The introduction of the AP90C Beam Bender™ in 1993

The introduction of the Beam Bender™ in 1993 did this very thing.

The AP90C Beam Bender™ is not a new invention. It is a repurposed optical component called a Penta Prism that is normally used on the top of a rotary laser to produce a flat plane of laser light when the laser beam is spun around in a circle. This lets construction workers level forms, measure grades and slopes, install drop ceiling acoustic tiles, excavate for septic systems and install cabinets and countertops in kitchens, among other applications.  But the use of a Penta Prism to produce a static, 100’ framing square was not imagined in 1993.

Laser Tools Co. was the first to effectively install a Penta Prism onto the end of the hand held L100 Laser Precision Level™.  The Penta Prism was also modified so that the eye-visible laser beam was split into two beams with one going straight through and the other beam exiting the Beam Bender™ at a precise 90° angle.  The AP90C Beam Bender™ was invented and this changed the construction industry by reducing the need for an “idiot-on-the-stick”.  Now layouts could be performed by one person faster and with more accuracy than using a dumpy level and leveling rod carried and held by a second person roaming the job site.

Following this invention, all standard level manufactures hustled to build a product line of levels that incorporated an eye-visible Laser Beam and Penta Prism to extend the level reference and provide job site layout excellence.  Laser Tools Co. was the pioneer with the arrows in the back!