Patent ID: 7194812

Claim:
A method for serially fabricating cutouts into a number of adjacent assembled I-joists, said method comprising the steps of: a. determining an initial reference point and fabricating an initial cutout into a first of said I-joists; b. vertically orienting, centering and affixing a laser marking device at said initial cutout such that a laser marking beam of said marking device substantially coincides with said marking origin; c. determining a final reference point on a final of said I-joist; d. at least vertically aligning a position indicator of a target marker with said final reference point on said final I-joist such that a target center of said target marker in a first vertical offset to said position indicator extends vertically from said final I-joist; e. affixing said target marker on said final I-joist; f. angularly orienting said marking laser such that an illuminated spot is provided on a second of said I-joists while said marking beam coincides with said marking origin; g. Fabricating a second cutout at said second I-joist with repect to said illuminated spot, such theat said marking beam may propagate through said second cutout and impinge on a third of said I-joists for fabricating a third cutout into said third I-joist; whereby said angular orienting of said marking laser of step f) is provided in horizontal direction by an alignment beam centered onto said target center adjacent and across said I-joists; and whereby said alignment beam is in a second vertical offset to said marker beam and at least vertically in plane with said marker beam such that said marker beam is at least vertically in plane with said position indicator after said targeting of said alignment laser onto said target center.