steel wire rope end terminations made in china

The rope end must be fastened to the mechanism so that force and motion are transferred efficiently. End terminations thus become items of great importance for transferring these forces. Each basic type of termination has its own individual characteristic. Hence, one type will usually fit the needs of a given installation better than the others.

It should be noted that not all end terminations will develop the full strength of the wire rope used. To lessen the possibility of error, the wire rope industry has determined terminal efficiencies for various types of end terminations. Holding power calculations can be made for the more popular end terminations based on efficiency factors in Table 5.

End fittings or terminations are available in many designs, some of which were developed for particular applications. The six shown are among the most commonly used.based on efficiency factors in Table 5.

We use Talurit press dies and ferrules for complete compatibility. The ferrules are totally traceable and validated to EN13411-3 standards. This consistency in process and parts ensures that our products achieve the designed wire strength efficiencies and enjoy full coverage under Talurit’s Product Liability Insurance.

Our standard steel thimbles are manufactured according to BS 464, FF-T-276b Type III (G414) or JIS B2802 (Type A) specifications. Our solid thimbles are built to JIS B2802, JIS F3403 or DIN 3091 standard.

For crane wire ropes many different types of sockets are used: open and closed spelter sockets, open and closed swage sockets, wedge sockets and Nemag rope pear sockets.

A wedge socket termination reduces the wire rope efficiency to 80%, but the wedge socket remains a popular choice because it is easy to install and can be attached after the wire rope is reeved.

The Nemag rope pear socket when paired with the Nemag quick release link forms an unbreakable connection between two ropes. Together, they enable quick and straightforward coupling and uncoupling of grabs on cranes. Made from high grade austenitic manganese steel, these Nemag fittings generally outlast the wire rope.

Our Spelter sockets and Nemag rope pear sockets are poured with Wirelock, the original cold socketing resin and the first socketing system to meet the performance criteria of DNV for offshore wire mooring rope, currently the DNV-OS-E304 standards. Wirelock produces a void free socket for 100% efficiency and safety, and is unparallel in dependability and fatigue performance.

Our sockets are made of high quality cast steel supplied in hot dipped galvanised finish and comply with EN10204 3.1/3.2, JIS F3432 or RR-S-550D, Type B standard.

Whether you are looking for an item to add class to celebrations with loved ones, or for the business owner to get client’s attention, our wholesale wire rope end terminations features an assortment of decanters that will do just that. It includes a wide range of crystal wine decanters, scotch decanters, and crystal whiskey decanters.

wire rope end terminations is a versatile item; it can be used for any type of beverage. It comes in different sizes and designs to fit your customer’s tastes and fits any narrative that they want to create. Personalized decanter sets also come with many different caps. Some people prefer simplicity, then a minimal round cap fulfills the task. However, if they want something that stands out, just imagine having a majestic reindeer’s mighty horns as a decanter cap. Whatever the impression they want to convey, wire rope end terminations can help them get there.

These items are versatile, whether drink lovers prefer scotch or liquors, our decanters will meet their needs. Liquor decanters are specially crafted to optimize the experience of drinking liquor, while the whiskey decanter set is a good fit for barley lovers. The delicate combination of clear crystal and shine of amber-colored whiskey is a delight to behold. The enjoyment of wines and spirits just feels incomplete without a proper decanter.

All efficiency ratings are based on the difference between the actual breaking strength of a rope and the attained breaking strength with that specific fittings. The only fitting which will attain a 100% efficiency are spelter sockets; provided they are properly attached.

ALL other fittings are swaged or clamped onto the rope. The swaging or clamping process compresses the rope to varying degrees causing a slight loss of strength. Some publications refer to ‘100%’ efficiency with swaged sockets. Bear in mind, that most wire ropes have an actual breaking strength up to approximately 5%-15% HIGHER than the breaking strength listed in catalogue tables. In other words: a fitting having an efficiency rating of 90% may very well develop 100% of the rope’s CATALOGUE breaking strength because the rope’s ACTUAL breaking may very well be 5%–15% higher.

