The Parts of a Wire Rope

  The Wire:

The basic element of wire rope is the wire - usually round, but sometimes shaped. Most wire is made to one of three grades - Improved Plow Steel (IPS), Extra Improved Plow Steel (XIP) with 15% greater tensile strength than (IPS) and Extra, Extra Improved Plow Steel (XXIP) which has a 10% greater tensile strength than (XIP). All three grades are made of carbon steel that is tough and resists wear. When the wire has a natural finish, it is called "Bright". Otherwise, it is plated, galvanized, or may have some other surface treatment for special applications.

  The Core:

Wire rope cores are usually one of three types:
1. Fiber rope core - either natural sisal fiber (FC), or man made fiber such as polypropylene (PPC). This core, though not as strong allows for better bending characteristics of the wire rope.
2. Wire rope core (IWRC) & Independent Wire Rope Core)- This is basically an independent wire rope made up of numerous strands.
3. Strand Core (SC) - This core is made up of a single strand with several wires.

  The Strands:

The greatest differences between wire ropes occur in the number and pattern of wires per strand. There are two general types - round strands and preformed strands that have been shaped or formed. Strand design is a precise engineering science. In most ropes today, the strands are "preformed" just before they are laid together to make the rope. Preforming is a mechanical operation by which the individual strands are formed into a continuous helical shape which causes them to rest in the rope. Preforming serves two functions:
1. It maintains the rope's shape when it is cut.
2. It forms the strands in such a way that they will slide and adjust together more smoothly within the rope when the rope is in use. Strands are basic building blocks. A strand consists of a "center" which supports a specified number of wires around it in one or more layers. The strands provide all the tensile strength of a fiber core rope, and 92 1/2% of the strength of a IWRC six strand rope.

  The Lay:

The "lay" of the rope describes the direction strands "lay" in the rope - RIGHT or LEFT. When you look along a rope, strands of a Right Lay rope follow a right-turning pattern. Left Lay is the opposite. It makes no difference which direction you look. Lay also describes the relationship between the direction strands lay in the rope and the direction wires lay in the strands. In a REGULAR Lay rope, wires lay in the opposite direction of the strand. In a LANG Lay rope, wires lay in the same direction as strands and appear to cross the rope axis at an angle. The length along a rope which one strand uses to make one complete spiral around the rope core determines lang or regular lay.

Differences in Regular Lay and Lang Lay ropes result from the manner in which the individual strands are laid into the rope. In Regular Lay, less surface of individual wires is exposed to external abrasion, while Lang Lay spreads wear over a greater length of wire exposed on the exterior of the rope. Regular Lay is more stable and more resistant to crushing than Lang Lay. While Lang Lay is more fatigue resistant and abrasion resistant, its use should be only in accordance with specific recommendations.

Lay Abbreviations:
• RRL = right regular lay
• LRL = left regular lay
• RLL = right lang lay
• LLL = left lang lay
• ALI-1 = alternating lay of strands, 1 lang and 1 regular
• AL2-1 = alternating lay of strands, 2 lang and 1 regular

Models Available:
• SU35B: 5 gallon (35#) portable cart unit.
• SU120: 16gallon (120#) drum unit.
• SU400: 55 gallon (400#) drum unit.