Metal Fab 2017 Continuing Education Field measuring tips & techniques
Class objectives Things to be looking for when field measuring Seeing the field measure / design through the eyes of the fabricator, installer Hand & Specialty tools and software for measuring, layout Processes that combine field measure, shop drawings, fabrication and installation Hands on measuring
Things to note on site visit / field measure site access Buried utilities Door swing Electric boxes / switches Wall obstructions Backing plates Mounting surfaces Document with pictures What Are you mounting to?? Say a knee wall, how does it compare to the stairs etc. Aisle widths? Floor finishes, allowance for thicknesses Proximity to finished surfaces, wall, windows, floors
Things to notice when measuring Offsets in wall/ uneven surfaces Difference from bottom of doors to door openings etc Electric switches / outlets Backing in wall?/mounting surface Is job accessible to crane, Lifts, etc. Take a lot of pictures
Verify existing utilities
Seeing the field measure / design through the eyes of the installer Fabricated and assembled in as few components as can be handled on site with equipment available Eliminate or reduce field welding Try to be standard on placement of mounting brackets posts, etc. But this can vary Be consistent in how you field measure and make notations. Use templates and check lists for consistency Allow for variables such as rebar etc. Design for as many typical sections as possible Take a lot of pictures
Stair template / checklist
Build to what you can handle
Eliminate or reduce field welding
combining the processes of measuring, layout, fabrication, & installation into 1 system Using laser line level as reference, elevation changes = offset lines in CAD A smart level or digital protractor = rotate command Using laser range meter in level mode will auto correct both true horizontal distance & diagonal dimension = drawing line using offset and circle command in CAD Measuring curved points off of straight reference line can be redrawn in cad by combining arcs to determine radius Measuring distance to points from 2 known fixed points can be redrawn in CAD to replicate an entire layout, that can be used to layout for pre-install. Printing full sized layouts allows your shop drawing to become your shop layout, saving time, increasing accuracy. Printing install drawings using elevations and horizontal offset of anchoring points aids in install. Inserting pictures on CAD drawings becomes powerful communication tool, sales, inspectors, sub contractors, your fabricators, your installers
Duffel Bag Laser Range meter Laser line level/receiver Digital protractor 24 smart level Folding Tri- Square Tape measures Chalk & dry line Notebook Pens, pencils,,markers Spring clamps Plumb bob Digital camera Laser targets Spare batteries Combo -square Torpedo level PLS5 PPE glasses / hearing Screw divers / drywall screws Blue tape Smart phone/apps Contractors calculator Field Measure tool kit
Digital / Laser Measuring tools Leica Dist D5 or D8 or D810 range meter **** Lieca LinoL2P5 laser line level w/ LLD2 Detector**** Leica Rugby rotary laser level w/ detector or Leica LINO 360**** PLS5 PLS HVL100 **** Bosch digital protractor Smart level I pad / I phone Camera **E laser Leica 3D Disto** Total station etc. **** whatever brand / model you choose, if your are using the tool for exterior use, make sure it is compatible with a laser pick up tool****
Tools carried on truck Rotary laser level Tri-pod Grade stick Camera tri-pod Hard hat /vest / PPE 4 level 5 aluminum tube for smart level Spacers Transit
Self leveling plumb & level projected laser lines Compares to offset lines in CAD When used in locked position w/ camera tripod can project pitched reference line on wall Models can be used w/ receiver for exterior/bright light Use as a reference line where a chalk line can t be used Horizontal line gives a reference line to measure the vertical distance between points (landing to landing Rise) Vertical line will give a reference between horizontal distance of points ( the run of stairs) Use of line level
Use of laser range meter Point laser @ target & it displays distance Eliminates 2 nd person Holding dumb end Eliminates trying to extend tape measure to target Accurate Performs trig functions Stores measurements Improves safety by measuring from ground up instead of climbing ladder to measure from ceiling down / leaning off ladder to get a horizontal measurement Improves speed You get what you pay for, Some models better suited for interior /low light situations
Use of digital Protractor Measures angles Inside & outside corners Stair pitch to landing pitch
Measures pitch When used w/ extension tube & spacers you measure the pitch of 2 needed points i-pad Angle meter app acts as smart level Use of smart level
I pad /I phone apps. Measures. Angle meter Right angle Construction master pro Steel beam Steel shape Turbo Scan Red laser.fabcad Job Viewer Auto cad ws Moasure
Circle section screen shots You type in 2 known dimensions of the 5 available Hit done the program calculates the rest of the dimensions
Apps vs hand drawn
Bringing info back to office Print pictures Scan field notes & store in photo folder Write dimensions & info on pictures Draw/layout with triangles & circles to confirm field dimensions Draw in plan & elevation views My measure pro will allow dimensions to be overlaid on photos in field Relate how you measured in field to how you draw/layout ( example the drop or rise you measured w/ laser level same as offset) Take screen picture of your I-pad app & email back to office
Equipment & software for shop drawings/layout Computer Large format plotter Cad software ( Fab-Cad) Construction master calculator Itemizer8 (helps eliminate material waste) Bend tech SE ( pipe & tube bending software) Cone layout Rail calculator Internet / access to supplier library BLUEBEAM
CAD Allows for quick / accurate shop drawings Increased professionalism/image/efficiency Improves communication w/ shop & installers Relate what you doing on the computer to what you would be laying out on the shop floor, only more accurate & easier to store/change When you print your shop drawings to full size, consider this your shop layout, drastically saving time and money, and improving accuracy Use CAD to verify field measure conditions Overlaying on photos will aid in sales / customer approval / building inspector communications / installation Simulate installation Combine w/ internet for endless productivity uses
Supplying shop drawings to customers /inspectors confirms what you are going to do. Eliminate I did not think it would look like that make changes on a computer not metal By supplying plan & elevation views you are showing where your install is going,( where you are coring holes, is there buried electric/radiant heat tubes) Pre qualify your finished product with building inspectors prior to installation will help avoid issues later Pre qualify yourself as a professional
Simulate field work / installs Again, improve communication between your office & installers/gc/client/inspectors Crane mock-up Staging Just like we told the carpenter where backing needed to be, now tell your installer where anchors need to be in relationship to rail/stair nosing You will have done the job in your head & on the computer prior to going to the job site, increase productivity & lesson mistakes Modify shop drawings for installer giving him info needed to install more then to fabricate / sell Install drawings w/ simulated pictures will make the drawing more apparent to installers ( picture worth a thousand words )
Range meter / & trig functions
Measuring curves from reference line
Establish at least 2 known points (verified dimensions between these reference points) From each way point measure to your fixed points When drawing / laying out start with your fixed points and draw arcs from the fixed points to the radius of your field measurements Where the arcs intersect is your way point Measuring / Laying out with radius's
Point to point measurements for measuring,, creates triangulation, arcs to duplicate
Horizontal line of line laser & tape measure used for elevations Vertical line & tape measure for horizontal distances Tape measure for diagonal measuremen Measuring for basic stairs