Wire rope is made of plaiting strands of wire – normally medium carbon steel –into a thick cable. The strands are formed around a core. The strands in wire ropes are made of wore twisted together. Strands with smaller diameter wires are less abrasion resistant and more fatigue resistant. Strands made with thicker length of wore are more abrasion resistant and less fatigue resistant.

Left-hand ordinary lay (LHOL) wire rope (close-up). Right-hand lay strands are laid into a left-hand lay rope. Right-hand Lang"s lay (RHLL) wire rope (close-up). Right-hand lay strands are laid into a right-hand lay rope.

Left hand lay or right hand lay describe the manner in which the strands are laid to form the rope. To determine the lay of strands in the rope, a viewer looks at the rope as it points away from them. If the strands appear to turn in a clockwise direction, or like a right-hand thread, as the strands progress away from the viewer, the rope has a right hand lay. The picture of steel wire rope on this page shows a rope with right hand lay. If the strands appear to turn in an anti-clockwise direction, or like a left-hand thread, as the strands progress away from the viewer, the rope has a left hand lay.

Ordinary and Lang"s lay describe the manner in which the wires are laid to form a strand of the wire rope. To determine which has been used first identify if left or right hand lay has been used to make the rope. Then identify if a right or left hand lay has been used to twist the wires in each strand. Ordinary lay The lay of wires in each strand is in the opposite direction to the lay of the strands that form the wire.

Alternate lay The lay of wires in the strands alternate around the rope between being in the opposite and same direction to the lay of the strands that form the wire rope.

The specification of a wire rope type – including the number of wires per strand, the number of strands, and the lay of the rope – is documented using a commonly accepted coding system, consisting of a number of abbreviations.

This is easily demonstrated with a simple example. The rope shown in the figure "Wire rope construction" is designated thus: 6x19 FC RH OL FSWR 6 Number of strands that make up the rope

Each of the sections of the wire rope designation described above is variable. There are therefore a large number of combinations of wire rope that can be specified in this manner. The following abbreviations are commonly used to specify a wire rope. Abbr. Description

The end of a wire rope tends to fray readily, and cannot be easily connected to plant and equipment. A number of different mechanisms exist to secure the ends of wire ropes to make them more useful. The most common and useful type of end fitting for a wire rope is when the end is turned back to form a loop. The loose end is then fixed by any number of methods back to the wire rope.

When the wire rope is terminated with a loop, there is a risk that the wire rope can bend too tightly, especially when the loop is connected to a device that spreads the load over a relatively small area. A thimble can be installed inside the loop to preserve the natural shape of the loop, and protect the cable from pinching and abrasion on the inside of the loop. The use of thimbles in loops is industry best practice. The thimble prevents the load from coming into direct contact with the wires.

A wire rope clamp, also called a clip, is used to fix the loose end of the loop back to the wire rope. It usually consists of a u-shaped bolt, a forged saddle and two nuts. The two layers of wire rope are placed in the u-bolt. The saddle is then fitted over the ropes on to the bolt (the saddle includes two holes to fit to the u-bolt). The nuts secure the arrangement in place. Three or more clamps are usually used to terminate a wire rope.

Swaging is a method of wire rope termination that refers to the installation technique. The purpose of swaging wire rope fittings is to connect two wire rope ends together, or to otherwise terminate one end of wire rope to something else. A mechanical or hydraulic swager is used to compress and deform the fitting, creating a permanent connection. There are many types of swaged fittings. Threaded Studs, Ferrules, Sockets, and Sleeves a few examples.

