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How, Why and When to Use Cable Crimp Sleeves

How, Why & When To Use Cable Crimp Sleeves

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

The wire crimping process uses a machine or tool to apply force to a metal sleeve, effectively compressing it onto a mechanical cable. The process of crimping cable sleeves to wire rope is among the most common cable assembly operations. Crimping is used to either join separate cables together, or create a loop in the cable, either on the ends or even anywhere between the ends. That the desired outcome is a loop in the wire rope, cable crimp sleeves are also often referred to as loop sleeves.

Cable crimp sleeves are generally available as stop sleeves or loops sleeves. Stop sleeves may be used on the end of mechanical cable assemblies to provide a load-bearing point. Loop sleeves however are used to form a loop on the end of the cable, as mentioned above to join cables together or create loops in the center of the assembly. Wire sleeve crimps come in a couple of different shapes: figure-8, in aluminum and copper, or ovular, which are made from stainless steel. In the former, the figure-8 is generated from an extruded profile, subsequently cut to finished length. Aluminum and copper crimp sleeves are much easier to work with in the field due to their malleability with hand tools, and provide a cost-effective solution. Stainless steel crimp sleeves on the other hand require significantly more force to swage and are more expensive than their softer counterparts. At Carl Stahl Sava Industries, we offer high-quality aluminum wire crimp sleeves, as well as copper and stainless steel alternatives for any application.

Using a Crimper

Before crimping aluminum cable sleeves to the mechanical cable, the wire rope needs to be either or mechanically or electrically cut to ensure no fraying occurs on the ends. This makes it easier to place the crimp sleeves onto the cable.

Cable crimp sleeves usually elongate because of the compression of the sleeve by the press or hand tool used to apply the fitting.

To ensure maximum tensile strength, mechanical engineers will extend the cable through the crimp sleeve, leaving a short tail generally .062” or less. This simple, but crucial operation is integral to achieving the cable assembly’s full tensile strength. Always ensure that the jaws of the crimper are maintained at a right angle. The sleeve should always align vertically with the jaw groove.

Afterwards, the engineer will close the handles of the crimper completely. To indicate complete closure, the handles of the crimper should snap shut. Always ensure that the sleeve has been compressed the correct number of times. A well-compressed sleeve should slide easily in and out of the gauge size slot.

The number of swages for every aluminum cable sleeve is dependent on the size of the sleeve. For example, an .125” sleeve will require three swages, while a quarter-inch sleeve will need four swages. If you want to make multiple swages at once, you must follow the right sequence for every sleeve and its size. A properly swaged cable should achieve a minimum of 90% breaking strength.

Takeaways

  • Crimping is the process of using a machine or tool to apply force to a sleeve to compress it onto a cable. 

  • To ensure that you get a maximum hold while crimping, allow the cable to extend through the fitting after it’s been compressed. 

  • Cable crimp sleeves are used in a wide variety of applications, including mil-spec, rigging, fencing, signage and a host of commercial and industrial applications. 

Contact Us

If you're looking for high-quality aluminum cable sleeves, you can get in touch with us to get a quotation for any of our products. At Sava, we aim at providing top-notch materials at affordable rates. Our team of engineers will walk you through any questions you may have regarding aluminum cable sleeves and any other products on our catalog. Give us a call and let us help you get the best materials on the market.

November 11, 2020