wire rope construction chart for sale

6x36 is a flexible general engineering wire rope readily available in galvanised, ungalvanised and marine grade stainless steel. The wire rope has an equal lay construction (warrington seale) and achieves a superior breaking load to the 6x19 construction range. The construction has been designed to give a flexible rope with a good fatigue life. A 6x36 wire rope is available with either FC (fibre core) or IWRC (independent wire rope core) and is used for a wide range of applications, examples of which are shown below:

We understand that there are many factors that go into choosing the correct sling, wire rope, rigging hardware or lifting device for a lift! Let our sales team help!

Galvanized wire rope is categorized by number of strands in its construction. We supply most of them but we concentrate on the two major categories of galvanized (and ungalvanized or bright) wire rope. These “classes” are referred to as 6x19 and 6x36. Within each category of galvanized wire rope there are different “constructions” illustrated in the tables below.

Wire rope, galvanized and ungalvanized is used for many kinds of projects and applications. No matter the application galvanized wire rope must be used properly to insure the safest working conditions. All of our galvanized wire rope is manufactured to meet or exceed Federal Specification RRW-410 and is mill certified.

All of these general purpose wire ropes are available in full reels, custom cut sizes or as part of a custom made wire rope sling. Contact us today for more information.

Galvanized wire rope also comes in different strength categories (IPS and EIPS) and different cores (FC or fiber core and IWRC or independent wire rope core). Relevant data for each is listed in the table below.

Understanding the basics of wire rope will help guide you on how to choose the right wire rope for your job. Application, required strength, and environmental conditions all play a factor in determining the type of wire rope that is best for you.

But when it comes to buying wire rope, the various numbers and abbreviations that describe the different types of wire rope can be confusing. EIPS wire rope, 6X19 IWRC wire rope, and lang lay wire rope are just some of the many variations available. But what does it all mean?

Displayed as inch or fractional inch measurements, the size indicates the diameter of the rope. Industry standards measure the rope at its widest point. A wide range of sizes are available from 1/8” wire rope to 2-1/2” wire rope. Thicker sized wire rope has a higher break strength. For example, our Wire Rope has a 15,100 lb. break strength while our Wire Rope has a 228,000 lb. break strength.

The numbers indicate its construction. For example: in wire rope, as shown above the first number is the number of strands (6); the second number is how many wires make up one strand (19).

When it comes to wire rope basics, regular lay also refers to right lay or ordinary lay. This indicates that the strands pass from left to right across the rope and the wires in the rope lay in opposite direction to the lay of the strands. This type of construction is the most common and offers the widest range of applications for the rope.

This term indicates that the wires twist in the same direction as the strands. These ropes are generally more flexible and have increased wearing surface per wire than right lay ropes. Because the outside wires lie at an angle to the rope’s axis, internal stress is reduced making it more resistant to fatigue from bending. This type of rope is often used in construction, excavating, and mining applications.

Independent wire rope cores offer more support to the outer strands and have a higher resistance to crushing and heat. Independent wire rope core also has less stretch and more strength.

Many of our customers use our rope and our wire rope clips to create rope assemblies. Check out of video blog on Wire Rope Clips to Wire Rope Assemblies to learn more.

For any questions on our wire rope products, call (877) 923-0349 or email customerservice@uscargocontrol.com to speak with one of our product experts.

Rotation resistant wire rope refers to a series of steel ropes which minimizes the tendency to spin or rotation under load. These wire ropes boast special design - the outer layer is twisted in the reverse direction of inner layers for counteracting torsional forces generated from multi-layers of strands.

To achieve the resistance against the spin and rotation, all wire ropes are composed of at least two layers of strands. In general, more layers a rotation resistant wire rope has, more resistance it will boast. For example, 2-layer ropes is much easier to spin and rotate than 3-layer ones. Meanwhile, if one end of free rotation is allowed, 2-layer rope can only develop 55% to 75% of its breaking strength comparing with 95% to 100% of 3-layer ropes.

The 3-layer rope with more outer strands is capable to distribute more radial pressure onto inner layers and ideal for larger mobile such as all tower cranes.

