[Jewelry making - Article 00545] - Re: [Orchid] Metric system

[FrodoGem]

========[ Invite a Friend - http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm  ]========


    Both metric and imperial systems have their strong points...it is
    easier to perform mathematical operations on metric numbers.
    However, fractional inches are based on negative powers of 2.  Each
    graduation line has a length based on what power of 2 it represents.
    The 1/4 and 3j/4 (2 to the -2_ graduations are shorter than the 1/2
    (2 to the -1) graduations.  1/8 graduations are shorter than 1/4
    graduations and so on.  The arrangement of the various graduations
    makes it easy for the practiced eye to quickly identify exacty what
    graduation line represents the measurement without counting.  On the
    other hand, when I use a metric rule, there are anywhere from 4 to 10
    graduation lines in a row, all with the same length. 

    The hand held calculator has reduced the calculating advantage of
    metric over powers of minus 2.  The natural order of operation makes
    it easy to convert powers of minus 2 inches to decimal fraction
    inches:  2 and a half inches plus 3 and a sixteenth inch is entered
    into the calculator as 2+1/2 + 3 + 1/16 =  since the calculator will
    perform the division function before the addition function, it is
    just enterd the same way it is said in the sentence with the word
    "and" being the equivalent of a plus sign. 

    When I am in the jeweler's shop, I usually prefer metric.   However,
    when I need to record an exact measurement in order to reproduce a
    unit of jewelry, I pick the scale that comes closest to an exact
    reproduction...metric, decimal inches, or powers of minus two
    inches. 

    When I comes to working in the garage with wood and steel...sorry
    folks, I won't give an inch.  I much prefer my good ol' powers of
    minus 2 tape measure. 

Howard Woods
Eagle Idaho


____________________________________________________________________
T h e   O r c h i d   L i s t
Open Electronic Forum for Jewelry Manufacturing Methods and Procedures
____________________________________________________________________
Orchid FAQ:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/faq.htm
Orchid Archives:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/archive
Orchid Galleries:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/orchid/gallery.htm
Invite a Friend:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/invite.htm
____________________________________________________________________
Tips From The Jeweler's Bench - Article Archive
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/borisat/tip_sear.htm
The Jeweler's Selected Bibliography List
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/jewelry-books
Buy Orchid Jewelry:
~ http://www.ganoksin.com/shop
____________________________________________________________________
-Unsubscribe:
-Email: orchid-request AT ganoksin.com Body=unsubscribe subject=blank
____________________________________________________________________