Poll: What does a tenth mean when measuring?

[pauls_workshop]

So thought it would be fun to ask the forum, what do you think a tenth means when measuring something? (Old School Machining Knowledge Poll)

1. 0.1 mm
2. 0.1 inch
3. 0.010 mm
4. 0.010 inch
5. 0.0010 mm
6. 0.0010 inch
7. 0.00010 mm
8. 0.00010 inch

 

[rlitman]

None of the above. Though #8 is the closest answer, the trailing zero assumes an extra degree of precision.

 

[Monkey Milk]

None of the above. Though #8 is the closest answer, the trailing zero assumes an extra degree of precision.

yeah, that extra zero

 

[pauls_workshop]

Guys, please don't ruin the poll, which you are trying to do already! Post these comments later on after everyone votes please!

 

[DBendr]

.1 carpenter
.0001 or .000100000000000000 Machinist

 

[PelicanPines]

For me it would be 1 or 2... Depending on what I'm working on. 0.100000 is a tenth... The unit of measure is the mm or inch.

I added the extra zeros.... To bring it microscopic.

 

[pauls_workshop]

Keep in mind guys that there is actually not ONE answer here, thus it is a poll! Please fill out the poll and see what the results come out to be! Don't bias the poll ! - Paul

 

[vartz04]

To me it means 1/10th of a foot or 1.2 inches (work a lot in the civil engineering world)

 

[zkling]

Keep in mind guys that there is actually not ONE answer here, thus it is a poll! Please fill out the poll and see what the results come out to be! Don't bias the poll ! - Paul

But there actually is, since you initially biased the poll with your machining comment. As mentioned none are really correct, #8 is the closest in the states in meaning a ten thou, where as #6 is the thou.

 

[mriddell]

'A' tenth is 1/10 or .1. Further specifying a tenth of what would help.

 

[pauls_workshop]

To me it means 1/10th of a foot or 1.2 inches (work a lot in the civil engineering world)

I did not ever even think of that one! Sorry! I'm an ME on the side. Should have known that one! - Paul

 

[pauls_workshop]

But there actually is, since you initially biased the poll with your machining comment. As mentioned none are really correct, #8 is the closest in the states in meaning a ten thou, where as #6 is the thou.

Zkling, you are now in time out! I will come get you back later! Consider any extra zeros as merely optional and not necessarily indicating the precision!

- Paul

 

[pauls_workshop]

'A' tenth is 1/10 or .1. Further specifying a tenth of what would help.

Yes but that would ruin the poll you see. Old machinists called things "tenths" often. Did not specify of what. Mechanics don't generally do that and may think of things differently. And more modern folks may only think in metric, so would choose a metric answer. I like to think in microns myself on a daily basis. Thus the poll. Will be interesting what the results are, and THEN we can all have the expert discussion on this in detail!!!!

...And ... I will share a story of how I first learned what a tenth meant with the board about 28 years ago and how I was totally wrong about it, even though I wasn't! .... - Paul

 

[moriboy]

Machinist here, so #8 is correct. A 10th/ of .001


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[finn]

0.1 seconds

 

[Vvmvbb]

Machinist here, so #8 is correct. A 10th/ of .001


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Yup. Tenth of a mil.

 

[Techie1961]

.1 carpenter
.0001 or .000100000000000000 Machinist

Exactly.

 

[pauls_workshop]

0.1 seconds

Oh no, I did not think about including angles or time, depending what you are suggesting! - Paul

 

[BK13]

To me it means 1/10th of a foot or 1.2 inches (work a lot in the civil engineering world)

Bingo! Land surveyor here.


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[speed bump]

A 1/10 means 10% of whatever my base unit system is. I voted all of the above.

 

[softailgarage]

'A' tenth is 1/10 or .1. Further specifying a tenth of what would help.

Correct. Based on the question, what is a tenth? .1 would be the only answer. .00001 would be 1 micro inch, which is different than 1/10.

