Converting fractions to decimals

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Howard Lewis on 18/08/2021 23:11:09:

This looks be getting a little bitter and twisted, when we are taking of UNITS.

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Thank you for trying to inject the Wisdom of Solomon, Howard … but the thread is [or at least was] really about converting between factions fractions and decimals.

MichaelG.

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Edit: __ corrected my Freudian slip of a typo 

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 19/08/2021 06:45:44

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

"Or log tables if you're some kind of luddite/weirdo/masochist."

I resemble that remark and only work to the "rough" sizes using four figure logs and not super accurate six figure versions, but I can convert ingrish to meterick without having to use t'nternet or Collosus and can still work to a "Proud" sixteenth or a "Shy" thirtysecond and it might not to be to NASA standards of accuracy but it works.

Regards, Wot tiller.

Edited By Circlip on 19/08/2021 09:05:08

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Michael Gilligan on 19/08/2021 06:21:30:

Posted by Howard Lewis on 18/08/2021 23:11:09:

This looks be getting a little bitter and twisted, when we are taking of UNITS.

[…]

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Thank you for trying to inject the Wisdom of Solomon, Howard … but the thread is [or at least was] really about converting between factions fractions and decimals.

MichaelG.

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Edit: __ corrected my Freudian slip of a typo

Ah, but the subject has hidden depths. The discussion leads to the need for change, which is mankind's greatest enemy. Hard to teach old dogs new tricks because old dogs see no reason to change. This is why I'm handling my mother's hospitalisation by landline telephone while the rest of the family are in a WhatsApp group. I ring family to tell them the latest news and everyone in the group is already better informed than me. I resent it slightly, because they've been using new technology for years while I still hanker after dials, telephone directories and pressing Button B to get my 4d back in a red box smelling of wee.

Very upsetting – I have trusty old friends like Landline telephony, Imperial Measure and Fractions, and some young whipper-snapper barely out of nappies points out they're all actually a bit sh1t, giving reasons I don't understand or give two hoots about.

Our hobby sits on a fault line; is Model Engineering about retro-technology like steam engines, Whitworth and HSS on a 1947 lathe, or is it about Quadcopters, microcontrollers, CAD, laser-cutters and 3D-printing? I think it should be about both. I admire craftsmanship and enjoy my manual lathe and milling machine, but I'm also interested in state of the art methods and what's in the pipeline.

The history of engineering shows new techniques always win and it's a bad mistake to cling to the past. Discuss!

Dave

[Kiwi BlokeParticipant @kiwibloke62605]

OK Dave, I'll bite!

Good, provocative thoughts. I thought the subject deserved its own thread, so I've started one, in the Tea Room.

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

Silly old duffer says:

The discussion leads to the need for change, which is mankind's greatest enemy.

I remind you all that without change (enemy or not) we would still be living in the sea along with lots of identical precambrian jellies.

Further – I had not anticipated the nooks and crannies into which the discussion would flow. I will try to think of something else as inspiring, in case this thread runs out.

Regards, Tim

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

This Moore & Wright booklet includes an extensive and very clearly tabulated set of conversion tables: **LINK**

https://ia802901.us.archive.org/26/items/moore-and-wright-micrometers/Moore%20and%20Wright%20Micrometers.pdf

MichaelG.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Been watching this with some amusement.

Am a fully paid up Luddite (aka Ancient Oddity or Dinosaur – although they went extinct a long time ago! )

The older Mill/Drill is Imperial to match nearly all my measuring kit. The lathe is Metric but dual dialled, so MOSTLY, I work in Imperial. (Using a digital Calliper most of the time with a mechanical instrument for a second opinion )

The drawings / sketches and calculations are mostly on the back of an envelope, often thinking in Fractions, which appear as decimal inches on the envelope!

Was taught Log tables at school, and the virtues of mental approximation, but starting work had to learn how to use a slide rule (Had never fathomed father's Japanese Bamboo one! )

Was told at Tech that it was basically, log tables plotted out in linear form. THEN the penny dropped, and was amazed at the accuracy with which results could be interpolated.

Too ignorant to really write my own programs, but do use EXCEL for spreadsheets.

The one that I wrote (? concocted ) to correct my HV6 expands from time to time. Just insert a new number of divisions, and it tells you how many turns and holes are needed (CANNOT find a drill to drill decimals of hole though! )

Would take up 3D printing, IF I could think of a use for the things that I make / mend / modify.

Favourite calculator is solar powered, so has to be used under a light after dark!

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

I've a Zeus book and one of those big poster-sized Tracy Tools conversions + tapping-size charts in the workshop; plus another and a calculator indoors next to the computer (for when using CAD).

Simpe as that…

No need to write and print spreadsheets etc. It's all been done for you!

[Oily RagParticipant @oilyrag]

What's this about calculators – I thought modern phones had replaced cameras and calculators in one fell swoop!

Martin

[CalumParticipant @calumgalleitch87969]

Not at all – I have a little app on my phone that reproduces a complete slide rule, with my own choice of scales on it (Infinirule, it's called, for the curious). I even use it every once in a while.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Posted by Oily Rag on 27/09/2021 22:27:57:

What's this about calculators – I thought modern phones had replaced cameras and calculators in one fell swoop!

Martin

Hi Martin, as both cameras and calculators come in a wide range of levels, I'll doubt that many mobile phones will cover every level there is, but very many of them are very good for entry level. My mobile phone has a very good camera, but it doesn't have the same range or ability of my DSLR cameras and the calculator which is also very useful, doesn't stack up to my scientific ones.

Regards Nick.

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Having looked at Infinirule, I found this one.

Scala Architectural Scale FREE The only app of its kind in the App Store that accurately simulates an architectural and engineering scale to measure printed drawings. Let Scala Architectural and Engineering Scale change the way…

I was however taught NEVER to measure from a printed drawing!

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Nick, try the Free42 app – an HP42 on your phone. Brilliant.

[Charles SkeetParticipant @charlesskeet99220]

I don't usually have a problem with this particular subject. 1/2 mm = 0.5 mm, 1/4mm = 0.25 mm, etc. Gotta love the metric system!

[CirclipParticipant @circlip]

I have a napp on my phone that allows me to contact other people and talk to them.

Regards Ian.

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Circlip on 10/10/2021 10:36:52:

I have a napp on my phone that allows me to contact other people and talk to them.

Regards Ian.

I have a napp on a chair, it's more comfortable than a phone

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

Posted by Tim Stevens on 16/08/2021 11:53:16:

It is a chart of fractional inch sizes (down to 64ths) to millimetres (and four decimal places) for all dimensions from 0 to 12", and then in 32nds to 24".

Sadly the Koken web site does NOT work on my computer!

I put "Koken.co.uk" in the usual place and the Firefox screen remained blank!

I never got as far as the catalogue – pity because the Chart seemed useful (from what was written)

MC

[duncan webster 1Participant @duncanwebster1]

This works on mine koken

[Dr. MC BlackParticipant @dr-mcblack73214]

I can assure you that the screen remained blank

That may be because my computer was tired so late in the evening but the screen remained blank.

I have now downloaded the catalogue and printed the chart.

I have never heard of "American Inches" in the past.

I think it would be better if printed on A3 paper since the text is VERY small – but I don't have an A3 printer. I'm lucky when my A4 printer works !

With best wishes and thanks

MC

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