Learning the (Wire) Ropes

Wire rope is the product that launched Koch Industries.  There are multiple constructions for wire ropes of different strengths, sizes, and flexibilities and are generally ¼ ” in diameter.

Some of the most common constructions of wire rope are:

• 7 x 7 – the basic wire rope.  Each wire thread is composed of seven smaller wires.  Seven of these wire threads are then wound together to make a rope.
• 7 x 19 – a quite flexible wire rope, and are also considered the most sophisticated kind of wire rope.  Seven threads of nineteen wires are wound together to compose this rope.
• 1 x 7 – a very stiff rope, but useful as a guide wire.  This rope has a solid wire as the core and six other wires are wrapped around it.

Steel ropes can also have an independent wire rope core, or IWRC.  Wire ropes with IWRC have an increased strength and are also more crush resistant than ropes without IWRC.