If you're considering becoming a mechanical engineer, you will surely benefit from wire rope education and training. From wire rope pulleys to wire rope fittings and even wire rope prices, there is a wealth of wire rope information you can learn and apply to your career. Fortunately, there are several resources you can use in obtaining wire rope education and training.

You can start with pursuing a formal degree in engineering. You also can get wire rope info available from wire rope manufacturers. Professional associations may offer publications and seminars about wire ropes. Trade publications and engineering internships are also great sources of wire rope education and training.

1. Obtain a formal degree in mechanical engineering or applied mechanics as a first step in wire rope education and training.
2. Look to wire rope manufacturers to learn about using wire rope.
3. Take advantage of education and training opportunities offered by wire rope organizations and other professional associations.
   

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get a degree from an accredited college or university for an education on wire ropes

A college or university education in mechanical engineering will expose you to the many materials and tools used in the wire rope industry. Some courses will cover specific wire rope information, such as how and why it is applied to mechanical engineering. Of course, a formal degree is essential in pursuing a career in engineering.

I recommend: When you pursue a bachelor's degree or master's degree from the College of Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, you'll take theoretical and applied mechanics and mathematics courses that cover topics including wire ropes. The mechanical engineering and applied mechanics program at the University of Pennsylvania includes courses in manufacturing systems and structural mechanics and materials that relate to wire ropes.

Turn to the pros when it comes to wire rope education and training

It's likely that no one would know more about wire ropes than those who manufacture them. You can gather a lot of wire rope information from wire rope manufacturers, such as spec sheets, manuals and online details from manufacturer websites. Some manufacturers even conduct live training classes on their products.

I recommend: Bridon American Corporation, a worldwide leader in wire rope manufacturing, conducts training sessions about wire rope and its applications through it's Bridon U (University) program. Download informative wire rope technical manuals from the website of Southwest Wire Rope, a leading wire rope manufacturer.

Learn wire rope information from professional associations and organizations

If you're looking for still more wire rope education, you can look to professional wire rope associations. You can learn about wire rope applications, safety, standards and more from information available to members of these organizations. You can get wire rope info through downloadable files, guides or live conferences or seminars.

I recommend: Associated Wire Rope Fabricators provides educational wire rope assembly and distribution links and a downloadable safety guide. The International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) offers a training video about wire rope use and safety.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get hands-on experience working with wire ropes through an engineering internship.

If you're in construction, heavy equipment, logging or material transportation, you can make your business safer with the use of wire ropes and the accessories that go with them. You need wire rope information to improve your business. Institute a more advanced product for your heavy lifting.

Get the equipment you need to safely and securely hoist and transport products you deal with. From working with construction equipment and other heavy machinery, to raw material like metals and lumber, wire ropes are the products you want. They have both strength and flexibility. Get wire rope info and see your options for:

1. Wire rope for lifting, pulling and securing of immense loads,
2. Wire rope pulleys to complete your lifting needs, and
3. Anchors, bolts and other fittings for tying down shipments for transport.

Action Steps
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Look into wire rope prices and products according to job needs

Working with large, heavy objects often involves lifting, moving or transporting them, which can be difficult and dangerous. Make your job easier and safer by using wire ropes designed to take incredible amounts of weight. If your business is in construction, shipping or another industry where you're often hoisting heavy materials, this product is perfect for you.

I recommend: Check out the variety of wire roles for sale from wire rope manufacturers Wirerope Works, WireCo, Loos & Co. and LEXCO; choose from different styles, constructions, materials and strengths.

Buy wire rope pulley equipment for lifting and moving

For lifting, the wire rope alone won't provide an adequate solution. You'll need pulleys and sheaves that can withstand the same weight as the rope while lessening the workload required. There are various designs with different specifications for different jobs. Make sure the ones you choose will work well with the wire rope you've selected.

I recommend: Check out wire rope pulleys at Bear Equipment and U.S. Rigging. You can also specify your needs and pick out custom pulleys at Sheaves Inc.

Cover your needs with wire rope bolts, fittings, tie-downs and slings

Many wire rope suppliers also provide equipment accessories such as slings, bolts and other fittings and fixtures that round out buyers' needs. In the shipping business, securing materials is of utmost importance. Using wire rope to secure loads requires keeping the rope itself secure.

I recommend: Look into the myriad choices available for wire rope fittings, connectors and bolts at companies such as MSC, American Wire Rope and Sling and Safeland Industrial Supply.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Don't make your decisions based solely on wire rope prices. While you want to get the best deal you can, you also want your business to be outfitted correctly. Wire rope manufacturers offer many choices, and the cheapest ropes aren't always the best. Analyze your needs and make purchases based on those and on the quality and technical specifications of the rope.

A wire rope consists of several smaller wires that are fabricated to move or operate at close tolerances to one another. Steel wire ropes have taken over iron wire ropes in today’s industry.

The main components of a wire rope are the wires, strands and the core. Most wire ropes are available without coats, but some applications may require galvanized or synthetic coating on the rope’s surface.

This guide will acquaint you with wire rope related terminology, such as wire rope slings, preformed wire rope, kink and rotation resistant rope.

Action Steps
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Wire rope slings

A wire rope sling constitutes a strong, safe and economical option for lifting applications. Slings made of wire rope have applications in the material handling industry. Wire rope slings can be mechanical slings, cable laid slings, tri-flex slings or hand-tucked splice slings.

I recommend: You can learn about wire rope slings, their capacities and usage instructions at Safety Sling, a manufacturer of overhead lifting equipment.

TC 105

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) issues standards for various industrial products, including steel wire ropes. TC 105 is a technical committee that oversees standardization of steel wire ropes, slings and terminations.

I recommend: Learn more about TC 105 at ISO’s Web site.

Rotation resistant ropes

A rotation resistant rope consists of an inner layer of strand laid in one direction and another layer over it in the opposite direction. This rope is effective for reducing torque.

I recommend: You can find more information on rotation resistant ropes at MacWhyte (PDF), a provider of fabricated wire rope solutions.

Kink

Kink is a sharp bend in a wire rope that permanently distorts the strands and wires. When you pull a loop through, it may result in a kink in the wire rope.

I recommend: To get more information on kink formation, read through information at Invention Factory, an online knowledge resource.

Lang lay ropes

A lang lay rope is a wire rope in which the wires in the strands are laid in the same direction as that of the strands in the rope.

I recommend: You can learn more about lang lay ropes at Midco Companies, a manufacturer of wire ropes.

Preformed wire ropes

Preformed wire ropes have strands that are pre-shaped so that these strands conform to the curvatures for final applications. These strands are then fit together to make the wire rope. Pre-forming eliminates the stress from the wire rope, resists kinking and assists in easier splicing.

I recommend: You can get more information about preformed wire ropes at J. Henry Holland Corp., a manufacturer of rigging and lifting equipment.