Hello Thcqci!!!
Interesting thread!!! Hi JW and CHG!!!
Thcqci, I noticed that you mentioned you once managed a calibration lab... I had the opportunity once (for only a year) to calibrate and resurface (only if necessary) those Lab grade (within millionths of an inch in overall flatness!) granite surface plates you mentioned... I'll tell you, that was one hell of a back-breaking job!!!
I had a great time though doing that type of work until my woman decided that it was more important to spend more time at home than to galavant up and down the east coast for most of each month...
Of course as the newbie, I was given some of the jobs that required more resurfacing than the more senior techs but, I really liked the work so, I really did'nt mind!!! My favorite granite was the pink and Blue-gray plates because, they did'nt wear out as much so if I had to resurface the plate, the job did'nt take so long with the exception of those custom size plates I always found in the inspection labs used by some military contractors... Those black "granite" plates were always being used so much that they constantly required resurfacing (breathed in too much granite dust, and 5 to 30 micron diamond powder!) but, since they were cheaper, I guess that's why most customers had them, besides most customers did'nt have to meet lab grade specs., anyway so, that was probably another factor also... What I loved most about that job was using the laser autocollimator to plot eight planes when inspecting the surface... Everybody in a shop would come over, and ask all kinds of questions about what I was doing, and that gave me the excuse to take a break now and then (enhancing customer relations)... Anywho, I guess I got a little carried away, and off the subject a bit but, hey-it's been awhile!!! I still love welding and everything related to it so, I do'nt think I'll be doing any of that work again...
That guy Pythagorus came up with some nifty theorum!!!
My students always ask why is it so important for them to know the Pythagorean Theorum and, here's another example I can use also to explain to them besides all of the other examples I use!!!
Thanks for a very informative and nostalgic thread gentlemen, and I hope I did'nt stray off the topic too much...
Respectfully,
SSBN727 Run Silent... Run Deep!!!