How to Reduce Laser Measurement Error: Acuity Laser Newsletter, Q4 2026 Posted in: Updates – Tags: AR700
Last Updated: October 20, 2026
Laser measurement accuracy depends on controlling the sources of error around the sensor, not just the sensor’s specs. The main sources are vibration, obstructions in the beam path, unstable mounts, and environmental drift. This issue of the Acuity Laser newsletter covers how to manage each one, from a downhole drilling application to sub-micron work at NIST.
Acuity Laser is the leading provider of precision laser sensors for distance and thickness measurement.
How can laser sensors detect drill string whirl?
Backward whirl is a vibration mode that can wreck a drill string in seconds. In this application, three AR700 laser displacement sensors were installed downhole to monitor the drill string and detect whirl in real time, before it damages the equipment.
Read the drill string whirl case study
Can a laser sensor measure around an obstacle?
Yes. A laser sensor can be mounted at an angle to measure past an obstruction, as long as the cosine error is corrected. The tradeoff is that the laser spot moves across the target as part dimensions change, which can cause the beam to hit the wrong surface or miss the target. Keeping the mounting angle small and orienting uneven targets so surface features run parallel to the spot’s path reduces these errors.
Read: Measuring Around Obstacles with Off-Axis Laser Sensors
What does it take to achieve sub-micron measurement precision?
Holding precision of a tenth of a micron requires extraordinary control of the measurement environment. This article looks at the lengths NIST goes to for true sub-micron precision and what those practices mean for your own setup.
Read: What It Takes to Achieve Precision of a Micron or Less
How do sensor mounts affect measurement accuracy?
A sensor can be accurate to a micron, but an unstable mount adds error before the first reading. Mount rigidity and stability are as important to final accuracy as the sensor itself.
Read: Best Practices for Building Mounts for Laser Measurement Sensors
How do you set up a laser thickness measurement?
A basic laser thickness measurement uses two sensors facing each other on opposite sides of the target. This video shows a quick setup using two AR700 sensors and a touch panel display.
Watch the thickness measurement setup video
Frequently asked questions
What causes error in laser distance measurements?
Common sources include vibration, obstructions in the beam path, unstable or flexible mounts, sensor misalignment (cosine error), uneven target surfaces, and environmental drift such as temperature changes.
What is cosine error in laser measurement?
Cosine error is the measurement error caused by the angle between the laser beam and the dimension being measured. It can be corrected mathematically once the angle is known.
Which Acuity sensor is used for drill string whirl detection and thickness measurement?
Both applications in this issue use the AR700 laser displacement sensor.
More resources
Acuity Laser Product Catalog 2026: Download the catalog
Product tutorials: View setup guides
Find the right sensor: Contact our team or call 503-210-5733.