Laser based triangulation gages have been around and in wide use for over 50 years with many users viewing them as commodity items. Rolling mills use laser gages to check the flatness of rolled sheet metal, foundries use them to measure the height of molten metal, and car manufacturers use them to check fit and finish of cars. Prices have come down over the years and capabilities have improved. Making measurements to a thousandth of an inch over several inches of range can be had for a few hundred dollars with long range and highly ruggedized sensors costing just a bit more. These sensors offer high reliability and robustness, but with some lingering issues such as the “laser speckle” noise seen on rough surfaces and variable textures that still pose some challenges.