Re: [Phys-l] Sig figs

[Bill Nettles <bnettles@uu.edu>]

Most engineers dealing with a machinist are going to provide a machining tolerance, e.g., 1.011 (0.001).  Physicists might not do that, but a good machinist (or fabricator) will ask "What's the tolerance?"  Anyone that has had an engine rebuilt knows that the tolerance spec is extremely important, and a machine shop will not make a quote without that spec.

-----Original Message-----
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [mailto:phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Bernard Cleyet
Sent: Sunday, October 17, 2010 2:35 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Sig figs

I think the idea is if I specify I want an inch but write 0.999 is ok and he's tuning he'll stop there.  This, of course is just before the accuracy available w/ position encoders.

bc  doesn't remember what the UCSB machinist wanted (55 years ago)

p.s.   I think you just used sig. figs.  Don't let JD know.


On 2010, Oct 14, , at 19:56, Michael Edmiston wrote:

> I don't know where your machinists came from, but here is what my experience 
> is, and I have worked with many machinists at many different places,
>
> If you ask for 1.011" you will get 1.011".
>
> If you ask for 1.0" you will get 1.000".
>
> Same price

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