A socket termination is useful when the fitting needs to be replaced frequently. For example, if the end of a wire rope is in a high-wear region, the rope may be periodically trimmed, requiring the termination hardware to be removed and reapplied. An example of this is on the ends of the drag ropes on a dragline. The end loop of the wire rope enters a tapered opening in the socket, wrapped around a separate component called the wedge. The arrangement is knocked in place, and load gradually eased onto the rope. As the load increases on the wire rope, the wedge become more secure, gripping the rope tighter.

Eye Splice The ends of individual strands of this eye splice used aboard a cargo ship are seized with natural fiber cord after the splicing is complete. This helps protect seaman"s hands when handling.

Rotation rope and non-rotation rope or rotation resistant rope. Round strand rope, compacted rope, swaged rope. Wire rope with fiber core, wire rope with IWRC(Independent Wire Rope Core). Galvanized wire rope, ungalvanized wire rope or bright wire rope. Wire rope with plastic insert, Wire rope without plastic insert. Wire rope covered with plastic.

Wire rope clips are widely used for making end terminations. Clips are available in two basic designs; the U-Bolt and fist grip. The efficiency of both types is the same.

When using U-Bolt clips, extreme care must be exercised to make certain that they are attached correctly; Incorrect installation can reduce the working load limit by 40%. Below are general guidelines for installing wire rope clips.

The saddle shall be placed on the live end of the wire rope, with the U-bolt on the dead-end side—Remember the well-known saying: “Never saddle a dead horse.” Use at least two or three wire rope clips to secure the ends properly to the length of the rope, and tighten nuts evenly one by one until reaching the recommended torque.

Step 1. Turn back a specified amount of rope from the thimble or loop. The first clip must be placed one bridge width from the turned back rope tailor dead end of the rope, Apply U-Bolt over dead end of wire rope – live end rests in the saddle (Never saddle a dead horse!) Tighten nuts evenly, alternate from one nut to the other until reaching the recommended torque.

Step 3. When three or more clips are required, space additional clips equally between the first two – take up rope slack – tighten nuts on each U-Bolt evenly, alternating from one nut to the other until reaching recommended torque.

Step 4. Apply the first load to test the assembly. This load should be of equal or greater – weight than loads expected in use. Next, check and retighten nuts to recommended torque.

In accordance with good rigging and maintenance practices, the wire rope end termination should be inspected periodically for wear, abuse, and general adequacy. Periodically re-tightening of the nuts must be done at 10.000 cycles (heavy usage), 20.000 e.g. every 3 months, 6 months, annually.

Malleable clips are to be used for making eye termination assemblies only with the right regular lay wire rope and only for light-duty uses with small applied loads, such as handrails, fencing, guard rails, etc.

If you have any wire rope clips questions, you can contact us by email at info@hilifting.com. We will be glad to share with you more useful information.

Hilifting is the leading stainless steel wire ropes supplier in china, our ss wire ropes are ompliment with other stainless steel wire rope end fittings in applications for cable railing, architectural cables, cable balustrading, cable display systems, and cable trellis.

AN thimbles come in either cold-rolled steel (zinc plated) or stainless steel (natural finish). Fit cable diameters from 1/16” to 3/8” to meet the most demanding marine, aircraft or industrial requirements. AN Thimbles meet all Military Specifications.

Often generically referred to as Crosby clips and occasionally as bulldogs we offer both forged and malleable wire rope clips. Forged clips are required for use in overhead lifting. The malleable clips are recommended for non critical light duty applications such as guard rails, guy wires etc. The efficiency rating on the proper number of properly applied wire rope clips is 80% of the strength of the wire rope. We offer both offshore and Genuine Crosbie Wire Rope Clips. Fist Grips have a couple of advantages over Wire Rope clips in that they are impossible to apply incorrectly and they damage the rope less in situations where the clip will be removed.

Wire rope clips must be re tightened after applying load. In accordance with good rigging practice wire rope and its terminations should be regularly inspected.

