All objects—from toothbrushes to umbrellas to the components of a space shuttle—experience forces throughout their lifecycles. In performing everyday actions like tying a shoelace or ripping open a package, we all exert forces without even realizing it.

An object hanging from a string, moving back and forth, is more than something used to entertain cats or hypnotize patients in old horror movies. It’s called a pendulum. 

The need for long-range height measurements has been around since the principles of lay out work became a fundamental requirement in machine shops. 

I often take shots at those companies with great quality systems that get their calibration reports, scan them for red flags and then file them away if none are present. 

There’s an old saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Throughout the years, that expression has been adapted to fit different situations, including a “team is only as strong as its weakest player” or “your brand is only as strong as your weakest link.”