WIRE ROPE GUIDELINES

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WIRE ROPE CONSTRUCTIONS 3×7, 6×7, 6×42, 7×3, AND 7×7

Diameter	Min. Recommended Drum/Pulley Tread Diameter	Approx. Bend Radius
0.009”	3⁄8”	3⁄16”
0.014”	5⁄8”	5⁄16”
0.018”	13⁄16”	13⁄32”
0.024”	1”	1⁄2”
0.027”	₁5⁄32”	37⁄64”
0.030”	₁9⁄32”	41⁄64”
1⁄32”	₁5⁄16”	21⁄32”
0.032”	_{1 1}1⁄32”	43⁄64”
0.035”	₁1⁄2”	3⁄4”
0.036”	₁17⁄32”	49⁄64”
3⁄64”	2”	1”
1⁄16”	₂5⁄8”	₁5⁄16”
5⁄64”	₃9⁄32”	₁41⁄64”
3⁄32”	₃15⁄16”	₁31⁄32”
1⁄8”	₅1⁄4”	₂5⁄8”
5⁄32”	₆9⁄16”	₃9⁄32”
3⁄16”	₇7⁄8”	₃15⁄16”
1⁄4”	₁₀1⁄2”	₅1⁄4”
5⁄16”	₁₃1⁄8”	₆9⁄16”
3⁄8”	₁₅3⁄4_”	₇7⁄8”

WIRE ROPE CONSTRUCTIONS 6×19, 7×19, AND 19×7

Diameter	Min. Recommended Drum/Pulley Tread Diameter	Approx. Bend Radius
0.024”	19⁄32”	19⁄64
0.027”	21⁄32”	21⁄64
0.032”	25⁄32”	25⁄64
0.036”	7⁄8”	7⁄16
0.038”	15⁄16”	15⁄32
3⁄64”	₁1⁄8”	9⁄16
1⁄16”	₁1⁄2”	3⁄4
3⁄32”	₂1⁄4”	₁1⁄8”
1⁄8”	3”	₁1⁄2”
5⁄32”	₃3⁄4”	₁7⁄8”
3⁄16”	₄1⁄2”	₂1⁄4”
7⁄32”	₅1⁄4”	₂5⁄8”
1⁄4”	6”	3”
5⁄16”	₇1⁄2”	₃3⁄4”
3⁄8”	9”	₄1⁄2”
7⁄16”	₁₀1⁄2”	₅1⁄4”
1⁄2”	12”	6”
9⁄16”	₁₃1⁄2”	₆3⁄4”
5⁄8”	15”	₇1⁄2”

WIRE ROPE CONSTRUCTIONS 6×37 AND 8×19

Diameter	Min. Recommended Drum/Pulley Tread Diameter	Approx. Bend Radius
3⁄16”	₂1⁄4”	₁1⁄8”
1⁄4”	3”	₁1⁄2”
5⁄16”	₃3⁄4”	₁7⁄8”
3⁄8”	₄1⁄2”	₂1⁄4”
7⁄16”	₅1⁄4”	₂5⁄8”
1⁄2”	6”	3”
9⁄16”	₆3⁄4”	₃3⁄8”
5⁄8”	₇1⁄2”	₃3⁄4”

CONSTRUCTION CLASS SELECTION CRITERIA

Construction Class	Features	Uses
1×7	Characterized by relatively low flexibility, these single-strand constructions are not suitable for use with drums and pulleys	Straight load applications such as bracing, guying, and standing rigging.
1×19
6×7	As the number of wires per strand increases, flexibility increases but crush resistance and abrasion resistance decrease. IWRC constructions offer higher strength and more crush resistance than fiber cores. Six-strand wires have better crush resistance than seven-strand wires.	6×7 and 7×7 constructions are relatively less flexible and best suited for guying, lanyards, and mechanical power transmission applications. All other constructions are commonly used for slings, hoisting, and running rigging. As drum and pulley diameters decrease, you should use more flexible constructions.
6×19
6×37
7×7
7×19
3×7	Offered only in small diameters, constructions in this range are extremely flexible.	Fishing cable, dial cable, and light duty controls.
7×3		Fishing cable, dial cable, and light duty controls.
6×42	Most flexible of the six-strand constructions, but with lower strength and less abrasion resistance.	Ideal for hand lines and steering controls.
8×19	Offers maximum flexibility. Note: Fiber core rope should not be used under heavy crushing loads.	Flexibility makes this rope well suited for use with drums and pulleys.
19×7	The outer strands lay in the opposite direction of the inner strands, creating a rope that resists rotation under load.	Effective in single-line hoist applications and where rotation resistant properties are essential.

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