Why are SAE sockets formatted in fractions?

The quick answer is there is no such thing as SAE sockets or measuring system.
There are "SAE" sockets and wrenches. They are based on the English/Imperial measurement system.

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i would say that if a numeric system based on the inch, ( .500 for 1/2" for example) was used, it would be easy for the sizes to get mixed up.

the difference in the systems make then easily distinguishable from each other.

metric based bolts are torque based, mean all 10mm bolts are supposed ro be torqued to X and 14mm and to be torqued to X. At least rhat is how i understand it, explained to me by a pump engineer. No specs need per unit, if it is size Y it get torqued to X value.
 
i would say that if a numeric system based on the inch, ( .500 for 1/2" for example) was used, it would be easy for the sizes to get mixed up.

the difference in the systems make then easily distinguishable from each other.
If someone can't realize that a 1/2 inch socket is bigger than a 1/4 inch socket, then something is really wrong, lol.

metric based bolts are torque based, mean all 10mm bolts are supposed ro be torqued to X and 14mm and to be torqued to X. At least rhat is how i understand it, explained to me by a pump engineer. No specs need per unit, if it is size Y it get torqued to X value.
Torque specs are way more complicated than that, regardless if the fastener is SAE or metric.
 
There are "SAE" sockets and wrenches. They are based on the English/Imperial measurement system.

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A fastener spec is not the system of measurement.
Rather than calling them SAE, calling them english fractional would be much closer to the proper name.
There are also Metric SAE bolts as well. See the link below.
The term SAE for fractional sizes came from the normal automotive bench racers that seem to like inventing certain automotive terminology's. I suppose its the same ones that reinvent some of the automotive nomenclature as well. Including the spelling of the terms.
Like the new term for BRAKES on a vehicle are now, BREAKS.

 
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The term SAE for fractional sizes came from the normal automotive bench racers that seem to like inventing certain automotive terminology's.
If you read the links I posted, it was SAE who came up with the fastener standards (which in turn needed the matching tools), not "bench racers".
 
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Torque specs are way more complicated than that, regardless if the fastener is SAE or metric.
Well, that is how it was explained to me. I understand what you are getting at, but max torque value is commensurate to size of bolt, so it makes sense. This was from an engineer of a German pump company that I know. That is how they relay proper torque values to tech in the field, say in Saudi Arabia.

Would anything ever have a torque spec of 100ft lbs with a 10mm bolt, likely not.

It is difficult to explain, but I do agree that there is more to it.
 
Well, that is how it was explained to me. I understand what you are getting at, but max torque value is commensurate to size of bolt, so it makes sense.
That's just one factor, and yes obviously larger diameter thread fasteners can take more torque in general. But just the material the fastener is made of (ie, fasterner "grade") for the same exact sized fastener can drastically change the torque value. Thread pitch, dry or lubricated threads, application, etc ... some other factors involved. Look up torque specs for fasteners that include the size, grade, thread pitch, dry or lubed threads, and you can see how all those factors effect the torque spec.
 
If you read the links I posted, it was SAE who came up with the fastener standards (which in turn needed the matching tools), not "bench racers".
Yes standards, NOT THE MEASUREMENTS stamped on a wrench. Using the term SAE to describe a size of an opening in a wrench is from the years of bench racers or ones sitting on a bench drinking a beer trying to figure out how to differentiate a metric measured tool from a tool that uses fractions of an inch to describe its opening. Never in the mid 50's was the SAE term used to describe an open box end wrench or sockets size capability.
 
Yes standards, NOT THE MEASUREMENTS stamped on a wrench. Using the term SAE to describe a size of an opening in a wrench is from the years of bench racers or ones sitting on a bench drinking a beer trying to figure out how to differentiate a metric measured tool from a tool that uses fractions of an inch to describe its opening. Never in the mid 50's was the SAE term used to describe an open box end wrench or sockets size capability.
Basically the measurement of the distance across the flats on bolt heads IS stamped on the wrench/socket. What do you think a wrench or socket stamped with "1/2" means? What do you think a wrench or socket with "12 mm" stamped on it means?

There were fractional fasteners way before there were "bench racers" trying to figure out what size a fastener was or what tool to use on them. SAE had a major role in standardizing fasteners for the automotive industry. Ever since there were fasteners produced in fractional inch dimensions, there were also tools to match those fasteners.

Note in the article linked below that SAE was used over 100 years ago. It was even sometimes stamped right on wrenches. "Bench racers" did not invent the term SAE wrench or SAE socket. SAE did, and "bench racers" simply used the terminology.

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It applies here, same passed on nonlogic. What really hurts is when so called professional writers or outfits use the incorrect nomenclature.
To go back to your given examples, "SAE" is a common term to refer to fractional hardware and tools.

Nobody is selling "break pads" by that spelling. It's not an accepted term, no matter how many dopes have used the wrong word.
 
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