Every day we encounter stretchy material, like rubber bands or balloons. But did you know that even metal materials, like springs, can stretch? Such is the case with mechanical cable. Mechanical cable, also known as wire rope, is made of metal wires. Wire counts can be as few as two and as many as several hundred. The wire count, combined with the material and a host of other factors, informs the presence of cable stretch immediately upon manufacturing, straight on through the cable’s entire lifespan.
A control cable is made from mechanical cable, or wire rope, which is typically constructed with galvanized steel, stainless steel or other alloys. Control cables are an assembly or system of cables and components, such as a ball and shank fitting, where there is an input or action that causes an output or outcome.
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.
Mechanical cables (or wire rope) for surgical robotics, medical devices, aerospace and other industries are a specialty at Carl Stahl Sava Industries. In the manufacture of mechanical cable, no matter the material used to produce it - tungsten, stainless steel, titanium, or others - the cable must undergo rigorous lifecycle testing to ensure it is suited to the application for which is it designed.
