On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:13:29 -0400, the renowned Gerald Miller
wrote:

On Wed, 19 Sep 2007 22:19:22 +0100, Mark Rand
wrote:



It will happen, given time. Why? Because US manufacturers also buy and sell
from other countries. When Imperial components cost more than metric ones
because of lower production volumes and additional inventory costs, then the
American manufacturers will be at a competitive disadvantage. When a customer
has to buy non-standard tools to fit US fasteners, it becomes an item in the
purchasing decision. So eventually, Metric production will creep across the
US. As it does, sticking with imperial measure will become less and less
attractive. Add to this, undergraduates being taught science in metric measure
will take that with them and will see Imperial measure as clumsy. And so it
goes.

It's already happening isn't it? The auto industry is IIRC using more metric
components even on US vehicles. Of course The foreign branches of the US auto
manufacturers have been making pretty well entirely metric vehicles for a
couple of decades now.

If the north american manufacturers don't adjust their mix to what
people want, they won't be around much longer anyhow.
Gerry :-)}
London, Canada

If you build the whole thing offshore you'll probably want to use
metric components unless your market requires Imperial fasteners or
compatibility with legacy parts is required. On custom parts, it
doesn't matter whether the threads are metric or Imperial, but the
standard part will likely be cheaper if you go with a standard M3 or
whatever rather than a 6-32.

I see designing in metric* as one of the keys to keeping the front end
of the manufacturing process "here". The back end is already gone, and
it ain't coming back.

* actually an example of designing to whatever components are most
available and economical at the manufacturing point, no matter how
uncomfortable that may be, rather than sticking with what is familiar.


Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany
--
"it's the network..." "The Journey is the reward"
Info for manufacturers: http://www.trexon.com
Embedded software/hardware/analog Info for designers: http://www.speff.com