Tips for wire rope selection

The right choice of cable with the right fitting can save a company money, while ensuring the most effective and safest design for the application. As a leading provider of wire rope and mechanical cable assemblies, Bergen Cable Technology can help. The company offers helpful tips for wire rope selection on its website.

“When selecting a wire rope to give the best service, there are four requirements which should be given consideration,” the company explains. “A proper choice is made by correctly estimating the relative importance of these requirements and selecting a rope which has the qualities best suited to withstand the effects of continued use.”

According to Bergen Cable Technology, the main considerations are:

• Strength. More specifically, it should have sufficient strength to handle the maximum load that may be applied, with a proper safety factor (the ratio of the strength of the rope to the working load). The strength of a wire rope is determined by its size, grade and construction.
• The ability to withstand repeated bending. And, as wire ropes are subjected to bending around sheaves or drums, it is important to consider the size of these items, as well. It is good practice to use sheaves and drums with diameters 800 times the diameter of the outer wires in the rope for heavily loaded fast-moving ropes.
• The ability to withstand abrasive wear. This ability is determined by the size, the carbon and manganese content, the heat treatment of the outer wires and the construction of the rope. The larger outer wires of the less flexible constructions are better able to withstand abrasion than the finer outer wires of the more flexible ropes. Meanwhile, the higher carbon and manganese content and the heat treatment used in producing wire for the stronger ropes make the higher grade ropes better able to withstand abrasive wear than the lower grade ropes.
• The ability to withstand distortion and crushing.

Additional considerations include assembly length for the cable assemblies, as well as conduit length.

To help ensure the wire rope is suited to withstand the demands of your application, contact Bergen Cable Technology.

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