Wire ropes with 8 to 10 strands & 2-layer constructions without reversely twisted inner strands have very similar appearance to rotation resistant wire ropes, but they are not.

Rotation resistant wire ropes are considered to be less stable needing to be handled and installed with great care. They must be taken to avoid high loads with small diameter sheaves.

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PREFORMING: A manufacturing process wherein the strands and their wires are permanently formed, during fabrication, the helical shape that they will ultimately assume in the finished wire rope. Proper preforming prevents the strand and wire from unlaying during normal use. The vast majority of wire ripe sold today is preformed.

FINISH: Wire rope is either sold as “bright” (or “black”), meaning uncoated, or galvanized for better corrosion resistance. “Drawn Galvanized” wire has the same strength as bright wire, but wire, “galvanized at finished size” is usually 10% lower in strength. Plastic coated wire rope is also available, usually galvanized or stainless steel cable. The most common plastic coverings are vinyl or nylon in either clear or white, although other materials and colors are available. These coating do not add strength to the wire rope itself.

LUBRICATION: During fabrication, wire ropes receive lubrication. The kind and amount depends on the rope’s size, type a use, if known. This in-process treatment will provide the finished wire rope with ample protection for a reasonable time if it is stored under proper conditions. But, when the wire rope is put into service, the initial lubrication will normally be less than needed for the full useful life of the wire rope. Because of this, periodic applications of a suitable wire rope lubricant are necessary.

ORDERING WIRE ROPE: Construction, lay, core, finish and other factors mentioned above impart greatly differing characteristics to different wire ropes. They must be understood and considered when selecting wire rope. There is no perfect wire rope for all applications; usually some less desirable properties are traded off for other, more desirable one. Refer to the Wire Rope Users Manual by the Wire Rope Technical Board for a better understanding of wire rope properties and consult professional help when in doubt.

If a supplier receives an order for 6 x 19 wire rope he may assume this to be a class reference and is, therefore, legally identified in furnishing any construction within this category.

Wire rope is a complex mechanical device that has many moving parts all working in tandem to help support and move an object or load. In the lifting and rigging industries, wire rope is attached to a crane or hoist and fitted with swivels, shackles or hooks to attach to a load and move it in a controlled matter. It can also be used to lift and lower elevators, or as a means of support for suspension bridges or towers.

Wire rope is a preferred lifting device for many reasons. Its unique design consists of multiple steel wires that form individual strands laid in a helical pattern around a core. This structure provides strength, flexibility, and the ability to handle bending stresses. Different configurations of the material, wire, and strand structure will provide different benefits for the specific lifting application, including:Strength

However, selecting the proper wire rope for your lifting application requires some careful thought. Our goal is to help you understand the components of a wire rope, the construction of wire rope, and the different types of wire rope and what they might be used for. This will allow you to select the best performing and longest-lasting wire rope for the job at hand.

A wire rope is, in reality, a very complicated machine. A typical 6 x 25 rope has 150 wires in its outer strands, all of which move independently and together in a very complicated pattern around the core as the rope bends. Clearances between wires and strands are balanced when a rope is designed so that proper bearing clearances will exist to permit internal movement and adjustment of wires and strands when the rope has to bend. These clearances will vary as bending occurs, but are of the same range as the clearances found in automobile engine bearings.

Understanding and accepting the “machine idea” gives a rope user a greater respect for rope, and enables them to obtain better performance and longer useful life from rope applications. Anyone who uses a rope can use it more efficiently and effectively when they fully understand the machine concept.

Wires are the smallest component of wire rope and they make up the individual strands in the rope. Wires can be made from a variety of metal materials including steel, iron, stainless steel, monel, and bronze. The wires can be manufactured in a variety of grades that relate to the strength, resistance to wear, fatigue resistance, corrosion resistance, and curve of the wire rope.

Strands of wire rope consist of two or more wires arranged and twisted in a specific arrangement. The individual strands are then laid in a helical pattern around the core of the rope.

The core of a wire rope runs through the center of the rope and supports the strands and helps to maintain their relative position under loading and bending stresses. Cores can be made from a number of different materials including natural or synthetic fibers and steel.

