lasers to check perpendicular movement

[BobM3]

I know lasers are used to check how perpendicular the movement is for 2 axes on machine tools. I just don't know how you set the laser up to measure this. I understand how interferometry is used to measure a linear distance. How do you use it to measure a perpendicular movement?

 

[IRstuff]

You turn the laser 90º.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[BobM3]

How does that work? Does the stationary beamsplitter have 2 outputs? One inline and one at 90 degrees?

 

[IRstuff]

No, it usually requires two lasers, one for each axis. There are generally too many energy splits to make a single laser design work well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interferometer

TTFN

FAQ731-376