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Uhh on McMaster I think I need a flow meter with range around 0.3 L/min since I’m designing something new and not replacing, and there are separate check boxes for 0.25-0.5, 0.2-1, 0.1-0.6, … etc. with 3 different units mixed in.

If you know exactly what you need, then yes. But if you’re messing around on home depot needing like a 3 7/8 “ish” screw but-maybe-a-4-will-do the McMaster system would stink.



While true, this is unfortunately not unique, I see the same issue on (eg) Mouser/Digikey/Arrow for electronics parts.

Obviously in some cases it can be replaced by a range slider, but there's also cases where it really can't. In some cases it's the part itself that has the range - like let's say a pump is designed to produce a flow rate of 0.5-5 gal/min, you can't express that with the usual range slider.

I guess what you really need is an "inverse range slider" where instead of saying "I want a connector that carries at least 5 amps but not more than 15" you say "my project needs a flow rate of 2.5 gpm, what parts have that value within their range".

But I mean... compare the McMaster-Carr site to Home Depot, or Target, or whatever, and it's just a breath of fresh air. Like, if inverse-ranges are the biggest thing you can complain about, mission accomplished ;)


I would be surprised (but not totally amazed) if they had fixed it in the hour since your comment was posted but...

I now see separate selectors for maximum flow, minimum flow, and graduations here: https://www.mcmaster.com/flowmeters/


Flow meters need an operations range though. So any of those ranges would work for your application.

But trying to find a screw on Home Depot or Fastenal .. ugh




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