Did you know wire ropes were used as far back as the s for mining hoist applications? Nowadays, we can use steel ropes for many different applications such as lifting and hoisting in elevators and cranes, and for mechanical power transmission. US Cargo Control's wire rope slings are an excellent choice for heavy-duty jobs as their fabrication offers excellent abrasion resistance and heat resistance for extreme conditions.
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Although these slings are beneficial for the lifting and rigging industry, there are a few specifications to know before purchasing them. Continue reading what is wire rope, what are important specifications to look for, and how it's different from cable rope.
These slings carry different properties that can determine their performance. Wire rope is constructed where a strand consists 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. Once the wires are formed, they all come together to create greater strength and flexibility.
These slings work well for lifting, hoisting, towing, or anchoring loads. They're manufactured in a variety of configurations, with 6x19 and 6x36 being the most common. When you see 6x19 or 6x36 from our website, these numbers represent the number of wires making up the strand and the number of strands wrapped around the core.
For example, a 6x19 indicates that there are 19 wires making up a strand, and 6 strands wrapping around the core. To learn more about our 6x19 wire ropes, look into our bestselling 1/2" Galvanized Wire Rope EIPS IWRC, 1/2" Stainless Steel Wire Rope IWRC T304, and 1/2" Bright Wire Rope EIPS FC.
The configurations will offer different benefits for certain applications. In general, a smaller number of large outer wires offers better wear and corrosion resistance, while a larger number of small wires provides a better level of flexibility and fatigue resistance. Continue reading to learn which wire rope fits your job.
Before immediately purchasing a wire sling, there are 8 properties that you should know about:
There are different versions of wire rope slings, ranging from single leg to 4 legs, as well as braided wire rope and domestic wire rope slings (manufactured in the U.S. with Crosby® hardware). When looking at the types of slings we offer at US Cargo Control, be sure to consider how much versatility and capability you need.
For example, a braided wire rope has increased flexibility and friction to grip loads over a regular wire rope. Adding an additional leg to the sling can add additional versatility and strength.
This is the total number of feet that are cut to size when wrapped around.
This is the measurement of the rope's diameter and can be displayed in inches or millimeters. The industry standard is to measure the rope at its widest point.
These sizes commonly display different strand patterns where the number of layers, wires per layer, and size of the wires per layer all affect the strand pattern. Wire rope can be constructed using one of the following patterns below or using two or more patterns.
The type of lay refers to the way the wires are laid to form a strand. They're how the strands are laid around the core which can be regular lay, long lay, or alternate lay.
The wires line up with the axis of the rope. This is where the wires are twisting in one direction, and the strands in the opposite direction create the rope. Regular lay is less likely to untwist and less likely to crush.
This is the opposite of regular lay where the wires form an angle with the axis of the rope. The wires and strands spiral in the same direction and run at a diagonal to the centerline of the rope. Lang lay is more flexible and resistant to abrasion than regular lay wire ropes. The only con is this type of lay will be more likely to twist and crush than the regular lay.
Sometimes known as reverse lay, this type of lay consists of alternating regular lay and long lay strands. This unites the best features of both types, and it's using relatively large outer wires to provide an increase of abrasion resistance.
This refers to the protective coating that's applied to the wire rope. There are three types of finishes which are galvanized (zinc-coated), stainless steel, and bright (unfinished steel).
Note that the galvanized material will provide extra corrosion resistance, and stainless steel is highly resistant to corrosion.
The grade of the rope means the grade of steel being used. The plow steel strength calculates the strengths of most steel wire ropes. Some classifications include Improved Plow Steel (IPS), Extra Improved Plow Steel (EIPS), Extra Extra Improved Plow Steel (EEIPS), Galvanized Improved Plowed Steel (GIPS), and Drawn Galvanized Imrpoved Plow Steel (DGEIP).
EIPS is 15% stronger than IPS, and EEIPS is 10% stronger than EIPS. Along with that, GIPS and DGEIP wires can add corrosion resistance to your application, but DGEIP wires have a higher break load than GIPS.
The type of core is what makes up the center of the wire rope. There are three types of core: Fiber Core (FC), Independent Wire Rope Core (IWRC), and Wire Strand Core (WSC).
A fiber core can be made of synthetic polypropylene fibers. The fiber cores offer greater elasticity than a steel core, but are more susceptible to crushing. This isn't recommended for high heat environments.
A steel core can either be an independent wire rope or individual strand. The steel cores can provide adequate support, or in an operating environment where temperatures can exceed very high heat.
Wire rope is composed of individual wires combined to form strands that twist around the core. The construction is indicated by a number such as 6x19 or 7x19. The first number is the number of strands, while the second number is the number of wires that make up each strand.
