Convert Microinch to Link
Convert microinches to links instantly. 1 microinch = 1.262626e-7 link — use the live calculator, the exact formula, a conversion table and worked examples. Also check the Link to Microinch converter for the reverse conversion.
Units explained
Microinch
A microinch is an Imperial unit of length equal to one millionth of an inch (2.54×10⁻⁸ m). It is used almost exclusively in surface-finish specifications for precision machining and optical components.
The microinch is derived from the inch using the SI-style prefix micro- to denote one millionth. Standardised through the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement, which fixed the inch at exactly 25.4 mm.
Microinches express surface roughness (Ra values) in US-based precision manufacturing — typical machined surfaces are 16–125 µin. Optical components and bearing races are often specified to 1–4 µin Ra.
Used in US precision-manufacturing literature throughout the 20th century; value became exact in 1959 when the inch was fixed at 25.4 mm via the International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Link
A link is an Imperial unit of length equal to 7.92 inches (201.168 mm) — exactly 1/100 of a surveyor's chain. It is the smallest unit in the chain-based survey measurement system.
The link was defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620 as part of his 22-yard surveying chain. He divided the chain into 100 links specifically to enable easy decimal arithmetic when computing parcel areas.
Links appear in historical US and UK land survey documents (especially pre-1900). Modern surveyors generally use feet or meters but legacy deed records and government land surveys still cite acreage in chains and links.
Defined by Edmund Gunter in 1620; standardised as 7.92 inches via the chain definition; became exact via the 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement.
Microinch to Link conversion formula
The relationship between microinches and links:
To convert microinches to links, multiply the value in microinches by 1.262626e-7. To reverse, multiply links by 7920000.
How to use this converter
Type a value into the calculator. The result in links updates as you type. Tap a quick value, copy the result with one click, or use the swap arrow to jump straight to the Link to Microinch converter for the reverse direction.
Step-by-step: convert microinches to links
- Write down the value in microinches (µin).
- Multiply that value by the factor 1.262626e-7.
- The product is the equivalent value in links (lk).
- To reverse, multiply the link value by 7920000.
Worked examples
Example 1 — Convert 1 µin to lk:
1 × 1.262626e-7 = 1.262626e-7 lk
Example 2 — Convert 100 µin to lk:
100 × 1.262626e-7 = 1.262626e-5 lk
Real-world example — Bridging nine orders of magnitude
500 million microinches equals a value comfortably in the human-scale links range. Physics problems that span this gap are common when comparing the wavelength of light to the path length of an experiment.
5e+8 µin × 1.262626e-7 = 63.1313131313 lk
Real-world example — From sub-micron to human scale
One billion microinches equals one link — the conversion that drives home the gulf between atomic-scale features and everyday objects in physics curricula.
1e+9 µin × 1.262626e-7 = 126.2626262626 lk
Microinch to Link conversion table
Standard reference values for converting microinches to links:
| Microinch [µin] | Link [lk] |
|---|---|
| 0.01 | 1.262626e-9 |
| 0.1 | 1.262626e-8 |
| 1 | 1.262626e-7 |
| 2 | 2.525253e-7 |
| 3 | 3.787879e-7 |
| 4 | 5.050505e-7 |
| 5 | 6.313131e-7 |
| 10 | 1.262626e-6 |
| 20 | 2.525253e-6 |
| 30 | 3.787879e-6 |
| 40 | 5.050505e-6 |
| 50 | 6.313131e-6 |
| 100 | 1.262626e-5 |
| 500 | 6.313131e-5 |
| 1000 | 0.0001262626 |
Frequently asked questions
How many links is 1 microinch?
How do I convert microinches to links?
How do I convert links back to microinches?
How many links is 100 microinches?
Popular length unit conversions
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Metric / SI (4 units)
Imperial / US Customary (26 units)
Sources & references
Conversion factor (1 µin = 1.262626e-7 lk) verified against the following authoritative sources:
- BIPM — The International System of Units (SI Brochure 9th ed.)
Official BIPM publication defining the seven SI base units (including the meter) and the rules for their use. The global authority on units of measurement.
- NIST — Guide to the SI
US National Institute of Standards and Technology reference covering the SI base and derived units with definitions and usage rules for US technical practice.
- NIST Special Publication 811 — Guide for the Use of the International System of Units
Detailed NIST guide covering exact conversion factors between SI and US customary units along with formatting and rounding conventions.
- NIST — Refinement of values for the yard and pound (Federal Register 1959)
The treaty (signed by US
- International Hydrographic Organization — Resolution on the Nautical Mile
International authority that standardised the nautical mile at exactly 1852 m in 1929 — the value adopted worldwide for sea and air navigation.