RE: Standards of converting to metric

[eric -dot- dunn -at- ca -dot- transport -dot- bombardier -dot- com]

bounce-techwr-l-106467 -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com wrote on 02/03/2005 12:28:50 PM:
> I'd be inclined to give both measurements every time - 
> isn't the US supposed to be moving towards metrication?

Give it every time. Think of what a pain it would be if you needed to use 
a measurement or value and had to search through the documents for the 
correct conversion.

> I don't think you need to list conversion formulae, but 
> you might want to make a statement that metric measurements are
> rounded to (to what - nearest mm ??).

Two basic principles need to be adhered to when converting. First is the 
rule of significant figures, second is the tolerance of the value being 
converted (the converted value needs to maintain the same tolerance).

In text and procedures, always show the units of both the original and the 
converted values. On drawings, it is often customary to simply have the 
basic units indicated in a legend or note and have no units on the actual 
measurements, that is 123(45), unless such measurements use other units 
than the basic ones.

As for which units come first, I've always followed the rule that the 
design units should come first and the converted units should be second. 
So regardless of audience, if it was designed in metric it's mm(in) and if 
it was designed in imperial it's in(mm).

If the client/audience demands that a certain system ALWAYS be placed 
first, the converted units should be put under closer scrutiny by the 
engineers.

Eric L. Dunn
Senior Technical Writer

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