Metric Teams

[Gray Adams]

Originally Posted by Mk.32

We are all imperial expected pre-threaded holes on the FP/PDB etc.
It is just easier for all the students who are used to it, and mentors who are as well [most of them can do both]. In addition most of the machining gear we have access to are set up to be imperial. In addition AndyMark and a lot of parts we have are already imperial.

I think for most US teams it just makes more sense to do imperial for the above reasons. 1/4-20 all the wayyy

Imperial is much better for most teams. Hardware and tools are cheaper, most other teams use imperial so sharing is easier, and most shop-equipped teams have imperial machines and tooling.

Also, 10-32 is way better than 1/4-20.

[JCharlton]

Welcome to North America, the only place where this is an issue.

I tried to move our team to metric due to the large number of M8's we had in stock for our Parker IPS extrusion. One system would reduce confusion I thought, M3, M4, M6, M8, but hasn't quite worked out that way, mostly because of COTS parts.

Instead, what I've tried to do, as much as possible, is buy black oxide fasteners for metric (mostly socket head cap screws) and stainless steel for imperial where required. Exceptions are shoulder bolts in imperial, and imperial shaft collars. That helps a little.

It is a teaching opportunity for students to learn the two systems, and that there are different standards. (NPT vs BPT anyone?) Our metric-trained Canuck kids have a hard time with fractions I'd say due to a lack of familiarity with inch measurements and all their halves and sixteenths.

There's no doubt the rest of the world is metric and due to global commerce the U.S. is seeing the advantage of adopting metric. It's ironic that the automobile industry has chiefly moved to metric fasteners given that imperial is also known as "SAE" (Society of Automobile Engineers).

[372 lives on]

The first thing my team does after kick off, laugh at the bolts and throw them in the "trashbin"(bin of parts for teaching new freshman how to do basic stuff). The US is the only place that doesn't use metric and most engineering firms are moving towards or already use only metric.

i can go on...

Originally Posted by JCharlton

Welcome to North America, the only place where this is an issue.

I tried to move our team to metric due to the large number of M8's we had in stock for our Parker IPS extrusion. One system would reduce confusion I thought, M3, M4, M6, M8, but hasn't quite worked out that way, mostly because of COTS parts.

There's no doubt the rest of the world is metric and due to global commerce the U.S. is seeing the advantage of adopting metric. It's ironic that the automobile industry has chiefly moved to metric fasteners given that imperial is also known as "SAE" (Society of Automobile Engineers).

Quoted for the truth.

also we get free bolts and fasteners from our sponsors. all of them major international engineering firms who will only give us metric fasteners because they just don't have any imperial equipment.