud.........................................................................11
Qualifying the L-702 Laser Beam to a Spindle AOR.................................................................................12
The NORMIN Method............................................................................................................................12
Adjustments ............................................................................................................................................13
Pitch/Yaw Adjustment...................................................................................................................13
Hardware Requirements..........................................................................................................................13
Spindle Qualifying Procedure Using Lathe9 Software...........................................................................14
Setup ..............................................................................................................................................14
Measuring Cross-Slide Squareness and Straightness with L-702SP ..........................................................18
Switching L-702SP Turret to Scan Mode...............................................................................................19
Procedure to Measure Cross-Slide Squareness/Straightness ..................................................................20
Procedure to Measure Multi-Turn Machines for Squareness and Straightness..........................................22
Appendix A – The NORMIN Method (Bore and Spindle).........................................................................26
Appendix B – Qualifying the Laser............................................................................................................28
The NORMIN Method............................................................................................................................28
Adjustments ............................................................................................................................................29
Manual/Software-Assisted Qualification................................................................................................29
Hardware Requirements.................................................................................................................29
Manual Qualifying Procedure........................................................................................................29
Adjusting the Laser Angle.............................................................................................................30
Appendix C – Target Calibration................................................................................................................31
Calibration Setup.....................................................................................................................................31
Calibrating a Center-Only Target............................................................................................................33
Calibrating a Center-and-Slope Target ...................................................................................................34
Appendix D –Troubleshooting Guide.........................................................................................................35
Appendix E – Care and Cleaning of Target Optics.....................................................................................36

1
L-702/L-702SP Spindle and Multi-Turn Alignment System
The L-702/L-702SP 4-Axis Spindle & Multi-Turn Machine Alignment System is a complete alignment system for
aligning spindles on lathes, turning centers and multi-turn machines. There are two configurations:
•L-702 – This version is used only to
align spindles to subspindles, check
flatness and straightness of the lathe
and turning-center guideways, and
alignment of headstocks to tailstocks.
It can also be used to check the
parallelism of the headstock to the
lathe-bed guideways.
•L-702SP – This version adds an
automatically rotating turret that
sweeps a laser scan plane that is
perpendicular to the spindle laser,
which allows the capability to check
squareness of cross slides or
machining axes on lathes and multi-
turn machines. With an added
magnetic leveling base accessory, the
L-702SP can also be used to check
machine leveling, alignment and axis
squareness.
System Features
•Fast: Easy setups let you do a quick alignment check in 20 minutes and get full alignment data in 30-40 minutes
on most machines.
•Easy: Laser and target mount directly into the spindle and tailstock, respectively, allowing the entire length of
even the largest lathes to be quickly and easily aligned without changing setups, replacing cumbersome and
impractical alignment test bars. With built-in squareness capability, checking cross-slide squareness is a 5-
minute operation
•Accurate: Ultra-high resolution of up to .00001 in. (0.00025 mm) combined with software to correct mounting
errors produces a very accurate alignment, less than .0001 in. (0.0025 mm) and .0001 in/ft (0.0083 mm/m) under
good environmental conditions.
•Lathe9 Software: Large, easy-to-read alignment displays, live alignment data and spindle graphics, and a six-
step procedure that guides users through the alignment with on-screen help instructions.
•Spindle8 Software: Designed for transfer-line spindle alignments, Spindle8 features large, easy-to-read
alignment displays, live alignment data and spindle graphics, and a four-step procedure that guides users through
aligning spindles to master parts on transfer-line spindle applications

2
Hardware Overview
Model L-702/L-702SP Spindle Laser
The Model L-702/L-702SP Lasers have a low-power, Class II
visible-light laser designed to mount in the spindle of a machine
tool to project its axis of rotation during alignment. Vertical and
horizontal angular controls allow the user to fine-adjust the laser
angle to the spindle’s precise axis of rotation. The L-702 is
designed for applications where the distance between target and
laser is approximately 100 ft. (30 m).
In addition to the spindle laser, the L-702SP version features an
automatically rotating turret that sweeps a laser scan plane
perpendicular to the laser beam for checking cross-slide/turret axis
squareness and multi-turn milling axes.
Built-in levels on the sides provide easy indexing when inverting
for error correction readings. A 0.50 in. (12.7 mm) mounting stud
simplifies fixturing and can be removed to adapt the unit to custom
fixtures or other alignment applications.
Both lasers feature a built-in, rechargeable, lithium ion battery that
provides operation for up to eight hours on a single charge.
The L-702 and L-702SP work with any Hamar Laser target,
readout, or interface. They can be used for many types of
alignment jobs, including spindle and bore alignment, and
measuring and correcting the alignment of a workpiece on the
machine.
Applications include:
•Horizontal Boring Mill Indexing Checks for Deep-Bore
Applications
•Lathe/Turning applications (cylindrical, OD/ID grinders, lathes)
•Multi-Turn Machining Centers
•Twin-Barrel Extruders
Figure 1– L-702 Spindle Laser
Figure 2 – L-702SP Spindle Laser and Scan Plane

