by KsCaver22 » Dec 31, 2019 3:08 pm
I am the person who built the DistoX2. The problem with this one started with my own mistake. I thought that ALL of the screws inside the Leica had to be replaced with non-magnetic. After I removed all of them, I discovered that Beat's kit did not include that many replacements. Thinking that some screws had been left out, I sent Beat an email. He replied that the two screws holding the laser assembly were to be left as-is since they hold the laser in alignment with its optics.
Drat, says I! When I got everything put back together, it was obvious that the laser was pointing to one side. It was not a spot, either, especially at a distance. At about 20 feet the dot was nearly an inch across. I have fiddled and messed and jiggered, and it is now fairly close. It will usually get a distance reading up to about 15 or 20 feet.. I bought another Leica which I have never opened, and used it to try and make the lasers parallel. That board is VERY sensitive to position.
Right now my hypothesis is that the laser is not pointing where the receiver is looking. It might also be too diffuse to get a good reflection. Both should be correctable by aligning the laser module with the optics.
My hope is that someone has a jig they can use to get a proper alignment on the laser board. I cobbled a jig out of some glue and popsicle sticks, but it is only a bit better than nothing. Merely tightening the screws will move the board enough to throw it out.
The untouched Leica will get good distance readings at over 70 feet against a wooden fence, so I am fairly confident that it is good. Both Leicas were bought used on eBay. It is possible that the bad one has a weak laser, though I cannot tell merely by looking at the spot it makes.
Bill Gee