I just saw an autocollimator sell at auction yesterday at Hutch Tech in Eau Claire. Maybe someone can correct but I think it went for less than 2 grand.
An alignment telescope and an autocollimator are both optical devices that can be used for different purposes:
Alignment telescope
Used to establish an accurate line of sight. The telescope has a very straight line of sight and a reticle, or crosshair, that defines the center of the line of sight. In alignment telescope mode, the field of view is often measured in minutes horizontally.
Autocollimator
Used to measure angular tilts or rotation of an object. The autocollimator projects a crosshair pattern out to the object being monitored. The device under test is placed in the optical path and reflects the light back into the autocollimator, which can then be inspected via the telescope functionality. In autocollimator mode, the horizontal measurement range is often measured in minutes.
With Jig transits or Alignment scopes you can parallel the line of sight to the unworn ends of a lathe bed, then directly measure the wear with a target. Autocollimators require a calculation to get a usable number.
I can read a high area, slide the target back, remove metal, read it again. This work is interesting but practically speaking you learn the basics on the job and then you get the job , if successful you get more, studying optical alignment helps, owning instruments
helps, this hobby oriented platform means that most of you are clueless people with opinions, for example 3M
never sent an autocollimator out on a web line job, paper mills use jig transits and tilting levels because that is what works. I have an autocollimator as a fixture device
so I can line it up and if something moves or twists I know. I started learning this in 1971.