English or Metric?

[Andy Baker]

Originally posted by Clark Gilbert
This year we are moving towards "standardization" for our nuts and bolts. After hearing a speech from Joe Johnson about it at a recent DELPHI team forum we thought it would be a good idea to follow along in team 47's footsteps for this idea. So starting this year we will use metric fasteners and english lenghts (etc.)

Yep... here is our plan:

Use available stock sizes (almost all english sizes), like using 1" x 1" x 1/8" aluminum angle, etc.

But... we are only using M5 & M3 screws. This means that we only have two nut sizes, only two washer sizes, only 4 allen wrenches, only 2 open ended (or socket) wrenches, and two tap sizes. We wanted to go with only one screw size, but some of the small stuff (gearboxes, etc.) really warrants a smaller screw.

We will only make an exception to this 2 screw rule if the situation requires it... and there is no other option.

You should have seen our fastener cabinet before we started this standardization rule... it was ridiculus. We had every English screw size available... it took days to re-organize the darn thing.

Andy B.