Metric/imperial

May 25, 2007 177 Replies

Only if it's not your unit of measure. I think and work in the imperial system just as easily as you do metric. Any time I read a metric dimension, I immediately convert it to imperial, so it makes sense.

There is no real advantage to one system over the other when you understand them well.

Harold

Wrong!

Harold

-------------------

What is 1.6 Mega?

Ni-SCNR-ck

60% more than 1 Mega !

AWEM

JTS tools in Ohio sells some digital 6 inch calipers that were going for

15 bucks. They read in both metric and inch. Before using them I checked them on some standard blocks and they were within a half thou. Not bad when you drop them either.... you dont cry as much as with a 100 dollar caliper. I save the good stuff for when I need a more accurate measurment.

John

I have to say that factors of 10 makes a whole lot more sesnse, at least for volumes. 3 teaspoons make a tablespoon, 2 tablespoons to an ounce,

8 ounces to a cup, er, let's see, mumble cups to a quart...

Then you have distance which goes from the inch to a foot (12), to a yard (3), to a mile (1,760). Or weight which goes from ounce (not to be confused with the ounce above) to the pound by 16, of course, and then...

No, I really do think x10x10x10 is easier to work with. That said, when I'm building something, I use inches because (a) that's what most of my tooling is, and (b) that's what most of my consumables are set up for. But, convenience and logic don't have much overlap, at least as I see it.

It is 1677721.6 exactly

:-)

Mark Rand RTFM

1.653 Meters It is the UNIT of length not 1/100(cm) or 1/1000 (mm) The dm is rare in use - or 1/10.

I myself have measured femto-seconds that is tiny. The actual measurement was just over a femto-second with a decimal fraction.

Such is life on the fast track :-)

Martin

Mart> Mart>

I used to do that kind of work.

Now I measure time in terms of tides....

Life at 5 knots.

Richard

Back in the mid '70s when metrification was occurring round here, it was supposed to be kilometres, metres and millimetres only, with none of the in betweens. Gerry :-)} London, Canada

It is not 1.653 M, it is 1.653 m. Note the small m. If you write M, it is a factor, it is Mega and then the unit is missing. That's the reason for my SCNR when you wrote "science" and "physics".

Nick

BUT BUT We dont have 1000 fingers. :-) ...lew...

snip----

As I said, it's a matter of being familiar with the systems. When I refined precious metals, it was never a chore to go from one system to another, and could do the majority of it in my head. It got fairly complicated because I had to deal with grams, grains, troy and avoirdupois ounces. I could recite conversions from memory----I didn't use charts. It's slowly getting lost now----I don't use the information much anymore.

Harold

I do, for one. I have never, in my life, used a DRO-------and don't see the need for one. Learned how to run machine tools when they were not in existence. I still harp on the use of scales, which usually save you from your own stupidity, assuming you use them.

Harold

In your dreams, Nick. There's no way in hell I'd even consider what you said. No more than you'd consider abandoning metric in favor of Imperial. Who the hell appointed the metric system the winner? Wasn't me, and I refuse to play the game.

Harold

Indeed! And it's not any better, not for those of us that have a clear head and can think, so why the hell should I be forced to assimilate it when I have no need?

Harold

Hmm, I agree. I was officially educated in metric, but I switch between metric and imperial without a pause... I use the most appropriate sized unit iyswim, meter and yard are close enough to use either, an inch and a foot are easy 'hand sized' units, I use mm for more precise work in wood, and places where a fraction of an inch might be used by die hard imperalists (not *that*sort) , but switch back to thous or tenths for metal (imperial tools)... Recently I measured some stuff as 2 meters, 3 1/2", as it was easy to remember, I still buy 8'x4' sheets of ply, the numbers are simpler... I notice that most brits with an engineering lean seem to be the same. I came accross this classic in Prof Chaddocks quorn book which I think sums it up: "The thread again is arbitrary, 13mm by 32 TPI"

Dave

Lotsa tape measures here with metric along 1 edge, imperial

Yeah, they exist, and I wish they didn't. I have one of those damned tapes with both units imprinted-----and it's nothing short of a total annoyance. The marks I need are always on the wrong side of the tape, or so it seems.

I have a solution to this problem. Abandon any quest to convert to metric. Let metric come to Imperial.

Harold

Hell no------it's a problem with metric. :-)

Harold

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required