Wire ropes are most commonly made from carbon steel wires with 0.35 to 0.85 percent carbon.
The manufacturing process of wire rope is shortly described below.
Wire rod – Made from high carbon steel billets in a hot rolling process of a required diameter, usually from 5.5mm to 8 mm.
Surface treatment – The process of removing dust and rust from the outer surface of the wire rod to facilitate the drawing process
1st Drawing - Here we produce the base material of wire required for rope manufacturing. Wire rod is drawn to 3.5mm to 1mm, adding mechanical properties suitable for application.
Patenting - The above drawn wires are passed through a furnace at a maintained temperature to obtain the required micro structure. This is called the heat treatment process.
2nd Drawing - Patented wire is drawn for the final required size of wire.
Stranding - Here a wire of different or same size lay in multiple layers and same direction, or cross lay and diameter is maintained by one third of the rope size.
Closing - This is the final operation of rope manufacturing, after completing the set of strands, these strands are laid on a core (Fiber or Steel ) which produces the rope of the required diameter.