05-29-2018, 10:26 AM
Nice piece Grepper! Of course we learned of Grepper's modification some time ago. We also wondered how his modification might affect the accuracy of the measurement. We duplicated his modification to a close degree here and tested. We also sharpened and deburred knife edges in precisely the same way as Grepper did and then we compared readings (our unmodified fixture versus his modified). We concluded that, if there is a difference, it is insignificant to the point that it can't be measured.
At EOU we don't split hairs. BESSU does and that is a good thing. EOU's purposes and BESSU's differ in this way. BESSU's only mission is preservation of the standard. The standard is what allows KG in Australia to accurately and meaningfully communicate his research results to us in USA and for EOU to compare sharpening results with Grepper in Michigan while using the same measuring stick. EOU has an additional goal though and that is to help sharpeners improve their sharpening capabilities. In order to accomplish this goal sharpeners only need know if a given sharpening procedure made the number go up or down. In the instrumentation world this is referred to as absolute versus relative measurement. Both means are used and both have their place. Accurate communication is important but so is improvement. That's why we don't quibble with customers over 7 or 8 pts. of absolute inaccuracy as long as the error is of a predictable and consistent nature. BESSU does quibble with 7 or 8 points of absolute error. In the end, it makes for a solid partnership.
Within the next year, we will design a new test fixture that addresses the "ease of use" issues that Rick Kr, Grepper and others have identified. We will submit that fixture to BESSU for testing and hope that we catch them on a good day. Obviously, we didn't with test clips which still remain unapproved.
Thanks to everyone who have taken the time to experiment with improvements of all sort. It is much appreciated and very helpful.
At EOU we don't split hairs. BESSU does and that is a good thing. EOU's purposes and BESSU's differ in this way. BESSU's only mission is preservation of the standard. The standard is what allows KG in Australia to accurately and meaningfully communicate his research results to us in USA and for EOU to compare sharpening results with Grepper in Michigan while using the same measuring stick. EOU has an additional goal though and that is to help sharpeners improve their sharpening capabilities. In order to accomplish this goal sharpeners only need know if a given sharpening procedure made the number go up or down. In the instrumentation world this is referred to as absolute versus relative measurement. Both means are used and both have their place. Accurate communication is important but so is improvement. That's why we don't quibble with customers over 7 or 8 pts. of absolute inaccuracy as long as the error is of a predictable and consistent nature. BESSU does quibble with 7 or 8 points of absolute error. In the end, it makes for a solid partnership.
Within the next year, we will design a new test fixture that addresses the "ease of use" issues that Rick Kr, Grepper and others have identified. We will submit that fixture to BESSU for testing and hope that we catch them on a good day. Obviously, we didn't with test clips which still remain unapproved.
Thanks to everyone who have taken the time to experiment with improvements of all sort. It is much appreciated and very helpful.