Different Brand or trademark names for similar but very different products. When looking at a lifting sling from an aluminum tube’s point of view, it prefers supple, soft and nonabrasive slings. A round sling is the prefect choice rather than a steel sling. Round slings are made of many strands of polyester covered with a protective polyester sheath.

Unfortunately, polyester melts at approx. 250°C (~480°F). Research has shown that a 2k luminair-housing can reach temperatures of about 190°C (~370°F), with the truss-chord straight over it being almost 140°C (~280°F). Accidents have been reported of round slings being melted by spots, pyro or the heat of the rays, and as a result, trusses have fallen. When round slings are used, a safety backup must be applied such as a wire rope or chain sling.

So rather than have a backup steel sling why not make the sling out of steel but softer than a single cable. A steel round sling has a normal outside webbing for soft slings, but instead of the polyamide core, the steel round sling has a core made of many small steel cables, which makes it resistant to high temperatures. The steel wires within the steel round are as flexible as a normal soft sling, but have a much better fire resistance. The steel round can be used in circumstances where the normal soft slings are not allowed.

The outside webbing is black, including an identification label and a hidden inspection window to inspect the steel wires within the sling. The wire-rope core has better heat resistance than the truss itself.

Down Stage Right can supply most of your rope and cordage requirements from twill tape and black cotton tie line to large diameter manila and polyester ropes and braids. To make life very very confusing the synthetic fibre ropes are all available in either a 3 strand, solid braid, double braid or parallel core configuration in nylon, polyester or more exotic materials. Polyester ropes are available in a spun or non spun finish. Due to the huge number of different sizes, colours, materials and braid types combinations (and to simplify things) Down Stage Right Industries stocks several favourites that we have found the theatrical industry usually purchases. If you need a particular rope we are happy to bring in the particular configuration and colour that you want. Please call for details or recommendations for a particular product.

The primary advantage of sash cords are their handling characteristics and their knot holding ability. It does not have the strength or durability of double braids. Available in white as a cotton polyester blend or in black as spun polyester. Sash braid is generally a coarser cousin of solid braid.

Often mislabeled as hemp, manila is significantly stronger and is used in for hand lines in counterweight rigging and as general purpose spot line rope. We only carry #1 grade sea worthy manila. Manila has generally been replaced by synthetics in our industry

Working loads are guidelines only. Once put into service rope is continually deteriorating. Manila rope will deteriorate in storage even under ideal conditions.

Solid braid ropes are sometimes referred to as “sash cord” because this pattern was used to raise sash windows. It is formed by braiding 8 to 18 strands in a reasonably complicated pattern with all the strands rotating in the same direction on the braider. The individual stitches are oriented in the same direction as the rope. The center may contain a filler core. These ropes maintain their round shape well and therefore work exceptionally well in pulleys and sheaves. They tend to have high elongation and are generally less strong than other forms of construction, and are difficult to splice.

"Double braid" ropes, also referred to as "Marine Ropes" or "Yacht Braid" or “2 in 1” are perhaps the most well known braided rope on the market today. They are constructed of a hollow braided rope, which acts as a core inside another braided rope. The combination of the 2 ropes in 1 results in a rope with higher tensile strength than commonly found in twisted ropes. The inner rope and outer rope are generally designed to share the load fairly evenly. Double braid ropes have a torque free construction, and are easily spliced. However, caution must be exercised where double braid ropes are run over pulleys, through hardware or in any situation where the outer rope may slide along on the inner rope and bunch up. This condition, often called "milking", will cause dramatic loss of strength by causing the entire load to go onto the inner rope, because the sheath is bunched up and therefore not under the same tension as the inner rope. Polyester double braid ropes big advantage is that they do not have the same stretch as nylon. They can also be made with a soft “spun” covering giving a better hand feel. The elasticity of nylon ropes can absorb sudden shock loads that would break other ropes.

