WIRE ROPE IDENTIFICATION AND CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION OF TYPICAL ROPE LAYS

Five different lays of rope to choose from.

Wire rope is Identified not only by its component parts, but also by its construction, i.e., by the way the wires have been
laid to form strands, and by the way the strands have been laid around the core.

Figure “a” and “c” show a right lay rope. Conversely, “b” and “d” show left lay rope.

Again, the first two illustrations (”a” and “b”) show regular lay ropes. Following these are the types known as lang lay ropes
(”c” and “d”). Note that the wires in regular lay ropes appear to line up with the axis of the rope; in lang lay ropes the wires
form an angle with the axis of the rope. The difference in appearance is a result of variations in manufacturing techniques:
regular lay ropes are made so that the direction of the wire lay in the strand is opposite to the direction of the strand lay in
the rope; lang lay ropes are made with both strand lay and rope lay in the same direction. Finally, “e” called alternate lay
consists of alternating right and left lay strands.

NOTE: The superiority of lang lay ropes in certain applications derives from the fact that when bent over sheaves, its
life span in longer.