3
Laser Control Panel and Functions
The Status LEDs
•Status LED – red – indicates the laser is powered on.
•Low Battery LED – red - blinks if the battery is low and needs charging.
•Charging LED – yellow – lights when the rechargeable battery is charging (see
Figure 3).
The On/Off Button
Press the ON/OFF button once to turn it on and press and hold to turn it off. The
I/O LED will illuminate when the power turns on.
L-702SP Scan button
Power the L-702SP on and press the SCAN button to turn on the turret laser rotation
and create a scan plane. Press it again to turn it off.
Note:The Pentaprism in the turret will need to be pivoted into place to create the
scan plane. See Switching L-702SP Turret into Scan Mode on Page 19 for
instructions.
A/C Connector
The L-702 comes with a rechargeable battery. The connector is shown below.
Pitch/Roll Adjustment Knob
The adjustment knobs use differential micrometers, allowing both coarse and fine functions.
•Coarse Adjustment – tighten the set screw to disable the fine adjustment.
•Fine Adjustment – loosen the set screw to enable the fine adjustment,
which is 12 times finer adjustment resolution.
Figure 4– Differential Micrometer
Figure 3– L-702/L-702SP Control Panel

4
L-702/L-702SP Laser Dimensions

5
The T-261A Four-Axis Target
The T-261 Four-Axis Target reads both center and angle (pitch and yaw)
simultaneously, allowing a real-time display of misalignment. The target
data has a resolution with the R-358 of .00001 in/ft. (0.0008 mm/m) in
angle mode and .00001 in. (0.0005) in in centering mode. Two bubble
levels on the top and bottom make it easy to position when inverting for
NORMIN procedure (see Appendix A, beginning on Page 26 ).
When the target is purchased as part of a system, it is calibrated at the
factory before shipping. If the target is purchased separately, then the
user must calibrate it, or enter the HLI-supplied calibration factors into
Lathe 9, before use. An alignment\calibration fixture and a target stand,
available from Hamar Laser, are required for calibration. The procedure
is outlined in Appendix C, beginning on Page 31.
Figure 6—T-261 Four-Axis Target
The R-358 Computerized Interface
The R-358 Computer Interface provides high accuracy (resolution is .00001 in. or 0.0005 mm) for downloading live target
data into a computer. It attaches to the computer with a cable and is powered by a lithium ion battery for up to 8 hours of
life. The battery automatically turns on when the target starts taking measurements and turns off when the program is
closed down. An AC adapter/charger is provided, and the unit features "charging" and "power" LED indicators.
Hamar Laser’s Lathe9 Alignment Software
Hamar Laser provides alignment software as standalone
programs. The latest software is Lathe9. For aligning transfer-
line spindles, we offer Spindle8 Software.
Lathe9 offers a user-guided, six-step process to check the
alignment of lathes, turning centers, multi-turn machines and
spindles in other machines.
Figure 5 – T-261A Four-Axis Target
Figure 7– Lathe9, Step 6 – Tailstock/Turret Alignment

6
Interpreting the Plus and Minus Signs in the Live Displays
The signs of the data displays indicate the position
(high/low or left/right) of the target is relative to
the laser beam. See the interpretation below.
Note the T-261 provide 4 simultaneous axes:
•Vertical Center
•Horizontal Center
•Vertical Angle
•Horizontal Angle
Vertical Axis
A +V center
value indicates the target is higher
than the laser beam.
A +V angular value indicates the back of the target
is higher than the front of the target.
A –V center value indicates the target is lower than
the laser beam.
A-V angular value indicates the back of the target
is lower than the front of the target.
Horizontal Axis
A +H center value indicates the target is to the
right of the laser beam.
A +H angular value indicates the back of the target
is to the right of the front of the target.
A –H center value indicates the target is to the left
of the laser beam.
A -H angular value means the back of the target is
to the left of the front of the target.