Manufactured by New England Ropes Stage Set X is a superior replacement for manila with a longer life, much higher strength and no slivers. This rope was specially developed as a replacement for manila hand lines in counterweight rigging and we find it to be Cadillac of the synthetic hand line ropes. Multiline II is a three stranded rope with the same ideals in mind. It is more economically priced and has slightly different handling characteristics.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: New England Ropes" Stage-Set X is the softest, strongest and most environmentally stable product available in the theatre industry for counterweight systems. It"s parallel core of polyester fibre contained within a helically wrapped polyester tape and covered by a braided polyester jacket, remains firm and round under all load conditions and resists crushing in rope locks.

Compliance to the above specifications is based upon testing according to the Cordage Institute Standard Testing Methods for Fiber Rope and/or ASTM D-4268 Standard Methods of Testing Fiber Ropes.

Tensile strengths - Are approximate average for new, unused ropes. To estimate the minimum tensile strength of a new rope, reduce the approximate average by 15% (Cordage Institute defines minimum tensile strength as two standard deviations below the average tensile strength of the rope).

Good resistance to the passage of electrical current. However in rope form, dirt, surface contaminants, water entrapment and the like can significantly affect dielectric properties. Extreme caution should be exercise any time a rope is in the proximity of live circuits.

No blanket working load recommendation can be made because it depends on the application and conditions of use, especially potential danger to personnel. It is recommended that the user establish working loads and safety factors based on professional and experienced assessments of risks. The working load is a guideline for the use of a rope in good condition for non-critical applications and should be reduced where life, limb, or valuable property is involved, or exceptional service such as shock, sustained loading, severe vibration, etc.

The Cordage Institute specifies that the Safe Working Load of a rope shall be determined by dividing the Minimum Tensile Strength by the Safety Factor. Safety factors range from 5 to 12 for non-critical uses, 15 for life lines.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: Multiline II is a 3-strand composite rope, its unique construction combines filament and staple/spun polyester wrapped around a polyolefin core (smaller than 1/2" diameter does not have polyolefin core). Multiline II feels and handles like manila, yet provides greater durability, higher strength, lighter weight, and a consistent supple feel over time.

Compliance to the above specifications is based upon testing according to the Cordage Institute Standard Testing Methods for Fiber Rope and/or ASTM D-4268 Standard Methods of Testing Fiber Ropes.

Tensile strengths - Are approximate average for new, unused ropes. To estimate the minimum tensile strength of a new rope, reduce the approximate average by 15% (Cordage Institute defines minimum tensile strength as two standard deviations below the average tensile strength of the rope).

Good resistance to the passage of electrical current. However in rope form, dirt, surface contaminants, water entrapment and the like can significantly affect dielectric properties. Extreme caution should be exercise any time a rope is in the proximity of live circuits.

No blanket working load recommendation can be made because it depends on the application and conditions of use, especially potential danger to personnel. It is recommended that the user establish working loads and safety factors based on professional and experienced assessments of risks. The working load is a guideline for the use of a rope in good condition for non-critical applications and should be reduced where life, limb, or valuable property is involved, or exceptional service such as shock, sustained loading, severe vibration, etc.

The Cordage Institute specifies that the Safe Working Load of a rope shall be determined by dividing the Minimum Tensile Strength by the Safety Factor. Safety factors range from 5 to 12 for non-critical uses, 15 for life lines.

These are rated blocks grooved with steel sheaves fitted with Bronze bearings grooved for cable from 1/8” to 3/8” and sheave sizes from 1 ½” to 5” in diameter. Most blocks are available with single or double sheaves. Sheaves without housings are also available if you want to build your own creations.

Rope diameter is specified by the user and is generally given in the equipment manufacturer’s instruction manual accompanying the machine on which the rope is to be used.

Rope diameters are determined by measuring the circle that just touches the extreme outer limits of the strands— that is, the greatest dimension that can be measured with a pair of parallel-jawed calipers or machinist’s caliper square. A mistake could be made by measuring the smaller dimension.

