Machinist Talk

  • In general conversations or math class you may hear numbers spoken one way, in a Machine Shop, you may hear the same number described differently for example:

    Keep in mind for the following:
    In math class everything is based on 1.0
    In a Machine Shop using Inch measurements, everything is based on .001" (one thousandths of an inch)

    So, how would we say the following?

    0.1000
    in math class = "one tenth"
    in a machine shop = "one hundred thousandths
        WHY? because if everything in a machine shop is based on .001 then there are 100 - "thousandths" of an inch

    .0100
    in math class = "one hundredths"
    in a machine shop = "Ten thousandths"
       
    .0010
    in math class = "one thousandths"
    in a machine shop = "one thousandths" or "one thou"

    .0001
    in math class = "one ten-thousandths"
    in a machine shop = "one tenth"
         WHY? because if everything in a machine shop is based on .001 then there is 1/10th of one thousandths of an inch

    .00001
    in math class = "one hundred-thousandths"
    in a machine shop = "Ten Millionths"

    Machine Shop examples:
    12.3456 = Twelve inches, Three hundred forty-five thousandths and six tenths

    0.12345 = One Hundred Twenty-Three Thousandths, Four Tenths and Fifty Millionths

    0.5430 = Five Hundred Forty-Three Thousandths

    0.0123 = Twelve Thousandths and Three Tenths