7
Preparing for an Alignment
There are several preparations that need to be made before beginning a measurement or alignment process. Ensure that
accurate records are kept for all procedures.
Lathe9 is designed to measure and align the spindle axis of rotation (AOR) to the tailstock, saddle or turret guideways. It
is also used to check the four-axis alignment of the tailstock or subspindle to the headstock AOR. The software fully
compensates for mounting errors of both the laser and target with extremely accurate results.
In lathe alignment, the L-702/L-702SP is mounted in the headstock spindle and aligned to the AOR. The T-261 Target is
then mounted in the tailstock chuck or in a fixture on the saddle, and then the straightness and flatness of the guideways is
measured relative to the L-702/L-702SP laser. The least-squares, best-fit algorithm is used to calculate the slope of the
“best-fit” line for the straightness data. This slope is a measure of the headstock alignment to the lathe guideways.
If the headstock rotation axis (AOR) is parallel (aligned) to the guideways, only then can the tailstock center or a
subspindle AOR be checked for alignment to the headstock AOR. The T-261 offers a live four-axis display of the
tailstock, subspindle or turret centers or AOR relative to the laser beam (headstock AOR).
Hardware Mounting
Both the L-702/L-702SP Laser and T-261 Target have a standardized .4995 in. (12.69
mm) mounting stud that simplifies fixturing and that can be removed to adapt the unit to
custom fixtures or other alignment applications. A .500 in. reamed hole that is square to a
face is all that is required to mount the laser/target mounting stud. The mounting stud also
has a ¼-20 threaded hole in the end of it.
Typically, the laser is mounted in the headstock chuck or collet. For large lathes, this may
involve creating a fixture to hold the laser in place. The T-261 is mounted in the tailstock
chuck, subspindle chuck or the turret center.
Maintenance and Cleaning
The spindle to be aligned should be checked thoroughly to ensure that it is clean and working properly. The window on
the T-261 should be clean and free from dirt, thumbprints and other smudges. The same applies to the L-702SP
pentaprism.
Tools and Equipment
Determine all the necessary tools and equipment (other than what Hamar Laser supplies) that will be needed for
performing an alignment, such as torque wrenches, shims, and equipment manuals.
Other Considerations
•Measure the travel distance of the tailstock, subspindle or turret. This information is necessary for the software setup.
Use only the distance that the unit realistically travels during use, not the full distance of which it is capable.
•Keep records of all procedures. Log all data file names and keep record copies of all reports and printed data.
Figure 8—L-702 Mounting Stud

8
Qualifying Lasers and Target Calibration
In the case of the L-702 Laser, the laser beam needs to be parallel to the axis of its mounting stud, providing the maximum
amount of adjustment range. This is done by aligning the L-702 Base cover with the thin white line on the L-702’s
mounting base (see Qualifying the L-702 Laser Beam to its Mounting Stud on Page 11).
The T-261 4-Axis Target must also be calibrated. When purchased as part of a system, target calibration factors are
provided. If the target is purchased separately, it should be calibrated before use. This can be done at the factory or on site
using the A-807 Calibration Fixture and Read8, available for purchase from Hamar Laser. The procedure is included in
Appendix C, Target Calibration, beginning on Page 31.
Hamar targets are designed to give accurate readings, despite small mounting errors, with no field adjustment. Attempts
by the user to re-adjust the target to fix centering or angular errors are strongly discouraged, as this can lead to damage or
inaccurate alignment and will void the warranty.
Warning!!
Attempts by the user to adjust the internal mechanism of the laser and/or target can
cause damage and void the warranty.

9
Installing the (RS-232) USB to Serial Converter Cable Driver
This driver is required for the R-358 Transceiver and to communicate with targets via the computer USB port. The driver
creates a virtual COM Port that is recognized by the applications as a standard serial port.
Note: You must pre-install this driver prior to connecting the device(s) to the computer through the USB port.
Installing the Driver
1. Insert the Flash drive in an available USB port.
2. Select My Computer, locate the REMOVABLE DISK icon and click to open it.
3. Select the USB Drivers folder.
4. Open the GUC232A_Win8 folder and double click
GUC232A_Windows_8_Setup.exe to initiate the installation
process. The Install Driver dialog box displays.
5. Select the language for the installation and click Next to continue.
6. Once the installation is complete, the Installation Successful
message displays. Click Finish to exit.

