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Another English/Metric "Spacecraft" Problem

SuperDry writes "There's been another spacecraft failure that's been attributed to an English/Metric units problem, this time at Tokyo Disneyland's Space Mountain. An axle broke on a "spacecraft" (a.k.a. roller coaster train) mid-ride, causing it to derail (nobody was hurt). The final investigation report has been released, and the root cause has been determined to be a part being the wrong size due to a conversion of the master plans in 1995 from English units to Metric units. In 2002, new axles were mistakenly ordered using the pre-1995 English specifications instead of the current Metric specifications. Apparently size does matter, even if it's only a 0.86mm difference."

13 of 748 comments (clear)

  1. Proble? by waitigetit · · Score: 5, Funny

    It's more like an English spelling problem, no?

    --
    I could care less, but not without a lobotomy
  2. Disney by abh · · Score: 5, Funny

    How come everything Disney does ends up so Mickey Mouse?

  3. Who's at fault here, really? by ObviousGuy · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Japanese who, like the rest of the modern world, switched to metric years ago?

    Or the American designers who couldn't even do simple multiplication in order to convert from English to Metric?

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  4. Gotta ask... by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 4, Funny
    Another English/Metric "Spacecraft" Proble

    I'm Canadian, so I have to assume that 'proble' is the... imperial spelling... of problem?

    "I get five rods to the hog's head!"

    --
    If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
  5. See!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    We need a one world government with one way of doing things! How many more people have to die because we have to hang on to old ways of doing things? Stop this madness now! Surrender your nationalist ideals. Borders exist in the minds of dimwitted politicians. Borders can't be see from space. We must unite and work together to advance mankind.

    Support the New World Order now!

  6. How many Rods to the Hogshead?... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    It wasn't mentioned in the article, but for my own reference, I'm wondering how many Rods to the Hogshead this ride gets?
    Or if that info. isn't available, how many stone per fortnight this ride has in lifting capacity.

    TDz.

    1. Re:How many Rods to the Hogshead?... by flewp · · Score: 4, Funny

      how many stone per fortnight this ride has in lifting capacity.

      That depends if the ride is European or African.

      --
      WWJD.... for a Klondike bar?
  7. The horror by netfool · · Score: 4, Funny

    >Apparently size does matter, even if it's only a 0.86mm difference. At this very moment there are hundreds of geeks around the world trying to think of a great punchline for this.

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  8. Just use google calc by beej · · Score: 5, Funny
    10 meters = 98.4251969 hands

    HAHAHAH! No one uses hands anymore to measure distance! How ARCANE!

    We use feet.

  9. Re:0.86mm? That's a HUGE difference! by zulux · · Score: 4, Funny



    Lemmeee tell 'ya....

    Here at Hyundai - .86mm is barely noticible. It just means you have to push harder to get the part to fit.

    Our cars can take it!

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  10. Re:Imperial, not English... by deitel99 · · Score: 5, Funny

    For example, the inch is now _defined_ as 2.54 cm, it has nothing to do with some king's thumb or anything.

    Personally I think 2.54cm is pretty arbitrary. Then again, cm are based on a fraction of a wavelength of a certain coloured light, which is, yet again, arbitrary.

    The first attempts for standardising the inch were many hundreds of years ago, since it's so vital to have correct measurements for trade. Despite what most posts here seem to think, the Imperial Inch does not change every time the English monarch does.

  11. Re:English units? by Hogwash+McFly · · Score: 4, Funny

    The system is fascinated with 1/16ths and 1/32s which gets really hard to work with

    Your Geek Pass has been revoked. You have one hour to clear your desk and leave the building. Thank you for your co-operation.

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  12. Re:The source of the problem by saforrest · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is that the metric system is flawed. It is defined in terms of the size of 18th century railroad tie sizes, which is totally arbitrary.

    Mmm-hmm. So, clearly, defining length in terms of the feet of a 1200-year old dead Frankish king is a better choice?