Wire and cable ropes are terms that are often interchangeable but do have one varying difference. Wire rope refers to the diameters that are larger than 3/8 inch. Sizes smaller than this are classified as cable rope or even cords. Regardless of the size difference, cable and wire rope are still classified as a "machine." Even a group of strands laid around a core would still be called a cable or wire rope.
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We know the importance of quality when it comes to lifting supplies. We carry a variety of rigging hardware, as well as lifting beams and spreader bars that are designed to lift heavy loads safely and efficiently. If you're interested in other lifting slings, check the other types of slings we carry like nylon slings and chain slings.
Need a custom lifting sling? We can do that. We’ll work with you and customize a lifting sling to meet your specific needs.
Read more information about wire rope slings below!
How to Safely Apply Wire Rope Clips to Wire Rope Assemblies
How to Use Wire Rope Clips
What is Sling Protection, What are the Different Types of Slings, & How to Protect Them
Keep reading for more information.
Thimbles are used to protect the eyes of cable and rope slings from abrasion by providing a solid steel barrier between the fragile cable strands and the other rigging fitting used in the connection. Thimbles also prevent eye deformation or kinking by giving structure to the cable eye. After repeated high load use, wear and kinking can reduce the strength of the cable and can lead to premature failure.
Thimbles come in two different duty grades, Light Duty and Heavy Duty.
Light duty thimbles are typically used in static applications such as a permanent installation, a controlled environment, or in situations where they won’t experience much load.
Light duty thimbles typically work best on traditional fiber rope because they can handle the same amount of load and rough handling as you would expect a fiber rope to take. You can see here that this light duty thimble is ideal for this application, while this heavy-duty thimble is grossly oversized.
Because heavy duty thimbles have extended protective material around their edges, and a tendency to resist deformation in uncontrolled applications, they are commonly used in applications that will experience dynamic loading or loads near or at the working load limit. Heavy duty thimbles are ideal for lifting, towing, and applications that will require the user to frequently connect and disconnect the thimble to other rigging components.
When choosing a thimble for your application, it’s important to consider what type of environment the thimble will be used in. E-Rigging offers thimbles that are made from Zinc Plated Steel, Hot Dipped Galvanized Steel, and Type 316 Stainless Steel.
Starting with the most corrosion resistant, stainless-steel thimbles are best suited for being used in outdoor applications and are highly resistant to rust. Stainless Steel thimbles are also ideal for being used in or near saltwater environments where corrosion frequently occurs and are the best choice when using stainless steel cable or chain.
Our heavy duty, hot dipped galvanized thimbles come in at a lower cost than stainless steel and are also suited for outdoor environments. While galvanized components are also ideal for outdoor use, galvanized components can exhibit signs of surface rust if the galvanized coating is worn off on the load bearing or contact areas of the component, this type of surface rust is normally worn off when loaded or used and shouldn’t affect the component’s performance.
Our light duty zinc plated thimbles can also be used outdoors, but it’s important to be aware that a zinc coating is thinner than a hot dipped galvanized coating, so the thimble may exhibit signs of rust earlier than a hot dipped galvanized thimble, this is especially true in environments where the thimble will be exposed to rain or snow, or in salt air or salt water environments.
Thimbles can be used in conjunction with cable and rope to form rigging assemblies. The most important thing to consider when doing so, is making sure that the thimble is sized properly and securely fastened in the eye of the cable that is being used. If the thimble is too loose in the eye, it can fall out or rotate, and if it is undersized or grossly oversized, connections to other properly sized rigging fittings can become difficult.
When sizing the thimble to cable, it’s important to size the thimble to the actual size of the cable that you are using with it. For example, if you are using 1/4" uncoated cable, use a 1/4" thimble.
The size of vinyl coated cable can be confusing because some manufactures measure different vinyl coated cable diameters. E-Rigging lists vinyl coated cable by the cable diameter, so the vinyl coating diameter adds a little thickness. The finished or final cable diameter is listed on the product pages of E-Rigging’s website. It typically coincides with the next size larger thimble. For example, if you are using 3/16" vinyl coated cable that is coated to 1/4" diameter, you’d want to use a 1/4" thimble.
When using stripped vinyl coated cable, you are going to want to size it just like uncoated cable. So, if you are using 3/16" x 1/4" vinyl coated cable, use a 3/16" thimble.
Thimbles are often used with other rigging components with a solid eye, and must be opened to do so. You can use a set of pliers to hold onto each side of the thimble, and with a twisting motion, open the thimble so that the component can be inserted into the thimble and then return the thimble to its normal shape.
The same process can also be done by hand if the thimble is small enough.
Some thimbles cannot be bent by using a pair of pliers or your hands, so for larger thimbles, a vise and pipe is the preferred method.
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