10
Connecting to the R-358 Computer Interface
The R-358 Computer Interface connects the T-261 Target to a computer for automatic downloading of the target data into
Lathe9 or other HLI software. This enables the software to offer real-time data displays, perform calculations, and plot
results. The R-358 attaches to the computer with an USB/RS-232 (supplied with the R-358) converter cable and is
powered by a lithium ion battery or an AC adapter.
Note: Before using the R-358 Computer Interface, ensure that the battery is fully charged or that the AC charger/adapter is plugged
in.
1. Connect the T-261 target to the INPUT connector on the FRONT of the R-358 Interface.
The interface can support one 4-axis target. It can also support two 2-axis targets with the use of an optional splitter
cable. Make sure to screw in the flat-head screws to securely hold the connector in place.
INPUT
Front Back
Note: The R-358 power is turned on by the software when you click any of the Lathe9 steps that have live data displays.
When turned on, the green POWER LED on the R-358 lights.
2. Connect the R-358 Interface to the computer.
After installing the USB converter cable drivers on your laptop, connect
the RS-232 extension cable provided to the back of the R-358 (labeled
COMPUTER) and screw in the plastic thumb screws. Then connect the
USB/RS-232 Converter cable to the RS-232 extension cable and plug it
into the computer’s USB port.
Important Windows Note – you must install the software driver for the USB cable BEFORE plugging in the
USB cable into your computer. The driver is located on the same thumb drive as Lathe9 software. Please see
Page 11 for details on installing the driver.
Figure 9—R-358 Interface Connection
Figure 10 – USB to Serial Converter Cable

11
Qualifying the L-702 Laser Beam to its Mounting Stud
All Hamar Laser’s L-702 Lasers are
factory-qualified (pre-aligned) to the
mounting stud. To obtain accurate spindle
alignment results, it is important to adjust
the laser beam so that it is aligned to the
spindle axis of rotation (AOR) to remove
any mounting errors, which are always
there. After the alignment, it is always a
good idea to re-qualify the laser to its
mounting stud, which puts the L-702
angular adjustments in the center of their
adjustment range.
To return the L-702 angular adjustments to
the middle of their adjustment range, adjust
the Pitch and Roll COARSE adjustment axes
so that the bottom of the L-702 base cover is
aligned to the white line on the mounting
base (see Figure 11).
Figure 11—Returning the L-702 Pitch/Roll Adjustments to the middle of their range

12
Qualifying the L-702 Laser Beam to a Spindle AOR
In spindle alignments on lathes and turning centers, it is important to ensure that the L-702 laser beam is aligned, or
qualified, to the axis of rotation (AOR) of the spindle. This is so the alignment of the headstock to the machine’s
guideways can be checked.
This procedure describes how to align the L-702 to the spindles AOR.
The NORMIN Method
The NORMIN method is a way of canceling mounting errors. The word is a contraction of “NORMal-INverted,” which
briefly describes the method.
To take NORMIN readings, the laser and target fixtures are set in the NORMal position (cable down or switch panel
facing toward you) and the readings recorded. Then the laser or target fixture is rotated 180 degrees to the INverted (cable
up or switch panel facing away from you) position and a second set of readings obtained. With a quick calculation, the
two sets of readings are averaged to cancel out both laser and target mounting errors (center and angular) and provide a
very accurate result. For a complete discussion of the NORMIN method, see Appendix A, beginning on Page 26.
Figure 12—Taking NORMIN Readings
To qualify a laser, error correction readings are taken to cancel out mounting and other errors, and Lathe9 calculates Set
Points. The laser beam is then adjusted to the Set Points, making it parallel to/coincident with the desired axis of rotation
A computer program such as Lathe9 calculates the Set Points for the user and zeroes the display at that point. The user
then adjusts the laser beam to zero.
NORMIN Reading
Laser NORMal,
Target NORMal
NORMIN
Reading
Laser INverted,
Target NORMal