The right way to unreel.To unreel wire rope from a heavy reel, place a shaft through the center and jack up the reel far enough to clear the floor and revolve easily. One person holds the end of the rope and walks a straight line away from the reel, taking the wire rope off the top of the reel. A second person regulates the speed of the turning reel by holding a wood block against the flange as a brake, taking care to keep slack from developing on the reel, as this can easily cause a kink in the rope. Lightweight reels can be properly unreeled using a vertical shaft; the same care should be taken to keep the rope taut.

The wrong way to unreel.If a reel of wire rope is laid on its flange with its axis vertical to the floor and the rope unreeled by throwing off the turns, spirals will occur and kinks are likely to form in the rope. Wire rope always should be handled in a way that neither twists nor unlays it. If handled in a careless manner, reverse bends and kinks can easily occur.

The right way to uncoil.There is only one correct way to uncoil wire rope. One person must hold the end of the rope while a second person rolls the coil along the floor, backing away. The rope is allowed to uncoil naturally with the lay, without spiraling or twisting. Always uncoil wire rope as shown.

The wrong way to uncoil.If a coil of wire rope is laid flat on the floor and uncoiled by pulling it straight off, spirals will occur and kinking is likely. Torsions are put into the rope by every loop that is pulled off, and the rope becomes twisted and unmanageable. Also, wire rope cannot be uncoiled like hemp rope. Pulling one end through the middle of the coil will only result in kinking.

Great stress has been placed on the care that should be taken to avoid kinks in wire rope. Kinks are places where the rope has been unintentionally bent to a permanent set. This happens where loops are pulled through by tension on the rope until the diameter of the loop is only a few inches. They also are caused by bending a rope around a sheave having too severe a radius. Wires in the strands at the kink are permanently damagedand will not give normal service, even after apparent “re-straightening.”

When wire rope is wound onto a sheave or drum, it should bend in the manner in which it was originally wound. This will avoid causing a reverse bend in the rope. Always wind wire rope from the top of the one reel onto the top of the other.Also acceptable, but less so, is re-reeling from the bottom of one reel to the bottom of another. Re-reeling also may be done with reels having their shafts vertical, but extreme care must be taken to ensure that the rope always remains taut. It should never be allowed to drop below the lower flange of the reel. A reel resting on the floor with its axis horizontal may also be rolled along the floor to unreel the rope.

Wire rope should be attached at the correct location on a flat or smooth-faced drum, so that the rope will spool evenly, with the turns lying snugly against each other in even layers. If wire rope is wound on a smooth-face drum in the wrong direction, the turns in the first layer of rope will tend to spread apart on the drum. This results in the second layer of rope wedging between the open coils, crushing and flattening the rope as successive layers are spooled.

A simple method of determining how a wire rope should be started on a drum. The observer stands behind the drum, with the rope coming towards him. Using the right hand for right-lay wire rope, and the left hand for left lay wire rope, the clenched fist denotes the drum, the extended index finger the oncoming rope.

Clips are usually spaced about six wire rope diameters apart to give adequate holding power. They should be tightened before the rope is placed under tension. After the load is placed on the rope, tighten the clips again to take care of any lessening in rope diameter caused by tension of the load. A wire rope thimble should be used in the eye of the loop to prevent kinking.

U-bolt Clips.There is only one correct method for attaching U-bolt clips to wire rope ends, as shown in TheRightWayimage below. The base of the clip bears on the live end of the rope; the “U” of the bolt bears on the dead end.

Compare this with the incorrect methods. Five of the six clips shown are incorrectly attached—only the center clip in the top view is correct. When the “U” of the clip bears on the live end of the rope, there is a possibility of the rope being cut or kinked, with subsequent failure.