 

[DekeT]

Bingo! Land surveyor here.


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Just to be snobby about it, this is the correct answer. Although the premise of this poll would elicit more interesting observations had the pollster asked "what does a tenth mean in measuring in your line of work?" More than a tenth increase I am sure.

 

[dr_clyde]

The answer strongly depends on your trade. I voted #8 because I do machine work. While mathematically speaking .10 is one tenth of 1, you are liable to screw up someone's expensive parts if they tell you your tolerance is "plus or minus a tenth" and you machine the feature to .10, or one hundred thousandths. Most carpenters I know would say "a small eighth" or something referencing various colors of hair when talking about .10

You mentioned "machining knowledge" in the question, so it was assumed you were talking about a tenth of a thousandth.

 

[ezover]

the answer strongly depends on your trade. most carpenters i know would say "a small eighth" or something referencing various colors of hair when talking about .10

.

lol.

 

[rshadd]

A tenth of what? 1/10 = 0.1

 

[ssdave]

In machinist terms, it means a precision that is beyond what can be obtained readily in a non-temperature controlled, home workshop environment. Tenths are hard to repeat in a good precision machine shop, because of temperature changes in the environment, the machine, and in the work. I've got Starrett tools, and I can't repeatably measure tenths, even the though the tools read to that.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

In my field, a tenth was always .1 and in inches. Therefore it was between 1/16 and 1/8 on a tape measure and generally known as Bingo!, since "close enough" was perfect. Actually .25 would usually do.

 

[bmk]

In all my years as a Tool and Mold Maker I have recognized a tenth as .0001. If someone tells you to take 3 tenths off a surface that equates to .0003. +/- .0000

 

[NUTTSGT]

Well, if you're in the US of A and mention, "Old School Machining Knowledge Poll", I'd guess that any measurement of metric would be out.

 

[LennyTheLizard]

Put my vote in, but I was only looking at the numbers. Didn't see you snuck in some metric units in there. To be honest, I'm not sure which one I voted for.

 

[davethorik]

In machinist terms, it means a precision that is beyond what can be obtained readily in a non-temperature controlled, home workshop environment. Tenths are hard to repeat in a good precision machine shop, because of temperature changes in the environment, the machine, and in the work. I've got Starrett tools, and I can't repeatably measure tenths, even the though the tools read to that.

Even in a climate controlled shop with very nice high precision machines, "tenths" (.0001) or 1/10,000 inch is a tough tolerance to hold. You can't hold any measuring tools longer than you need to or else your measurement is probably off. Where I work, we see a lot of +.0003/-.0000 tolerances for od/id grinders as well as Sip precision jig boring machines, but that's about the tightest I routinely see.

Some of it is an art, for instance grinding a part .0002 undersized then letting it rest on a surface plate for 2 hrs and it's now in tolerance. Yikes

 

[zkling]

This thread.....where significant figures went to die.

Even in a climate controlled shop with very nice high precision machines, "tenths" (.0001) or 1/10,000 inch is a tough tolerance to hold. You can't hold any measuring tools longer than you need to or else your measurement is probably off. Where I work, we see a lot of +.0003/-.0000 tolerances for od/id grinders as well as Sip precision jig boring machines, but that's about the tightest I routinely see.

Some of it is an art, for instance grinding a part .0002 undersized then letting it rest on a surface plate for 2 hrs and it's now in tolerance. Yikes

Eh, depending on the overall size and feature, smaller bores up to ~1" 0.0002" is pretty common for fits. More difficult on say an external radius or surface parallelism But you are correct in at that point service temperature and spring cuts really need to be taken into consideration.

 

[OkRider]

In my lifetime of machine work, a tenth was either a tenth of an inch, 0.1, or one ten thousandth of an inch, .0001. Didn't do much in metric, but when I did I would convert the whole print to inch decimal.

Have a Lufkin engineers tape measure that's in tenth graduations. Love that thing.