13
Adjustments
The L-702 laser has Pitch and Yaw angular adjustments with coarse and fine resolutions.
The beam is emitted from the large hole in the center of the spindle or from the side of
the turret in the L-702SP version.
Warning - Do not stare into the beam.
Pitch/Yaw Adjustment
The adjustment knobs are used to adjust the pitch and yaw angles of the laser when used
in a spindle and the pitch and roll angles when used for flatness. They use differential
micrometers. This means the micrometers have a coarse and fine function.
•Coarse Adjustment – tighten the set screw to disable the fine adjustment.
•Fine Adjustment – loosen the set screw with the provided Allen wrench to
enable the fine adjustment, which is 12-times finer adjustment resolution.
Hardware Requirements
To qualify the L-702 to the spindle’s AOR you will also need the L-702 Laser, T-
261 Four-Axis Target, the R-358 Computer Interface and Lathe9 or Spindle8.
If using the manual procedure, then you will need two R-1307 readouts, one for the
center readings and one for the angular readings. (See Appendix B beginning on
Page 27 for the manual procedure.)
Figure 13– L-702/L-702SP Pitch and
Roll Adjustments
Figure 14—Differential Micrometer

14
Spindle Qualifying Laser Procedure Using Lathe9 Software
The following procedure explains how to qualify (align) the L-702 laser to the spindle’s rotation axis using a 4-axis target
and Lathe9 software.
Setup
1. Connect the T-261 Target to the R-358
Computer Interface.
Connect the T-261 to the R-358 and use the
mounting screws to hold the target connector
in place.
Connect the serial cable to the
USB/Serial adapter cable and plug it into the
laptop or desktop computer.
2. Install the L-702/T-261 into the headstock
and tailstock spindles.
Mount the laser in the headstock
spindle and
the target in the tailstock or the T-
230 Target
Stand. Both the laser and target should be in
the NORMalposition. The NORMal position
for the laser is with the switch panel facing
toward you.
3. Alignment Tolerance
The goal is to align the laser to the spindle’s AOR to ±-.0001 in/ft (0.012 mm/m)
4. Open Lathe9
Open Lathe9 using either a saved file or enter a new file name.
See the Lathe9 Software Manual for details on how to set up the T-261 Target and R-358 Computer Interface.
Note: You must install the software driver for the USB cable BEFORE plugging in the USB cable into your
computer. Please see Page 11 for details on how to install the driver.

15
5. Go to Step 2: Qualify Laser
Go to Step 2: Qualify Laser and ensure you are
getting readings in all four displays.
6. Rotate the spindle/L-702 to the INverted
Position.
Rotate the spindle/L-702 to the INverted position
(A/C connector panel is facing toward you), with
the target in the NORMal (cable
down) position. Wait for the
readings to stabilize (approximately
5 seconds). Ensure the bubble level
is in the center of the circle.
Note: Do NOT rotate the laser in the chuck.
Always rotate the laser and spindle TOGETHER as
one unit.
7. Click RECORD.
Click or press Record to record the INverted value.
8. Rotate the spindle/laser to the NORMal
position.
Rotate the spindle/L-702 to the NORMal position
(switch panel facing toward you with the level vial
leveled), with the target in the NORMal position
(cable down) and wait for the readings to stabilize
(approximately 5 seconds). Ensure the bubble level
is in the center of the circle.

16
9. Click RECORD.
Click or press Record
to record the NORMal
value.
Lathe9 automatically
calculates display offsets so
you can adjust the two angular adjustment axes to
zero instead of the calculated Set Point.
Note:
While it is not recommended, if you want to see
the raw values, click the Offset button to turn the offsets
off (the green ON button will turn gray). Click Offset
again to turn them back on.
10. Adjust the V and H Angular (slope) adjustments
Turn the Pitch and Roll adjustment knobs until the
Slope values in the Step 2 display are within
±.0001 in/ft (0.012 mm/m) of zero.
Here are the L-702 V and H Angular (Slope) values
in or close to tolerance.
Note: There are no center adjustments with the
L-
702 since any small centering errors, will be
averaged-out by using the NORMIN procedure in Step 5.
11. Repeat Steps 6-10 to verify the laser is aligned to the spindle rotation axis.

17
12. See the Lathe9 Manual for information on how
to check s
traightness of the lathe bed guideways
and parallelism of the headstock to the
guideways.