Proper seizing and cutting operations are not difficult to perform, and they ensure that the wire rope will meet the user’s performance expectations. Proper seizings must be applied on both sides of the place where the cut is to be made. In a wire rope, carelessly or inadequately seized ends may become distorted and flattened, and the strands may loosen. Subsequently, when the rope is operated, there may be an uneven distribution of loads to the strands; a condition that will significantly shorten the life of the rope.

Either of the following seizing methods is acceptable. Method No. 1 is usually used on wire ropes over one inch in diameter. Method No. 2 applies to ropes one inch and under.

Method No. 1: Place one end of the seizing wire in the valley between two strands. Then turn its long end at right angles to the rope and closely and tightly wind the wire back over itself and the rope until the proper length of seizing has been applied. Twist the two ends of the wire together, and by alternately pulling and twisting, draw the seizing tight.

The Seizing Wire. The seizing wire should be soft or annealed wire or strand. Seizing wire diameter and the length of the seize will depend on the diameter of the wire rope. The length of the seizing should never be less than the diameter of the rope being seized.

Proper end seizing while cutting and installing, particularly on rotation-resistant ropes, is critical. Failure to adhere to simple precautionary measures may cause core slippage and loose strands, resulting in serious rope damage. Refer to the table below ("Suggested Seizing Wire Diameters") for established guidelines. If core protrusion occurs beyond the outer strands, or core retraction within the outer strands, cut the rope flush to allow for proper seizing of both the core and outer strands.

The majority of wire rope problems occurring during operation actually begin during installation, when the rope is at its greatest risk of being damaged. Proper installation procedures are vital in the protection and performance of wire rope products.

Until the rope is installed it should be stored on a rack, pallet or reel stand in a dry, well-ventilated storage shed or building. Tightly sealed and unheated structures should be avoided as condensation between rope strands may occur and cause corrosion problems. If site conditions demand outside storage, cover the rope with waterproof material and place the reel or coil on a support platform to keep it from coming directly in contact with the ground.

While lubrication is applied during the manufacturing process, the wire rope must still be protected by additional lubrication once it is installed. Lubricants will dry out over a period of time and corrosion from the elements will occur unless measures are taken to prevent this from happening. When the machine becomes idle for a period of time, apply a protective coating of lubricant to the wire rope. Moisture (dew, rain, and snow) trapped between strands and wires will create corrosion if the rope is unprotected. Also apply lubricant to each layer of wire rope on a drum because moisture trapped between layers will increase the likelihood of corrosion.

Always use the nominal diameter as specified by the equipment manufacturer. Using a smaller diameter rope will cause increased stresses on the rope and the probability of a critical failure is increased if the rated breaking strength does not match that of the specified diameter. Using a larger diameter rope leads to shorter service life as the rope is pinched in the sheave and drum grooves which were originally designed for a smaller diameter rope. Just as using a different diameter rope can create performance problems, so can the use of an excessively undersized or oversized rope.

Measure the wire rope using a parallel-jawed caliper as discussed in Measuring Rope Diameter at the top of this page. If the rope is the wrong size or outside the recommended tolerance, return the rope to the wire rope supplier. It is never recommended nor permitted by federal standards to operate cranes with the incorrect rope diameter. Doing so will affect the safety factor or reduce service life and damage the sheaves and drum. Note that in a grooved drum application, the pitch of the groove may be designed for the rope’s nominal diameter and not the actual diameter as permitted by federal standards.

Wire rope can be permanently damaged by improper unreeling or uncoiling practices. The majority of wire rope performance problems start here.Improper unreeling practices lead to premature rope replacement, hoisting problems and rope failure.

Place the payout reel as far away from the boom tip as is practical, moving away from the crane chassis. Never place the payout reel closer to the crane chassis than the boom point sheave. Doing so may introduce a reverse bend into the rope and cause spooling problems. Follow the guidelines highlighted under Unreeling and Uncoiling and Drum Winding. Take care to determine whether the wire rope will wind over or under the drum before proceeding. If the wire rope supplier secured the end of the rope to the reel by driving a nail through the strands, ask that in the future a U-bolt or other nondestructive tie-down method be used; nails used in this manner damage the rope.

