Steel cable is cable made from stranded steel wires. While the terminology changes, depending upon the diameter of the cable, steel wires helically stranded together can be known as wire rope, mechanical cable, miniature cable, and even ultrafine cable.
Although the terms wire rope and mechanical cable are often used interchangeably, the diameter of the product itself is what determines whether we call it wire rope or mechanical cable. Wire rope is the term assigned to diameters greater than ⅜”, although most engineers refer to wire rope as anything ¼” or greater.
Depending on the application, wire rope strength is determined on a case-by-case basis, suited to the application, material, diameter and construction. These are the variables engineers evaluate.
Lifecycle is broadly studying the lifespan of mechanical cable. An engineer’s goal is to identify both potential superiorities among cable materials options and uncover possible points of failure that, without such testing, may go entirely unnoticed.
Both stainless steel and galvanized steel mechanical cable offer distinct benefits, depending on the application. Read on to learn the differences between the two and determine which wire rope will better serve your application requirements.
