Just read that the average elevator cable has over 200 individual wires per strand

Found it in an old spec sheet for a 1980s Dover traction machine I was working on. Does that number seem high to anyone else, or is it pretty standard across the board?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_jana1mo ago

That's actually pretty standard for traction elevators. The cables need to be incredibly strong and flexible at the same time. So the high wire count makes total sense.

william_garcia1mo ago

Wow, that old spec sheet brings back memories. I once saw a cable snap during a test, and the way all those tiny wires frayed was wild, like a steel rope exploding. Good point from @the_jana about the strength and flexibility, because that's exactly why they build them like that. It's a lot of wires, but when you see what they go through, the number starts to make sense.

jade_jenkins1mo ago

Reminds me of the time I tried to fix a bike brake cable and ended up with a handful of tiny metal splinters. Makes you really respect the engineering that goes into the real deal. Guess I'll stick to admiring from a safe distance.

robin6282d ago

Seriously? A steel rope exploding... sounds a bit dramatic. It's just a bunch of wires breaking, not an action movie. I get they need to be strong, but all this talk makes it seem way more intense than it probably is.