Talk:Metric System

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Yeah, I've been thinking about this too. Any way to make a software bot that could convert designs? (Also do so in a sensible manner (as in no weird numbers)) Or is a redesign the only way to convert customary unit designs to metric?

I haven't made it yet but this has a "Metricization" Construction set. If we can (and if we choose to) make a bot of sorts, that could go in that construction set. This page would go nicely in there too. Also the name isn't final; I was just jotting down some ideas before I forgot them.

Also should we use the SI System or the Metric System?

--Eric (talk) 20:10, 5 March 2017 (UTC)


According to Wikipedia SI is the modern metric system. There should not be differences. The only unit which is not SI, is degree for angle measurement instead of rad. But I would prefer degree for non-mathematical or ET values. The reasons are: FreeCAD uses degree and it is hard to represent 180°, 90°, 45° numerically precisely without a factor π.

Considering automatic conversion -- there can be some ugly numerical values. I think we should convert them manually. I also try to write macros with support for both systems.

Are there some industrial standard for it? For example Nominal Pipe Sizes are translated in millimeter with 0.001-precision.

OSE-Germany uses for example metric prototyping kit [1]


Yeah, that seems to make sense, on just using the metric system. I also like the metric system, as I find it easier to think in; I can think through stuff and understand it without needing a calculator/paper and pencil for all the various conversions.

Are most of our designs in customary as of now or what?

--Eric (talk) 00:53, 5 March 2017 (UTC)

I guess it is customary. The only rational reason to use the imperial units is to buy pars in US.