When selecting a steel wire rope to suit a particular application the following characteristics should be taken into consideration.
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The responsibility for determining the minimum strength of a rope for use in a given system rests with the manufacturer of the machine, appliance, or lifting equipment. As part of this process the manufacturer of the machine, appliance or lifting equipment will need to be aware of any local regulations, standards or codes of practice which might govern the design factor of the rope and other factors which might influence the design of sheaves and drums, the shape of the groove profiles and corresponding radius, the drum pitch and the fleet angle, all of which have an effect on rope performance.
Once the strength (referred to as minimum breaking force or minimum breaking load) of the rope has been determined it is then necessary to consider which type of rope will be suitable for the intended duty. It is important therefore for the designer to be fully aware of the properties, characteristics and limitations on use of the many different kinds of steel wire ropes which are available.
Important note for crane operators
Bridon recommends that once the machine, appliance or lifting equipment has been taken into service, any replacement rope should possess the required characteristics for the duty in question and should, as a minimum, at least comply with the minimum guaranteed breaking force stated by the original equipment manufacturer.
