On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 2:43 PM, Steve . <[email protected]> wrote:
> The laboratory where i work obviously reports results using the SI metric > system. There is one exception though, and that is the energy side, > specifically calorimetry. At first glance the calorimeters appear to > normal(SI, that is). They take mass in terms of the gram, measure > temperature by degree Celsius, and internal calibration is stored as > calories. > > The exception is the result is reported in BTU/ pound! How's that for > mixing systems? > > On the electronics side of things it's even worse. Technical documents > mixing and matching between systems. It's very common to see specifications > cited partially in MKS and CGS with no correction terms. > FYI: > Correction > MKS = Meter Kilogram Second > CGS = Centimeter Gram Second > > I've seen two other systems, but their names are eluding me at this time. > Also, I've come across bolts that are not SI, nor SAE. I believe they are > considered a british thread but i'm not certain. > > Steve > > On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 1:15 PM, Don Latham <[email protected]> wrote: > >> What I find interesting is that the first push for standardization, at >> least for machine threads, came from the manufacture of arms, the >> Springfield Armory, at the time of the Civil war. At that time, threads >> were a mixture of the then fledgling metric system (French) and a >> conglomeration of American threads. Thread shapes were quite different >> as well. The next big standardization came from- you got it- the >> automotive industry (SAE is of course Society of Automotive Engineers), >> and I guess, only a guess, that the reluctance to change to metric >> really came from the automobile industry. At one time, the Volvo had >> SAE, Metric, and Whitworth fasteners in it, and not too long ago at >> that. >> So, I think that manufacturing inertia rather than the housewife might >> be to blame for the US still being SAE and all that implies. As bolts >> go, so do the rest of the measurements. >> Don >> >> >> Chris Albertson >> > On Thu, Dec 15, 2011 at 9:29 AM, Dan Kemppainen <[email protected]> >> > wrote: >> >> >> >> On 12/14/2011 3:59 PM, [email protected] wrote: >> >>> >> >>> It's not like metric is totally absent. We drink 2 liter cokes and >> >>> defend >> >>> ourselves with 9mm pistols. Our cars use mostly metric parts. Even >> >>> ham >> >>> radio operators, arguably the most jingoistic and set in the past >> >>> bunch >> >>> around, get on the 80, 40, and 20 METER bands. >> >> >> >> >> >> I agree with you, and funnily enough the rest of the NATO world uses >> >> 7.62mm >> >> and 5.56mm rifles. (Both were originally based on standard inch sized >> >> rifle >> >> cartridges designed in the US) >> >> >> >> The problem in converting to metric would require replacing a lot of >> >> tools. >> >> For example Mills, lathes, and other machining tools and measurement >> >> devices >> >> are expensive, and last for decades. >> > >> > Can you point one even ONE machine shop in the US that can make metric >> > parts? Those guys would have gone out of business years ago. Also >> > how many are still using hand cranks and reading veneer scales? Even >> > small one man ships are using CNC now. >> > >> > The US is slowly converting. It will take a long time. Even now if >> > you go to Home Depot and look at plywood you see the better (non >> > construction) grades sold in even millimeters with the inches being >> > some odd number of 32nds approximation. This will slowly creep into >> > more and more products. >> > >> > So the debate is silly. If the US should convert??? No. the only >> > question is how fast are we converting and when will we be fully >> > converted. Not even if this will happen, it will. >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > Chris Albertson >> > Redondo Beach, California >> > >> > _______________________________________________ >> > time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >> > To unsubscribe, go to >> > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >> > and follow the instructions there. >> > >> > >> >> >> -- >> "Neither the voice of authority nor the weight of reason and argument >> are as significant as experiment, for thence comes quiet to the mind." >> R. Bacon >> "If you don't know what it is, don't poke it." >> Ghost in the Shell >> >> >> Dr. Don Latham AJ7LL >> Six Mile Systems LLP >> 17850 Six Mile Road >> POB 134 >> Huson, MT, 59846 >> VOX 406-626-4304 >> www.lightningforensics.com >> www.sixmilesystems.com >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] >> To unsubscribe, go to >> https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts >> and follow the instructions there. >> > > _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- [email protected] To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.