Take extra precaution when installing lang lay, rotation-resistant, flattened strand or compacted ropes. Loss of twist must be avoided to prevent the strands from becoming loosened, causing looped wire problems.

The end of the rope must be securely and evenly attached to the drum anchorage point by the method recommended by the equipment manufacturer. Depending on the crane’s regulatory requirements, at least two to three wraps must remain on the drum as dead wraps when the rope is unwound during normal operations. Locate the dead end rope anchorage point on the drum in relation to the direction of the lay of the rope. Do not use an anchorage point that does not correspond with the rope lay. Mismatching rope lay and anchorage point will cause the wraps to spread apart from each other and allow the rope to cross over on the drum. Very gappy winding will occur resulting in crushing damage in multilayer applications.

Back tension must be continually applied to the payout reel and the crewman installing the rope must proceed at a slow and steady pace whether the drum is smooth or grooved.Regardless of the benefits of a grooved drum, tension must be applied to ensure proper spooling. An improperly installed rope on a grooved drum will wear just as quickly as an improperly installed rope on a smooth drum. If a wire rope is poorly wound and as a result jumps the grooves, it will be crushed and cut under operating load conditions where it crosses the grooves.

Every wrap on the first or foundation layer must be installed very tightly and be without gaps. Careless winding results in poor spooling and will eventually lead to short service life. The following layers of rope must lay in the grooves formed between adjacent turns of the preceding layer of rope. If any type of overwind or cross-winding occurs at this stage of installation and is not corrected immediately, poor spooling and crushing damage will occur.

On a multilayer spooling drum be sure that the last layer remains at least two rope diameters below the drum flange top. Do not use a longer length than is required because the excess wire rope will cause unnecessary crushing and may jump the flange. Loose wraps that occur at any time must be corrected immediately to prevent catastrophic rope failure.

The use of a mallet is acceptable to ensure tight wraps, however a steel-faced mallet should be covered with plastic or rubber to prevent damage to the rope wires and strands.

Rotation-resistant ropes of all constructions require extra care in handling to prevent rope damage during installation. The lay length of a rotation-resistant rope must not be disturbed during the various stages of installation. By introducing twist or torque into the rope, core slippage may occur—the outer strands become shorter in length, the core slips and protrudes from the rope. In this condition the outer strands become over- loaded because the core is no longer taking its designed share of the load. Conversely, when torque is removed from a rotation-resistant rope core slippage can also occur. The outer strands become longer and the inner layers or core become overloaded, reducing service life and causing rope failure.

The plain end of a wire rope must be properly secured. If the entire cross section of the rope is not firmly secured, core slippage may occur, causing the core to pull inside the rope’s end and allowing it to protrude elsewhere, either through the outer strands (popped core) or out the other end of the line. The outer layer of the outside strands may also become overloaded as there is no complete core-to-strand support.

Secure the ends of the rope with either seizing or welding methods as recommended under Seizing Wire Rope. It is imperative that the ends be held together tightly and uniformly throughout the entire installation procedure, including attaching the end through the wedge socket and the drum dead end wedge

When installing a new line, connect the old line to the new line by using a swivel-equipped cable snake or Chinese finger securely attached to the rope ends. The connection between the ropes during change-out must be very strong and prevent torque from the old rope being transferred into the new rope.Welding ropes together or using a cable snake without the benefit of a swivel increases the likelihood of introducing torque into the new rope. A swivel-equipped cable snake is not as easy as welding the ropes, but this procedure can be mastered with a little patience and practice.

A Chinese finger provides a quick and fast means of (temporary) terminating different kinds of steel wire rope. The grips can be used for reeving and pulling of steel wire rope onto blocks or cranes. They are made from woven mesh galvanized steel wires leading to a very flexible and easy to handle termination