Lubrication is applied during the manufacturing process and penetrates all the way to the core. Wire rope lubrication has two primary benefits:Reduces friction as the individual wires and strands move over each other

The number of layers of wires, the number of wires per layer, and the size of the wires per layer all affect the strand pattern type. Wire rope can be constructed using one of the following patterns, or can be constructed using two or more of the patterns below.Single Layer – The most common example is a 7 wire strand with a single-wire center and six wires of the same diameter around it.

Filler Wire – Two layers of uniform-size wire around a center with the inner layer having half the number of wires as the outer layer. Small filler wires, equal to the number in the inner layer, are laid in valleys of the inner wire.

Seale – Two layers of wires around a center with the same number of wires in each layer. All wires in each layer are the same diameter. The large outer wires rest in the valleys between the smaller inner wires.

Warrington – Two layers of wires around a center with one diameter of wire in the inner layer, and two diameters of wire alternating large and small in the outer later. The larger outer-layer wires rest in the valleys, and the smaller ones on the crowns of the inner layer.

On a preformed wire rope, the strands and wires are formed during the manufacturing process to the helical shape that they will take in a finished wire rope.

Preformed rope can be advantageous in certain applications where it needs to spool more uniformly on a drum, needs greater flexibility, or requires more fatigue-resistance when bending.

Direction and type of lay refer to the way the wires are laid to form a strand (either right or left) and how the strands are laid around the core (regular lay, lang lay, or alternate lay).Regular Lay – The wires line up with the axis of the rope. The direction of the wire lay in the strand is opposite to the direction of the strand lay. Regular lay ropes are more resistant to crushing forces, are more naturally rotation-resistant, and also spool better in a drum than lang lay ropes.

Lang Lay– The wires form an angle with the axis of the rope. The wire lay and strand lay around the core in the same direction. Lang Lay ropes have a greater fatigue-resistance and are more resistant to abrasion.

A steel core can be an independent wire rope or an individual strand. Steel cores are best suited for applications where a fiber core may not provide adequate support, or in an operating environment where temperatures could exceed 180° F.

The classifications of wire rope provide the total number of strands, as well as a nominal or exact number of wires in each strand. These are general classifications and may or may not reflect the actual construction of the strands. However, all wire ropes of the same size and wire grade in each classification will have the SAME strength and weight ratings and usually the same pricing.

Besides the general classifications of wire rope, there are other types of wire rope that are special construction and designed for special lifting applications.

Some types of wire rope, especially lang lay wire rope, are more susceptible to rotation when under load. Rotation resistant wire rope is designed to resist twisting, spinning, or rotating and can be used in a single line or multi-part system.

Special care must be taken when handling, unreeling, and installing rotation resistant wire rope. Improper handling or spooling can introduce twist into the rope which can cause uncontrolled rotation.

Compacted strand wire rope is manufactured using strands that have been compacted, reducing the outer diameter of the entire strand, by means of passing through a die or rollers. This process occurs prior to closing of the rope.

This process flattens the surface of the outer wires in the strand, but also increases the density of the strand. This results in a smoother outer surface and increases the strength compared to comparable round wire rope (comparing same diameter and classification), while also helping to extend the surface life due to increased wear resistance.

A swaged wire rope differs from a compacted strand wire rope, in that a swaged wire rope’s diameter is compacted, or reduced, by a rotary swager machine after the wire rope has been closed. A swaged wire rope can be manufactured using round or compacted strands.

The advantages of a swaged wire rope are that they are more resistant to wear, have better crushing resistance, and high strength compared to a round strand wire rope of equal diameter and classification. However, a swaged wire rope may have less bending fatigue resistance.

A plastic coating can be applied to the exterior surface of a wire rope to provide protection against abrasion, wear, and other environmental factors that may cause corrosion. However, because you can’t see the individual strands and wires underneath the plastic coating, they can be difficult to inspect.

Plastic filled wire ropes are impregnated with a matrix of plastic where the internal spaces between the strands and wires are filled. Plastic filling helps to improve bending fatigue by reducing the wear internally and externally. Plastic filled wire ropes are used for demanding lifting applications.

