America is Really Metric Under The Surface

Bob La Londe snipped-for-privacy@none.com on Sun, 6 Nov 2022 11:38:59 -0800 typed in rec.crafts.metalworking the following:

Underneath it all, the US defines the inch in terms of the meter.

Funny detail, Johansson gauge blocks were first made in Metric, and when he started making them in Inch sets, he compromised between the British inch at 25.399977mm and the US 25.4000508mm with - you guessed it - at 25.4mm. De facto at first, that became the definition of the inch since the 1930s.

So yeah, at base, we're metric.

In any case I emailed the customers last night and explained that the best price I could find for stainless metric rod increased the price their respective projects. One by about $620 US Dollars over using similar size US inch standard sizes in every case even going with the next larger readily available size. I have two customers right now with similar Metric spec stainless rod applications. I received this reply this morning, "Oh, I thought metric would be cheaper since everybody is metric these days." Both said they would be okay with adjusting the project to use more readily available sizes and keep their project costs in line.

We will literally receive more metal for 25% of the cost.

I know some might suggest turning down the rod, but if I charged my shop rate for standing in front of my lathe it would have cost even more.

"everybody" - except those who are doing stuff.

I realized that the major obstacle to "going metric" is the installed user base. Specifically, all of the machinists who are mentally calibrated in inches, and have a couple thousand dollars in tools which they'd have to replace. Which is in addition to what companies have for QA etc.

Yep. That is another area of under appreciated cost.

What sort of commies are you dealing with?

I ship all over the world... Okay, not most of Asia so far, but from New Zealand to Sweden and many points in between.