What do you engineers think about the switch to the metric system 20 years ago? Is it better or worse than the inches system? Do you have a problem trying to apply close tolerances with metric? Do you think that clay modeling will disappear? The auto companies have finally found a way to eliminate most of the body draftsmen. They are computer training people from third world countries. But I think that it will fail.

What Metric System? The US government tried to get us to switch over some 35 years ago. The automotive engineers were forced into it because of so many necessary foreign parts. But for the rest of us, it's still pounds and feet, not Newtons and meters. Efforts to make the US conversion to metrics mandatory have not gone anywhere, except when the government has forced it down its own throat, like in federally funded highway design. Here, elevations are in meters and distances are in meters or kilometers. Then thet have to convert them back again to US units so we know how far and how fast we are traveling. In structural design, concrete will always be measured in cubic yards ("yards") and beams and geometric properties in units of pounds and feet, and stress in psi. at least for the foreseeable future, that is. And Draftsmen are now computer aided designers, you won't be able to find an eraser in my office.

I'm sorry gerry. I should have put the question to Body engineers. But what you say is very interesting. Most of us disliked the metric system when it arrived. I think that it was easier to dimension tight tolerances in inches than metric. And all we drafters know is millimeters, 100mm, 1000mm,1275mm and so on. We never needed to use the rest of the metric system. I would like the country to go completely to metric so that we will be in sink with the rest of the world. There are some religious groups that oppose it because it is of satan.

I didn't know Satan was French? I guess you learn something every day.

Check out this site for the real deal. See also the links on the British System and Metric System at the bottom of the page to explain why metric is much better. You'll grow to love it. It's much simpler.

Chancey is obviously right about this. The metric system is simpler and much more logical and most of the difficulty gerry talks about is caused by our refusal to get in synch with the rest of the civilized world, therefore necessitating conversion. But why should we convert ?? - except for the stubborn clinging to an antiquated and unscientific anachronism. Inches, feet, yards, bushels, pecks, ounces, -- we aren't even able to keep up with the Canadians in this -- they managed to make the transisition without a revolution. Even the British eventually abandoned their antiquated system. What are we waiting for ?? And Satan is French!

Well, these people think that it is part of the "One World Government."

Trueview, the chauvinists in every single country resist any change that does not originate with them. The U.S. is not alone in this respect.

But anyone with even a smidgin of logical ability need only to compare the two systems to see which is better and easier to learn and to use.

Now if you really want an argument, introduce the topic of phonetic spelling and/or grammar without exceptions to the rules!

I work for a diesel engine company that has made every effort to go from English to Metric. We now use BOTH. I came to this company as a drafter and hated the thought of going metric, but after becoming used to it I hate the English system.
Anyway, everyone needs to convert if anyone is going to. We are now stuck paying for keeping up with both because our suppliers and customers need different units.