 

[77Mini]

I have seen rulers marked in tenths of an inch. Can't stand them

 

[Larryjones]

I only use tenths when measuring little teensy bits. So tenth of a thousand.
I was once given a caliper that measured to 1/128ths. I was confused.

 

[zkling]

I only use tenths when measuring little teensy bits. So tenth of a thousand.
I was once given a caliper that measured to 1/128ths. I was confused.

Agreed, when you get used to working in thousands, fractions become confusing. Common on vernier calipers with 1/16 graduation, 1/2 of a 64th mostly for those dang woodworking folks.

 

[larry_g]

Guys, please don't ruin the poll, which you are trying to do already! Post these comments later on after everyone votes please!

Keep in mind guys that there is actually not ONE answer here, thus it is a poll! Please fill out the poll and see what the results come out to be! Don't bias the poll ! - Paul

I did not ever even think of that one! Sorry! I'm an ME on the side. Should have known that one! - Paul

Zkling, you are now in time out! I will come get you back later! Consider any extra zeros as merely optional and not necessarily indicating the precision!

- Paul

Yes but that would ruin the poll you see. Old machinists called things "tenths" often. Did not specify of what. Mechanics don't generally do that and may think of things differently. And more modern folks may only think in metric, so would choose a metric answer. I like to think in microns myself on a daily basis. Thus the poll. Will be interesting what the results are, and THEN we can all have the expert discussion on this in detail!!!!

...And ... I will share a story of how I first learned what a tenth meant with the board about 28 years ago and how I was totally wrong about it, even though I wasn't! .... - Paul

One of the hardest things to do is put forth a proper question. You failed at this if you have to do so much defending of the poll. In my opinion this is how a drama queen sets up a problem. You don't want an answer, just drama.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[pauls_workshop]

One of the hardest things to do is put forth a proper question. You failed at this if you have to do so much defending of the poll. In my opinion this is how a drama queen sets up a problem. You don't want an answer, just drama.

lg
no neat sig line

Hah hah. Larry, you need a vacation.

Not drama at all. But an interesting question with lots of answers, as it should be. - Paul

 

[pauls_workshop]

In my lifetime of machine work, a tenth was either a tenth of an inch, 0.1, or one ten thousandth of an inch, .0001. Didn't do much in metric, but when I did I would convert the whole print to inch decimal.

Have a Lufkin engineers tape measure that's in tenth graduations. Love that thing.

Ok guys, we now have enough polls to get into the discussion! Yay!

So the above by OkRider and several other old time machinists was what I was pointing towards, but as we've discussed, there are many right answers.

When I was doing my first engineering intern job as a student, I spent some time in manufacturing. The senior machinist, having a bit of fun with me, asked so what is a tenth? We can measure and machine to tenths and do it all the time.

Well, thinking of SAE units, which were still pretty standard in that era, I said 0.1 inches!? Wrong answer. A tenth was item 8, 0.0001 inches, or a tenth of a thousandth of an inch. Old school machinists will think this way.

Now carpentry is never going to care about such a small number in any measurement, so the carpenters are saying what I did, 0.10 inch, which is proper for that field.

The civils are giving us a different answer, a tenth of a foot, correct for their field.

Most of the rest modern folks who now think in millimeters or centimeters are going to pick 0.10 mm, or a tenth of a mm most of the time.

So the correct answer is it depends on your field. The only way to avoid the confusion the poll indicates between people is to always state " this is a tenth of X", where X is the reference unit, whether feet, mm, inches, or "tenths of a thousandth inch" which the machinists think of freely in their brains. I've found most of my life, much confusion in industry over this simple thing. At the least, when working with machinists, always be clear or ask the question of the reference X to be clear.

This was my only point of the poll. To show it means different things to different trades and experts! - Paul

 

[Pinaud]

My experience as a machinist (40 years) has been that a 10th is a tenth of an inch (0.10"), 0.0001" has always be stated as 1 ten thousandth of an inch. This could be due to location (New. England) vs. West of 128.