SLEEVES

Wire rope sleeves are used to form loop ends or eyes on wire rope, aircraft cable, and fiber rope assemblies. They are often used with thimbles to reinforce the loop and protect the cable from wear. Sleeves are commonly used in rigging, lifting, industrial cable assemblies, architectural applications, and custom wire rope assemblies that need secure attachment points.

A sleeve is the fitting that is swaged or compressed onto the cable to hold the loop in place. A thimble is placed inside the loop to protect the wire rope from abrasion, crushing, or sharp bending at the connection point. In many wire rope assemblies, sleeves and thimbles are used together to create a stronger, more durable loop end.

The right sleeve material depends on the cable material, environment, load requirements, and application. Stainless steel sleeves may be preferred for corrosion resistance, aluminum sleeves are commonly used with compatible cable constructions, and copper sleeves are often used for aircraft cable and general cable assemblies. Lexco can help determine the correct sleeve based on your wire rope specifications.

Many sleeves are designed to hold the nominal breaking strength of compatible wire rope when properly selected and installed. Performance depends on the sleeve type, cable construction, cable diameter, material compatibility, swaging method, and application. For critical or load-sensitive applications, testing or proof-loading may be recommended.

When requesting a quote, provide the cable diameter, wire rope or aircraft cable construction, sleeve material, sleeve style, required loop size, whether a thimble is needed, load requirements, and application environment. If available, include drawings, specifications, photos, or part numbers so Lexco can recommend the correct sleeve or custom wire rope assembly.