COMMON WIRE ROPE FITTINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

COMMON WIRE ROPE FITTINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW
Wire rope can be prone to fray easily at the ends, making it difficult to connect to equipment. Wire rope fittings or wire rope terminations are used to secure the ends of wire rope and prevent fraying. There are many different types, sizes, and finishes of wire rope fittings suitable for most types of rope. Below, we discuss some of the more common types of wire rope fittings.

Wire Rope Thimbles
A wire rope thimble is essential in wire rope assemblies to prevent the wire rope eye from being crushed and reducing wear on the rope itself. When a wire rope assembly is fitted with an eye at the end, a thimble is inserted to form the eye of the loop before securing the rope in the ferrule or wire rope grip.

Wire Rope Grips
A wire rope grip is utilized to clamp the loose end of a wire rope after it has been looped back to form an eye. Typically, wire rope assemblies require a minimum of three wire rope grips, depending on the wire and application, to secure the ends properly.

Wire Rope Ferrules
Wire rope ferrules are used to terminate wire rope ends. Oval-shaped sleeves are crushed around the wire rope to form eyes or create a stopper on the end of a wire rope assembly. This process can be accomplished using either hand tools or a hydraulic press. However, hand pressing ferrules is only recommended for smaller diameters of wire ropes.

Turnbuckles/Rigging Screws
These wire rope fittings are attached to wire rope assemblies and can be used to adjust the tension of the wire rope. Turnbuckles typically consist of two eye bolts, one at each end of a metal frame, allowing the tension of the wire rope to be adjusted by rotating the frame.

Wire Rope Sockets
A wire rope socket is permanently attached using a hydraulic press to the end of the wire rope. These can serve as alternatives to thimbles, wire rope grips, or ferrules. However, fitting these to wire ropes requires specialized tools and knowledge.

Wedge Socket
Wedge sockets are fittings used to temporarily terminate the end of the wire rope. They are quick and easy to install and remove.

Wire Rope Sock/Cable Sock
Different from the rest of the fittings, these can also pull wire rope over a distance and through machinery and pulleys. Wire rope socks are available in a wide range of sizes and types.

Tip
Stainless steel fittings can be used in highly corrosive environments, such as marine settings or when working with chemicals, as stainless steel is generally more resistant to such conditions.

All Lifting offers a comprehensive range of quality wire rope fittings to suit almost any application. We can also source or custom-make fittings!