This type of wire rope uses an Independent Wire Rope Core (IWRC) that is either filled with plastic or coated in plastic to reduce internal wear and increase bending fatigue life.

Remember, wire rope is a complex piece of mechanical machinery. There are a number of different specifications and properties that can affect the performance and service life of wire rope. Consider the following when specifying the best type of wire rope for your lifting application:Strength

When you select a piece of rope that is resistant to one property, you will most likely have a trade-off that affects another property. For example, a fiber core rope will be more flexible, but may have less crushing resistance. A rope with larger diameter wires will be more abrasion resistant, but will offer less fatigue resistance.

At Mazzella Companies, we offer all different kinds of wire rope from all of the leading manufacturers. We sell the highest-quality domestic and non-domestic rigging products because product quality and operating safety go hand-in-hand. We have one of the largest and most complete inventories of both domestic and non-domestic rigging and lifting products to suit your lifting needs.

If you’re looking for a standard or custom specified wire rope for your lifting project, contact a Lifting Specialist at a Mazzella Companies location near you.

We stock well over 2,000,000 feet of wire rope in our various locations … ready for immediate delivery! We provide wire rope assemblies, and manufacture bridge cables, crane cables, steel mill cables, and thousands of OEM assemblies.

BC Wire Rope & Rigging is a full service provider of wire rope, slings, chain, hoists, and rigging equipment. BC Wire Rope has served the heavy lifting needs of customers throughout Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Tucson and the Western United States since 1974. Specializing in lifting products ranging from fall protection to synthetic slings, BC Wire Rope & Rigging carries products from the industry’s most reputable vendors including Crosby, Slingmax, Campbell, and Bridon American. With ample testing and manufacturing capabilities, BC Wire Rope is also the manufacturer of KWIK synthetic slings.

BC Wire Rope was onsite as the last steel beam was raised by Schuff Steel at the new, future home of the Los Angeles Rams and LA Chargers at SofFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The raising of the last beam is marked by the raising of a ceremonial Christmas Tree, […]

Established nearly 40 years ago in Southern California, BC Wire Rope now manufacturers and distributes wire rope from 5 locations to strategically serve customers across the West Coast. Headquartered in a 35,000 square foot warehouse and manufacturing facility in Anaheim, BC Wire Rope is the premier provider of rigging throughout the greater Orange County and Los Angeles area and also has branches in Tucson, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Elko. These locations allows BC to stock a full inventory of specialty lifting products and enables BC to efficiently meet a wide range of manufacturing needs.

Full in-house testing and wire rope manufacturing capabilities help ensure that BC Wire Rope can meet or exceed its customers’ needs. BC Wire Rope can press wire rope slings and swaged boom pendants, splice slings and soft rope, and can fabricate special end fittings. BC also manufacturers its own line of synthetic slings through its KWIK Products division. KWIK Products include nylon eye & eye endless flat slings, high performance fiber slings, polyester round slings, and choker and basket hardware slings. BC Wire Rope also provides customers with proof testing through use of its 4 test beds that can test slings, blocks, and hardware with up to 1 million pounds of force.

BC Wire Rope & Rigging’s unrelenting focus on customer service and industry leading products is evidenced by its ‘Quality – No Compromise’ motto. BC Wire Rope has been a proud member of the wire rope industry’s trade association—Associated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF)—for over 35 years. The commitment to longstanding industry relationships is also demonstrated by the fact the more than half of BC Wire Rope’s employees have remained with the company for over 18 years.

With years of industry knowledge and a full product inventory, chances are that BC Wire can meet your lifting needs. Contact the specialists at BC Wire Rope today to find out more about what BC Wire Rope can do for you.

Using the rope to its maximum fatigue life will cause the rope to deteriorate from the inside out. Sudden rope failures may be the result. For this reason we do not recommend this construction for tower cranes. There have been fatal and catastrophic accidents involving this rope construction because of undetected inner rope fatigue.

However, mobile and truck mounted cranes are operated on a much less severe duty cycle and it is not expected that 19x7 has to be replaced because of inner rope fatigue but because of other mechanical damages. Keep in mind that this statement covers normal mobile crane use. If you use a mobile crane like a production crane you WILL experience the above mentioned danger situations.